Olympics: Team Nigeria, Others Arrive

Team Nigeria join thousands of other athletes and sporting officials as they arrive in London today ahead of the Olympic Games.

Some athletes will move into the Olympic Village later, where they will live throughout the competition.

Other non-competing Olympic officials are also arriving in London today. Hotel room rates in the city have increased by 69 per cent during the Olympic period, according to a survey.

Preparations for London 2012 are intensifying with the opening ceremony just 11 days away. The first priority “Games Lane” has begun operation on the M4 and the Olympic drug testing lab has also started work.

There will be a lot of work for the volunteers who will be directing athletes to the coaches and trains that will take many of them to the Olympic Village in Stratford, east London. The village will house 16,000 athletes and officials at its peak.

Those that travel by road will benefit from the first of the Games Lanes which at busy times will operate between Junction 3 and Junction 2 of the M4 motorway towards London.

The motorway has just reopened following emergency repairs on a damaged flyover near Junction 2.

The rest of the 30 miles of dedicated lanes in the Olympic Route Network (ORN) will be operational by the middle of next week, with heavy fines for those who misuse them. All road users will be able to go into the lanes when they are not in use overnight.

London 2012 Chairman, Sebastian Coe, said it was vital that the capital make a good impression on the first group of athletes arriving.

“Teams from all over the world are coming to London and the athletes’ village will become their home throughout the Games,” he said.

“Some of them will be coming to London for the first time; others will be competing at their first Games so first impressions will count for a lot.”

The first Team welcome ceremonies take place on Monday as athletes begin to arrive at the village. The ceremonies are designed to formally welcome the athletes and team officials to the Games and take place prior to the opening ceremonies.

Several ceremonies are set to take place every day and over 200 national anthems have been arranged by British composer, Philip Sheppard, and recorded by the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

The ceremonies have been created, produced and choreographed by the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, who will also perform the shows, which consist of dance and music.

The Team welcome ceremonies will also feature the playing of the national anthems and the raising of flags by members of the armed forces.