What to watch for - Day 1.

The day has arrived! The Olympics start today in the new Olympic Stadium in East London! Who will light the cauldron that will burn all 17 days of the games? Well, reports have David Beckham, Sir Steve Redgrave and even Prince William all as possibilities to be the final torchbearer.

However, Beckham, who was one of the main forces in London getting the Olympic games, has never actually been an Olympian. But this possibly could be Great Britain’s way of awarding him for his efforts after not putting him on the country’s Olympic soccer team.

The opening ceremonies will be the work of director Danny Boyle (the Oscar-winning director of Slumdog Millionaire). We all remember what China did four years ago, but it’s an accepted idea that will never be topped because of the unlimited resources and “volunteers” that they had in Beijing. Boyle has talked very little about the ceremony but says that it will be like watching a live film. He has also made references to Shakespeare’s The Tempest and classic British children’s literature such as J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan.

I think there will be some reference to Chariots of Fire since I heard the theme playing in the background of a video blog from Ryan Seacrest from Wednesday’s rehearsal.

We do know that Sir Paul McCartney will be performing tonight. This is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Boyle says not to take a bathroom break within the first 15 minutes because that’s when the theme is established. I suggest you take your bathroom break during the Parade of Nations since there will be 204 countries and 10,940 delegates this Olympiad. Remember Greece always enters first and the host nation last. The United States will be the 194^th nation to enter.

Here are some Olympic tidbits to help you through day one:

·      London is the only city to host the Olympics three times.

·      The U.S. has never won a gold in table tennis, badminton or team handball.

·      For the first time, the number of U.S. women delegates (269) competing outnumbers the men (261). #girlpower

·      The U.S. flag will be carried in by two-time defending sabre gold medalist Mariel Zagunis. She was selected to be the flag bearer by her fellow Team USA members.

·      Guor Marial will compete under the Olympic flag since the Sudanese refuge, who is a permanent resident of the US, is not a citizen of any country. The 28-year-old from South Sudan, which has yet to establish a national Olympic committee as a new nation, escaped the civil war in his home country as a child. He declined an offer from Sudan to run in the games because of the 28 relatives he lost in the conflict.

·      South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius will be the first amputee track athlete to compete at any Olympic games. The double amputee will run both the 400m and the 4x400m relay.

·      Women’s boxing will be the only new sport making its debut in London.

·      There are five sports that have been part of every modern summer Olympic games. They are track & field, swimming, gymnastics, cycling and fencing.

·      For the first time ever, every country will be sending both male and female athletes.

·      Will Monaco end its streak of 26 games (18 summer) without winning a medal?

·      The Queen’s granddaughter, Zara Phillips, will be competing for Great Britain in equestrian. Both her mother and father, Princess Anne and Mark Phillips, are both former Olympians for GBR.

·      The USA topped the overall medal count in Beijing with 110 medals (36 gold, 38 silver and 36 bronze). Will they be able to take the most this Olympiad? We can only watch to find out!