2012 Summer Olympics#Torch relay

{{Main|Bids for the 2012 Summer Olympics}}

London was chosen over Birmingham to represent Great Britain's bid by the British Olympic Association.

By 15 July 2003—the deadline for interested cities to submit bids to the International Olympic Committee (IOC)—nine cities had submitted bids to host the 2012 Summer Olympics: Havana, Istanbul, Leipzig, London, Madrid, Moscow, New York City, Paris, and Rio de Janeiro.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/3068323.stm|title=Olympic bids: The rivals|work=BBC Sport|date=15 July 2003|access-date=3 August 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210040857/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/3068323.stm|archive-date=10 February 2009}} On 18 May 2004, as a result of a scored technical evaluation, the IOC reduced the number of cities to five: London, Madrid, Moscow, New York and Paris.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/olympics_2012/3725157.stm|title=London bid team delighted|work=BBC Sport|date=18 May 2004|access-date=3 August 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060313040837/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/olympics_2012/3725157.stm|archive-date=13 March 2006}} All five submitted their candidate files by 19 November 2004 and were visited by the IOC inspection team during February and March 2005. The Paris bid suffered two setbacks during the IOC inspection visit: a number of strikes and demonstrations coinciding with the visits, and a report that a key member of the bid team, Guy Drut, would face charges over alleged corrupt party political finances.{{Cite news|website=GamesBids.com|access-date=9 March 2005|url=http://www.gamesbids.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=1&id=1110389129|title=Day One Of Paris 2012 Inspection By IOC|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020064434/http://www.gamesbids.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=1&id=1110389129|archive-date=20 October 2006}}

Throughout the process, Paris was widely seen as the favourite, particularly as this was its third bid in recent years. London was initially seen as lagging behind Paris by a considerable margin.{{cite web|title=London wins 2012 Olympics|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/jul/06/olympics2012.olympicgames1|last=Oliver|first=Mark|date=6 July 2005|work=The Guardian|quote=The IOC president, Jacques Rogge, announced the result at 1248BST – around an hour after it had been decided in secret.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102192648/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/jul/06/olympics2012.olympicgames1|archive-date=2 January 2014|url-status=live}} Its position began to improve after the appointment of Lord Coe as the new chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) on 19 May 2004.{{cite web|url=http://bsr.london.edu/lbs-article/673/index.html|title=How London really won the games|access-date=24 June 2012|last=Payne|first=Michael|work=London Business School|archive-date=12 December 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121212085630/http://bsr.london.edu/lbs-article/673/index.html|url-status=dead}} In late August 2004, reports predicted a tie between London and Paris.{{Cite news|website=GamesBids.com|access-date=31 August 2004|url=http://www.gamesbids.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=1&id=1093970849|title=London And Paris Tie In 2012 Bid|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041107021325/http://www.gamesbids.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=1&id=1093970849|archive-date=7 November 2004}}

On 6 June 2005, the IOC released its evaluation reports for the five candidate cities. They did not contain any scores or rankings, but the report for Paris was considered the most positive. London was close behind, having closed most of the gap observed by the initial evaluation in 2004. New York and Madrid also received very positive evaluations.{{Cite news|website=GamesBids.com|access-date=6 June 2005|url=http://www.gamesbids.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=1&id=1118060827|title=Paris, London and New York Get Glowing IOC Reports|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060418052415/http://www.gamesbids.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=1&id=1118060827|archive-date=18 April 2006}} On 1 July 2005, when asked who would win, Jacques Rogge said, "I cannot predict it since I don't know how the IOC members will vote. But my gut feeling tells me that it will be very close. Perhaps it will come down to a difference of say ten votes, or maybe less."{{cite web|publisher=International Sailing Federation|website=sailing.org|access-date=6 March 2007|url=http://www.sailing.org/news/12257.php|title=Rogge Arrives in Singapore|date=1 July 2005|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118194440/http://www.sailing.org/news/12257.php|archive-date=18 January 2012}}

On 6 July 2005, the final selection was announced at the 117th IOC Session in Singapore. Moscow was the first city to be eliminated, followed by New York and Madrid. The final two contenders were London and Paris. At the end of the fourth round of voting, London won the right to host the 2012 Games with 54 votes to 50.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/4655555.stm|work=BBC Sport|title=London beats Paris to 2012 Games|date=6 July 2005|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170725072233/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/4655555.stm|archive-date=25 July 2017}}

The celebrations in London were short-lived, being overshadowed by bombings on London's transport system less than 24 hours after the announcement.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/sep/02/london.Olympics2012|title=The party that never was: capital marks the games at last|work=The Guardian|location=London|date=6 July 2005|access-date=22 August 2008|first=Andrew|last=Culf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002091306/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2005/sep/02/london.Olympics2012|archive-date=2 October 2008|url-status=live}} 12 years later, Paris would later be chosen as the host of the 2024 games in 2017.{{Cite web |date=13 September 2017 |title=IOC makes historic decision by simultaneously awarding Olympic Games 2024 to Paris and 2028 to Los Angeles |url=https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-makes-historic-decision-by-simultaneously-awarding-olympic-games-2024-to-paris-and-2028-to-los-angeles |access-date=26 August 2024 |website=Olympics}}

