LONDON: Big Ben chimed 40 times. The archers were on target with two world records at Lord’s cricket ground. And the opening ceremony expected to feature real farm animals and former Beatle Paul McCartney was set to dazzle London’s Olympic Park.
Finally, let the games begin.
Seven years after the British capital won the right to host the Olympics, a hazy and cloudy London celebrated the official start of the 30th version of the Summer Games.
After two days of football preliminaries outside London, the capital held its first Olympic competition Friday — archery at the hallowed cricket ground. There was some confusion at the site when people mistakenly thought they could enter the free competition without a ticket.
