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Let the games begin

Millions around the world will have their eyes glued to the TV as the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games get underway later this week.

Millions around the world will have their eyes glued to the TV as the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games get underway later this week.

From July 27th - Aug. 12th, the world will be watching London, England as thousands of athletes from various countries will be vying for a spot on the podium to receive a coveted Olympic medal and the prestigious honour of being named one of the best in the world in their sport.

For London and England at large, the dreaded traffic congestion and other inconveniences of having so many people pour into the city pale compared to the tremendous benefits economically that will be pumped into the country, which has weathered its share of economic challenges over the past few years.

And for the fans making the trek to London, there is so much to take in it’s hard to know where to begin. People who call London home are excited about welcoming the world and sharing what their nation has to offer.

And as mentioned, from badminton to diving, to gymnastics and triathlon, beach volleyball and wrestling, there is really something for everyone to enjoy.

There will be 26 Olympic sports in 34 venues, 10,500 Olympic athletes and 20,000 press and media on site. There will also be more than nine million tickets sold to various events throughout the Games.

The Games will be centred around the Olympic Park in east London, which will be the site of a number of new sports venues. Up to 180,000 spectators a day will enter the Park to enjoy the Games.

The main venues - the Olympic Stadium, Aquatics Centre, Velodrome and BMX Circuit, as well as the hockey, handball and basketball arenas - will be accessible through a network of footbridges and walkways within the Park. The Olympic Village will be within walking distance of all the venues, making it truly seem like a community. The use of other prestigious venues - such as Wembley Stadium for football, the All-England Club in Wimbledon for tennis, Lord’s Cricket Ground for archery and Horse Guards Parade for beach volleyball - is also a feature of the Olympics.

Meanwhile, the Olympic torch is already on route to its final destination - the Olympic Stadium - where it will shine brightly until the closing ceremonies. Before reaching the Stadium, the torch journeyed across the country in 70 days where it was carried by many and celebrated by thousands.

And what better place to hold the world-class event - London is steeped with amazing history and reams of culture, and offers visitors so much to explore and discover if they have some time to take in the sites across the region.

Meanwhile, the Olympics often bring the world together with a sense of pride and camaraderie. It’s a welcome respite from the steady flow of bad news that seems to be a constant today. From what’s sure to be an eye-popping opening ceremonies spectacle to the final moments of the games, there is simply nothing quite like taking in all the Olympics has to offer.

Canadians are not known to be boastful or even to be outwardly proud, but this is a chance for us to show that. You can bet the Canadian fans will be loud and the athletes will feel that energy.

During the Olympic Games in Vancouver in 2010, Canada adopted the theme of ‘We Believe’ and this will undoubtedly continue into the London Games. Canadians can really be proud of our athletes, as many have fought to earn their spots on various Olympic teams.

Get ready for a couple of weeks full of excitement, energy, entertainment and emotion as the 2012 London Olympics Games get underway and show your support for our Canadian athletes.