{{Main|2012 Summer Olympic development}}

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) was created to oversee the staging of the Games, and held its first board meeting on 3 October 2005.{{cite press release|url=http://www.lda.gov.uk/news-and-events/media-centre/press-releases/2005/locog-formally-established-at-first-meeting-of-london-2012-transition-board.aspx|title=LOCOG formally established at first meeting of London 2012 Transition Board|work=London Development Agency|date=3 October 2005|access-date=15 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119122828/http://www.lda.gov.uk/news-and-events/media-centre/press-releases/2005/locog-formally-established-at-first-meeting-of-london-2012-transition-board.aspx|archive-date=19 January 2012}} The committee, chaired by Lord Coe, was in charge of implementing and staging the Games, while the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), established in April 2006, was in charge of construction of the venues and infrastructure.{{cite press release|url=http://www.london2012.com/news/2006/07/lemley-chairs-first-oda-board-meeting.php|title=Lemley chairs first ODA board meeting|publisher=London 2012|access-date=15 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227155513/https://www.london2012.com/news/2006/07/lemley-chairs-first-oda-board-meeting.php|archive-date=27 February 2012}}

The Government Olympic Executive (GOE), a unit within the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), was the lead government body for coordinating the London 2012 Olympics. It focused on oversight of the Games, cross-programme management, and the London 2012 Olympic Legacy before and after the Games that would benefit London and the wider United Kingdom. The organisation was also responsible for the supervision of the £9.3 billion of public sector funding.{{cite web|url=http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/2012_olympic_games_and_paralympic_games/default.aspx|title=2012 Olympic Games & Paralympic Games|publisher=Department for Culture, Media and Sport|access-date=15 October 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026041400/http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/2012_olympic_games_and_paralympic_games/default.aspx|archive-date=26 October 2011}}

In August 2011, security concerns arose surrounding the hosting of the Olympic Games in London, following the 2011 England riots.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/10/sports/london-rioting-prompts-fears-over-soccer-matches-and-the-olympics.html|title=London Rioting Prompts Fears Over Soccer and Olympics|date=9 August 2011|access-date=11 August 2011|work=The New York Times|first1=Juliet|last1=Macur|first2=Eric|last2=Pfanner|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306212647/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/10/sports/london-rioting-prompts-fears-over-soccer-matches-and-the-olympics.html|archive-date=6 March 2012}} Some countries expressed safety concerns,{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8690809/London-riots-China-raises-questions-over-safety-of-2012-Olympic-Games.html|title=London riots: China raises questions over safety of 2012 Olympic Games|date=9 August 2011|access-date=11 August 2011|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|first=Peter|last=Foster|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811044036/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8690809/London-riots-China-raises-questions-over-safety-of-2012-Olympic-Games.html|archive-date=11 August 2011}} despite the IOC's assurance that the riots would not affect the Games.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/aug/09/london-riots-2012-olympics|title=London riots will not affect 2012 Olympic security, says IOC|date=9 August 2011|access-date=11 August 2011|work=The Guardian|location=London|first=Jamie|last=Jackson|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113193520/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/aug/09/london-riots-2012-olympics|archive-date=13 November 2013}} The IOC's Coordination Commission for the 2012 Games completed its tenth and final visit to London in March 2012. Its members concluded that "London is ready to host the world this summer".{{cite web|url=http://www.olympic.org/news?articlenewsgroup=-1&articleid=159094|title=London is ready to host the Olympic Games as excitement builds|publisher=Olympic.org|access-date=13 April 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815025657/http://www.olympic.org/news?articlenewsgroup=-1&articleid=159094|archive-date=15 August 2012}}

{{Main|Venues of the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics}}

File:London Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.jpg]]

The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games used a mixture of new venues, existing and historic facilities, and temporary facilities, some of them in well-known locations such as Hyde Park and Horse Guards Parade. After the Games, some of the new facilities would be reused in their Olympic form, while others were resized or relocated.{{cite web|url=http://www.excel-london.co.uk/mediacentre/pressoffice/london2012|title=London 2012|website=ExCel-London.co.uk|date=6 July 2005|access-date=15 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007091359/http://excel-london.co.uk/mediacentre/pressoffice/london2012|archive-date=7 October 2011}}

The majority of venues were divided into three zones within Greater London: the Olympic Zone, the River Zone and the Central Zone. In addition there were a few venues that, by necessity, were outside the boundaries of Greater London, such as the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy some {{convert|125|mi|0|abbr=on}} southwest of London, which hosted the sailing events. The football tournament was staged at several grounds around the UK.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/7758646.stm|title=Olympics 2012 venue guide|work=BBC Sport|access-date=15 October 2011|date=3 December 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304063707/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/7758646.stm|archive-date=4 March 2012}} Work began on the Park in December 2006, when a sports hall in Eton Manor was pulled down.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/olympics_2012/6179069.stm|title=Work begins on 2012 Olympic Park|work=BBC Sport|date=14 December 2006|access-date=15 October 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070112232122/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/olympics_2012/6179069.stm|archive-date=12 January 2007}} The athletes' village in Portland was completed in September 2011.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-14896476|title=Osprey Quay Olympic village topping out ceremony|work=BBC News|date=13 September 2011|access-date=15 October 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919010332/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-14896476|archive-date=19 September 2011}}

File:London Olympic Stadium West Ham.jpg ]]

In November 2004, the 200-hectare (500-acre) Olympic Park plans were revealed.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/olympics_2012/3990319.stm|title=London reveals Olympic Park plans|work=BBC Sport|date=8 November 2004|access-date=15 October 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051029094314/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/olympics_2012/3990319.stm|archive-date=29 October 2005}} The plans for the site were approved in September 2004 by Tower Hamlets, Newham, Hackney and Waltham Forest.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3639130.stm|title=2012 Olympic Park gets go ahead|work=BBC News|date=9 September 2004|access-date=15 October 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060618141714/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3639130.stm|archive-date=18 June 2006}} The redevelopment of the area to build the Olympic Park required compulsory purchase orders of property. The London Development Agency was in dispute with London and Continental Railways about the orders in November 2005. By May 2006, 86% of the land had been bought as businesses fought eviction.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4753045.stm|title=Probe into Olympic land evictions|work=BBC News|date=9 May 2006|access-date=15 October 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061215074617/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4753045.stm|archive-date=15 December 2006}} Residents who opposed the eviction tried to find ways to stop it by setting up campaigns, but they had to leave as 94% of land was bought and the other 6% bought as a £9 billion regeneration project started.{{cite news|last=Hartley |first=Debbie|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/7937133.stm|title=Stratford's last stand|work=BBC Sport|date=11 March 2009|access-date=15 October 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316082113/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/7937133.stm|archive-date=16 March 2009}}

There were some issues with the original venues not being challenging enough or being financially unviable. Both the Olympic road races and the mountain bike event were initially considered to be too easy, so they were eventually scheduled on new locations.{{cite web|url=http://www.london2012.com/games/olympic-sports/cycling-road.php|title=Cycling – Road|website=London2012.com|access-date=15 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907052443/http://www.london2012.com/games/olympic-sports/cycling-road.php|archive-date=7 September 2011}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/london_2012/7554020.stm|title=Essex venue to host 2012 biking|work=BBC Sport|date=11 August 2008|access-date=15 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113051820/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/london_2012/7554020.stm|archive-date=13 January 2009|url-status=live}} The Olympic marathon course, which was set to finish in the Olympic stadium, was moved to The Mall, since closing Tower Bridge was deemed to cause traffic problems in central London.{{cite news|last=Gibson|first=Owen|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/oct/04/london-2012-marathon-mall|title=London 2012 marathon to finish at The Mall despite East End protests|work=The Guardian|location=London|access-date=15 October 2011|date=4 October 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113193533/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/oct/04/london-2012-marathon-mall|archive-date=13 November 2013}} North Greenwich Arena 2 was scrapped in a cost-cutting exercise, Wembley Arena being used for badminton and rhythmic gymnastics events instead.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2008/10/17/greenwich_o2_wembley_feature.shtml|title=Greenwich or Wembley?|work=BBC London|date=17 October 2008|access-date=15 October 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203123600/http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2008/10/17/greenwich_o2_wembley_feature.shtml|archive-date=3 February 2012}}{{cite news|last=Henson|first=Mike|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/8101822.stm|title=Boxing chiefs voice 2012 concerns|work=BBC Sport|date=15 June 2009|access-date=15 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616012530/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/8101822.stm|archive-date=16 June 2009|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/8015377.stm|title=Wembley may stage Olympic boxing|work=BBC Sport|date=23 April 2009|access-date=15 October 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426065958/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/8015377.stm|archive-date=26 April 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.morethanthegames.co.uk/summer-sports/2610926-badminton-and-rhythmic-gymnastics-agree-london-2012-wembley-move|title=Badminton and rhythmic gymnastics agree to London 2012 Wembley move|website=MoreThanTheGames.co.uk|date=26 May 2010|access-date=15 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610234954/http://www.morethanthegames.co.uk/summer-sports/2610926-badminton-and-rhythmic-gymnastics-agree-london-2012-wembley-move|archive-date=10 June 2012}}

Test events were held throughout 2011 and 2012, either through an existing championship such as 2012 Wimbledon Championships or as a specially created event held under the banner of London Prepares.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/london_2012/9397066.stm|work=BBC Sport|title=London 2012 Olympic test event schedule unveiled|date=24 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227194749/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/london_2012/9397066.stm|archive-date=27 February 2011|url-status=live}} Team GB House was the British Olympic Association's operational HQ up to and during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Designed by architects Gebler Tooth on the top floor of an office building in Westfield Stratford City, it combined the team HQ, athletes' "Friends and Family" lounge, Press Centre, and VIP lounge.

File:St Pancras railway station MMB 31 395018.jpg high-speed service ran between St Pancras and Ebbsfleet, via Stratford.]]

IOC's initial evaluation felt that, if transport improvements were delivered in time for the Games, London would cope.{{cite web|url=http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Host_city_elections/2012_OG-Report_of_the_Evaluation_Commission.pdf|title=Report of the IOC Evaluation Commission for the Games of the XXX Olympiad in 2012|publisher=Olympic.org|access-date=23 June 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120803071036/http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Host_city_elections/2012_OG-Report_of_the_Evaluation_Commission.pdf|archive-date=3 August 2012}} Transport for London (TfL) carried out numerous improvements in preparation for 2012, including the expansion of the London Overground's East London Line, upgrades to the Docklands Light Railway and the North London Line, and the introduction of a new "Javelin" high-speed rail service.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/3957867.stm|work=BBC News|title=High-speed rail links confirmed|date=27 October 2004|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215114217/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/3957867.stm|archive-date=15 February 2009}} According to Network Rail, an additional 4,000 train services operated during the Games, and train operators ran longer trains during the day.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13534021|work=BBC News|title=Extra trains planned for visitors to London 2012 venues|date=25 May 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319063640/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13534021|archive-date=19 March 2012}} During the Games, Stratford International station was not served by any international services (just as it had not been before the Games),{{cite news|title=Eurostar 'will not stop' at Stratford International|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10154343|access-date=24 July 2012|work=BBC News|date=25 May 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303051015/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10154343|archive-date=3 March 2013}} westbound trains did not stop at Hackney Wick railway station,{{cite web|title=Hackney Wick|url=http://www.getaheadofthegames.com/travelinaffectedareas/city/transport/publictransportoverlay/hackneywick.html|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120719155804/http://www.getaheadofthegames.com/travelinaffectedareas/city/transport/publictransportoverlay/hackneywick.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 July 2012|work=Get Ahead of the Games|publisher=Transport for London|access-date=24 July 2012}} and Pudding Mill Lane DLR station closed entirely during the Games.{{cite web|title=Pudding Mill Lane|url=http://www.getaheadofthegames.com/travelinaffectedareas/city/transport/publictransportoverlay/439.html|work=Get Ahead of the Games|publisher=Transport for London|access-date=24 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723070306/http://www.getaheadofthegames.com/travelinaffectedareas/city/transport/publictransportoverlay/439.html|archive-date=23 July 2012}}

File:Emirates Air Line above Royal Victoria Dock - geograph.org.uk - 4709077.jpg crosses the River Thames between Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks.]]

TfL also built a £25 million cable car across the River Thames, called the Emirates Air Line, to link 2012 Olympics venues.{{Cite news|title=Thames cable car to link 2012 Olympic Games venues|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/10501313.stm|work=BBC News|access-date=4 July 2010|date=4 July 2010|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20120424194220/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10501313|archive-date=24 April 2012|url-status=live}} It was inaugurated in June 2012 and crosses the Thames between Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks, carrying up to 2,500 passengers an hour, cutting journey times between The O2 and the ExCeL exhibition centre and providing a crossing every 30 seconds.{{Cite press release|title=Plans unveiled for a new Thames crossing with London's first cable car system.|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/16125.aspx|access-date=5 July 2010|publisher=Transport for London|date=4 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100912182337/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/16125.aspx|archive-date=12 September 2010}}

The plan was to have 80% of athletes travel less than 20 minutes to their event{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmtran/588/588i.pdf|title=Going for Gold: Transport for London's 2012 Olympic Games|publisher=House of Commons Transport Committee|date=8 March 2006|access-date=15 October 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125061150/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmtran/588/588i.pdf|archive-date=25 November 2011}} and 93% of them within 30 minutes of their event.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/london_2012/4025027.stm|work=BBC Sport|title=London plan at-a-glance|date=6 July 2005|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209004335/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/london_2012/4025027.stm|archive-date=9 December 2008}} The Olympic Park would be served by ten separate railway lines with a combined capacity of 240,000 passengers per hour.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3866209.stm|work=BBC News|title=Free travel plan for Olympic bid|date=5 July 2004|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302113322/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3866209.stm|archive-date=2 March 2009}} In addition, LOCOG planned for 90% of the venues to be served by three or more types of public transport. Two park-and-ride sites off the M25 with a combined capacity of 12,000 cars were 25 minutes away from the Olympic Park. Another park-and-ride site was planned in Ebbsfleet with a capacity for 9,000 cars where spectators could board a 10-minute shuttle train service. To get spectators to Eton Dorney, four park-and-ride schemes were set up.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-14911974|title=Olympics 2012: Park and ride schemes for Dorney Lake events|work=BBC News|date=14 September 2011|access-date=15 October 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026054930/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-14911974|archive-date=26 October 2011}} These Park and Ride services were operated by First Games Transport.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/8516359.stm|title=FirstGroup wins Olympics bus contract|date=15 February 2010|work=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218202247/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/north_east/8516359.stm|archive-date=18 February 2010|url-status=live}}

TfL defined a network of roads leading between venues as the Olympic Route Network; roads connecting all of the Olympic venues located within London. Many of these roads also contained special "Olympic lanes" marked with the Olympic rings{{emdash}}reserved for the use of Olympic athletes, officials, and other VIPs during the Games. Members of the public driving in an Olympic lane were subject to a fine of £130. Additionally, London buses would not include roads with Olympic lanes on their routes.{{cite web|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/18196.aspx|title=Olympic and Paralympic route network|website=TfL.gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305060001/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/18196.aspx|archive-date=5 March 2012|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/olympics/olympic-news/revealed-the-road-signs-that-will-ban-drivers-from-olympic-lanes-6368234.html|last=Beard|first=Matthew|title=Revealed: the road signs that will ban drivers from Olympic lanes|newspaper=London Evening Standard|date=15 November 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704130857/http://www.standard.co.uk/olympics/olympic-news/revealed-the-road-signs-that-will-ban-drivers-from-olympic-lanes-6368234.html|archive-date=4 July 2017}}{{cite news |last=Tuffrey |first=Laurie |date=10 July 2012 |title=Olympics regulations force cyclists to dismount |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2012/jul/10/olympics-regulations-cyclists |url-status=live |access-date=24 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113192008/http://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2012/jul/10/olympics-regulations-cyclists |archive-date=13 November 2013}} Concerns were expressed at the logistics of spectators travelling to the events outside London. In particular, the sailing events at Portland had no direct motorway connections, and local roads are heavily congested by tourist traffic in the summer.{{cite web|url=http://www.panamericanchauffeurs.com/london_olympics_2012_airport_transfers.html|title=2012 London Olympic Games | London Chauffeur Limo Service|publisher=Panamerican Chauffeurs|date=6 July 2005|access-date=15 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103172317/http://www.panamericanchauffeurs.com/london_olympics_2012_airport_transfers.html|archive-date=3 November 2011}} However, a £77 million relief road connecting Weymouth to Dorchester was built and opened in 2011.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/6529709.stm|work=BBC News|title=Go-ahead won for £77m relief road|date=5 April 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006044624/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/6529709.stm|archive-date=6 October 2007}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-12769307|work=BBC News|title=Weymouth Olympic relief road is opened|date=17 March 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919012001/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-12769307|archive-date=19 September 2011}} Some £16 million was put aside for the rest of the improvements.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/8323724.stm|work=BBC News|title=Olympics road plans put on show|date=24 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027053339/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/dorset/8323724.stm|archive-date=27 October 2009|url-status=live}}

TfL created a promotional campaign and website, Get Ahead of the Games, to help provide information related to transport during the Olympics and Paralympics. Through the campaign, TfL also encouraged the use of cycling as a mode of transport.{{cite news|title=The Olympic commute... Get ahead of the Games by bike|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/the-olympic-commute-get-ahead-of-the-games-by-bike-7978591.html|newspaper=London Evening Standard|date=26 July 2012|last=Gardner|first=Jasmine|access-date=14 August 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120803001316/http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/the-olympic-commute-get-ahead-of-the-games-by-bike-7978591.html|archive-date=3 August 2012}} A temporary terminal was created at Heathrow Airport to be used by 10,100 departing athletes after the Games. Up to 35% more bags than normal were expected on 13 August, which was predicted to be the busiest day in the airport's history, according to Nick Cole, head of Olympic and Paralympic planning at Heathrow.

A study from Oxford University found that the sports-related costs of London 2012 amounted to US$15 billion, compared with $4.6 billion for Rio 2016, $40–44 billion for Beijing 2008, and $51 billion for Sochi 2014 (the most expensive Olympics in history). London 2012 went over budget by 76% in real terms, measured from bid to completion. The cost per athlete was $1.4 million.{{Cite book|ssrn=2804554|title=The Oxford Olympics Study 2016: Cost and Cost Overrun at the Games|last1=Flyvbjerg|first1=Bent|last2=Stewart|first2=Allison|last3=Budzier|first3=Alexander|publisher=Saïd Business School, University of Oxford|year=2016|doi=10.2139/ssrn.2804554 |arxiv=1607.04484 |s2cid=156794182 |issn = 1556-5068 }} This does not include wider costs for urban and transport infrastructure, which often equal or exceed the sports-related costs.

The costs of staging the Games were separate from those for building the venues and infrastructure and redeveloping the land for the Olympic Park. While the Games were privately funded, the venues and infrastructure were largely financed using public money.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the original budget for the Games was increased to about £9.3 billion (US$15.28 billion) in 2007.{{cite news|last=Pearman|first=Hugh|title=These Knock-Down, Shrinkable Games|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303754904577532921054250902|access-date=25 July 2012|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=24 July 2012|page=D6|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112014235/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303754904577532921054250902|archive-date=12 November 2020|url-access=subscription}} The revised figures were announced to the House of Commons on 15 March 2007 by Tessa Jowell. Along with East End regeneration costs, the breakdown was:

• Building the venues and infrastructure – £5.3 billion
• Elite sport and Paralympic funding – £400 million
• Security and policing – £600 million
• Regeneration of the Lower Lea Valley – £1.7 billion
• Contingency fund – £2.7 billion

Unpaid volunteers known as Games Makers performed a variety of tasks before and during the Games.{{cite web|title=Volunteering – Making the Games happen|url=http://www.london2012.com/volunteer|publisher=London 2012|access-date=15 April 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424201321/http://www.london2012.com/volunteer|archive-date=24 April 2012}} A target of 70,000 volunteers was set as early as 2004.{{cite news|last=Shifrin|first=Tash|title=Olympic appeal as volunteer target hit|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2004/feb/10/volunteering|access-date=15 April 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|date=10 February 2004|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113193705/http://www.theguardian.com/society/2004/feb/10/volunteering|archive-date=13 November 2013}} When recruitment took place in 2010, more than 240,000 applications were received.{{cite web|title=10 Games Maker facts|url=http://www.london2012.com/get-involved/volunteer/london-2012-games-makers/10-games-maker-facts.php|publisher=London 2012|access-date=15 April 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424204030/http://www.london2012.com/get-involved/volunteer/london-2012-games-makers/10-games-maker-facts.php|archive-date=24 April 2012}} Sebastian Coe said in February 2012, "Our Games Makers will contribute a total of around eight million volunteer hours during the Games and the Games simply wouldn't happen without them".{{cite news|title=Volunteers training day at Wembley Stadium as they prepare for Games|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9061305/London-2012-Olympics-volunteers-training-day-at-Wembley-Stadium-as-they-prepare-for-Games.html|access-date=15 April 2012|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|date=4 February 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206234020/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9061305/London-2012-Olympics-volunteers-training-day-at-Wembley-Stadium-as-they-prepare-for-Games.html|archive-date=6 February 2012}} The volunteers wore clothing that included purple and red polo shirts and jackets, beige trousers, grey socks and grey-and-white trainers, which they collected from the Uniform Distribution and Accreditation Centre. Volunteers also wore photo accreditation badges that were also worn by officials, athletes, family members and media, which gained them access to specific venues and buildings around the site.

Organisers estimated that some 8 million tickets would be available for the Olympic Games,{{cite web|title=Just the ticket|url=http://www.london2012.org/en/ourvision/Ticketing.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202155136/http://www.london2012.org/en/ourvision/Ticketing.htm|archive-date=2 February 2007|work=London 2012|access-date=20 July 2012}} and 1.5 million tickets for the Paralympic Games. LOCOG aimed to raise £375–£400 million in ticket sales. There were also free events such as marathon, triathlon and road cycling,{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Travel/wireStory?id=10171244|title=London Opens Ticket Process for 2012 Olympics|work=ABC News|access-date=20 May 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325093452/https://abcnews.go.com/Travel/wireStory?id=10171244|archive-date=25 March 2010}} although, for the first time in Olympic history, the sailing events were ticketed.{{cite web|author=ISAF|url=http://www.sailing.org/london2012/news/36364.php|title=ISAF: London 2012 Olympic Games Sailing Competition: What Is The Weymouth And Portland International Regatta?|publisher=Sailing.org|date=28 July 2011|access-date=15 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020014531/http://www.sailing.org/london2012/news/36364.php|archive-date=20 October 2011}} Eventually, more than 7,000,000 tickets were sold.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/at-london-olympics-empty-seats-have-organizers-scrambling-giving-away-tickets-to-children-and-soldiers/2012/07/29/gJQA6YVBJX_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Karla|last=Adam|title=At London Olympics, empty seats have organizers scrambling, giving away tickets to children and soldiers|date=30 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719170354/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/at-london-olympics-empty-seats-have-organizers-scrambling-giving-away-tickets-to-children-and-soldiers/2012/07/29/gJQA6YVBJX_story.html|archive-date=19 July 2017}} Following IOC rules, people applied for tickets from the NOC of their country of residence. European Union residents were able to apply for tickets in any EU country.{{cite news|last=Lynn|first=Guy|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18161743|work=BBC News|title=Ukrainian Olympic official 'willing to sell tickets to black market'|date=22 May 2012|access-date=8 June 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607222537/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18161743|archive-date=7 June 2012}}

In Great Britain, ticket prices ranged from £20 for many events to £2,012 for the most expensive seats at the opening ceremony. Some free tickets were given to military personnel as part of the Tickets For Troops scheme,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13758141|work=BBC News|title=Olympic tickets offered to UK Armed Forces members|date=14 June 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824064608/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13758141|archive-date=24 August 2011}} as well as to survivors and families of those who died during the 7 July 2005 London bombings.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13302220|work=BBC News|title=2012 Olympic tickets for 7/7 bomb attack victims|date=6 May 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719233157/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13302220|archive-date=19 July 2011}} Initially, people were able to apply for tickets via a website from 15 March until 26 April 2011. There was a huge demand for tickets, with a demand of more than three times the number of tickets available.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/13209306|work=BBC News|title=London 2012 Olympic ticket demand passes 20m|last=Bond|first=David|date=27 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806103645/http://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/13209306 |archive-date=6 August 2017 |url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14008482|work=BBC News|title=750,000 Olympics tickets sold in 'second chance' round|date=3 July 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825091749/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14008482|archive-date=25 August 2011}} On 11 May 2012 a round of nearly one million "second chance" tickets went on sale over a 10-day period between 23 June and 3 July 2011.{{cite news|title=Olympic tickets on sale in 'second chance' phase|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14066068|work=BBC News|access-date=17 August 2011|date=11 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718201248/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14066068|archive-date=18 July 2011|url-status=live}} About 1.7 million tickets were available for football and 600,000 for other sports, including archery, field hockey, football, judo, boxing and volleyball. Ten sports had sold out by 8 am of the first day.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13918958|work=BBC News|title=2012 Hopefuls miss out on tickets|date=26 June 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830050722/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13918958|archive-date=30 August 2011}}

File:The Olympic Clock in Trafalgar Square - geograph.org.uk - 2762728.jpg]]

During the closing ceremony of the 2008 Olympics, the Olympic Flag was formally handed over from the Mayor of Beijing to the Mayor of London. This was followed by a section highlighting London,{{cite web|author=Eight minute wonder|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2008/06/17/adrian_eight_minutes_feature.shtml|title=The BBC|publisher=BBC|date=17 June 2008|access-date=20 May 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090110133956/http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2008/06/17/adrian_eight_minutes_feature.shtml|archive-date=10 January 2009}} One month later, the Olympic and Paralympic flags were raised outside the London City Hall.{{cite web|url=http://legacy.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=18998|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113113104/http://legacy.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=18998|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 January 2012|title=1948 Olympians and 2012 hopefuls join Beijing heroes as Olympic and Paralympic flags raised at City Hall|publisher=Legacy.london.gov.uk|date=26 September 2008|access-date=15 October 2011}}

A countdown clock in Trafalgar Square was unveiled, 500 days before the Games.{{Cite news|title=London 2012 countdown clock stops in Trafalgar Square|work=BBC News|access-date=15 March 2011|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-12749912|date=15 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318075539/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-12749912|archive-date=18 March 2011|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/london-2012-olympics-blog/2011/jul/27/london-2012-year-to-go|location=London|work=The Guardian|first1=Scott|last1=Murray|first2=Katy|last2=Murrells|title=London 2012: The 'One Year To Go' Celebrations – as they happened|date=27 July 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104081343/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/london-2012-olympics-blog/2011/jul/27/london-2012-year-to-go|archive-date=4 January 2017}} It was a two-sided clock with the Paralympic countdown on the other side. The countdown to the start of the Olympics began with a ceremony for the lighting of the Olympic flame in Olympia, Greece.{{cite news|title=Olympic flame lit for London Games|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/tournaments/london-olympics/Olympic-flame-lit-for-London-Games/articleshow/13079554.cms|access-date=10 May 2012|work=The Times Of India|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510144844/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/tournaments/london-olympics/Olympic-flame-lit-for-London-Games/articleshow/13079554.cms|archive-date=10 May 2012}}

{{main|Security for the 2012 Summer Olympics}}

{{see also|Controversies surrounding G4S}}

The police led the security operation (named Operation Olympics by the Ministry of Defence), with 10,000 officers available, supported by 13,500 members of the British Armed Forces. Naval and air assets were deployed as part of the security operation, including ships situated in the Thames, Typhoon fighter jets and surface-to-air missiles;{{cite web|title=Manpower or mindset: Defence's contribution to the UK's pandemic response|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5801/cmselect/cmdfence/357/full-report.html|website=publications.parliament.uk|date=25 March 2020|access-date=12 August 2021|quote=Operation Olympics {{!}} 2012 {{!}} Wide-ranging support to delivery of the London Olympic [Games]|url-status=live|archive-date=5 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205222331/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5801/cmselect/cmdfence/357/full-report.html}} it was the biggest security operation Britain had faced in decades. The cost of security increased from £282 million to £553 million, and the figure of 13,500 armed forces personnel was greater than the number deployed at the time in Afghanistan.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16195861|title=London 2012: 13,500 troops to provide Olympic security|date=15 December 2011|work=BBC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111216022738/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16195861|archive-date=16 December 2011}} The Metropolitan Police and the Royal Marines carried out security exercises in preparation for the Olympics on 19 January 2012, with 50 marine police officers in rigid inflatables and fast response boats, joined by up to 100 military personnel and a Royal Navy Lynx helicopter.{{cite web|last=Seida |first=Jim |date=19 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315020234/http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/19/10192015-metropolitan-police-and-the-royal-marines-perform-security-exercises-in-preparation-for-london-olympics |title=Metropolitan Police and the Royal Marines perform security exercises in preparation for London Olympics |website=msnbc.com| url=http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/19/10192015-metropolitan-police-and-the-royal-marines-perform-security-exercises-in-preparation-for-london-olympics |archive-date=15 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}

The Ministry of Defence distributed leaflets to residents of the Lexington building in Bow, announcing that a missile system was to be stationed on top of the water tower.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/apr/29/london-rooftops-missiles-olympic-games|title=London rooftops to carry missiles during Olympic Games|last=Booth|first=Robert|newspaper=The Guardian|date=29 April 2012|location=London|access-date=29 April 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113192000/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/apr/29/london-rooftops-missiles-olympic-games|archive-date=13 November 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/9234544/London-Olympics-2012-MoD-rooftop-missile-base-plan-alarms-local-residents.html|title=London Olympics 2012: MoD rooftop missile base plan alarms local residents|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|date=29 April 2012|access-date=29 April 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429213246/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/9234544/London-Olympics-2012-MoD-rooftop-missile-base-plan-alarms-local-residents.html|archive-date=29 April 2012}} This caused concern to some residents. The Ministry said it probably would use Starstreak missiles and that site evaluations had taken place, but that no final decision had taken place.

File:USA London 2012 Silver Medal Front.jpg

Approximately 4,700{{cite web|url=http://www.royalmint.com/Corporate/media/London-2012-Olympic-games-victory-medals.aspx|title=London 2012 Olympic Games victory medals to be made by the Royal Mint|publisher=Royalmint.com|access-date=15 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025002237/http://www.royalmint.com/Corporate/media/London-2012-Olympic-games-victory-medals.aspx|archive-date=25 October 2011}} Olympic and Paralympic medals were produced by the Royal Mint at Llantrisant.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11989437|work=BBC News|title=London 2012 medals deal struck for Royal Mint in Llantrisant|date=14 December 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223050218/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11989437|archive-date=23 February 2012}} They were designed by David Watkins (Olympics) and Lin Cheung (Paralympics).{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-15475942|work=BBC News|title=London 2012: Olympic medals go into production in Wales|date=27 October 2011|access-date=4 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111228155844/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-15475942|archive-date=28 December 2011}} 99% of the gold, silver and copper was donated by Rio Tinto from a mine in Salt Lake County, Utah in the U.S.{{cite web|url=http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=20827055 |first1= John |last1=Hollenhorst | date=June 13, 2012 |title=Kennecott donating $7.3 million in gold, silver, bronze for Olympics|publisher=KSL.com|access-date=25 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624071037/http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=20827055|archive-date=24 June 2012}} The remaining 1% came from a Mongolian mine.{{cite web|url=http://sg.news.yahoo.com/mongolia-goes-gold-london-medals-192955303--finance.html|title=Mongolia goes for gold with London medals – Yahoo! News Singapore|publisher=Sg.news.yahoo.com|date=18 July 2012|access-date=28 October 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024195417/http://sg.news.yahoo.com/mongolia-goes-gold-london-medals-192955303--finance.html|archive-date=24 October 2012}} Each medal weighs {{convert|375|–|400|g|oz|abbr=on}}, has a diameter of {{convert|85|mm|in|abbr=on}} and is {{convert|7|mm|in|abbr=on}} thick, with the sport and discipline engraved on the rim.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18677289|work=BBC News|title=London 2012: Olympic medals locked in Tower|date=2 July 2012|access-date=4 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704142244/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18677289|archive-date=4 July 2012}} The obverse, as is traditional, features Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, stepping from the Panathinaiko Stadium that hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, with Parthenon in the background; the reverse features the Games logo, the River Thames and a series of lines representing "the energy of athletes and a sense of pulling together".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14291544|work=BBC News|title=London 2012: Olympic medals timeline|date=26 July 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727171350/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14291544|archive-date=27 July 2011}} The medals were transferred to the Tower of London vaults on 2 July 2012 for storage.

Each gold medal is 92.5 percent silver and 1.34 percent gold, with the remainder copper. The silver medal is 92.5 percent silver, with the remainder copper. The bronze medal is made up of 97 percent copper, 2.5 percent zinc, and 0.5 per cent tin.{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonydemarco/2012/07/26/a-closer-look-at-the-olympic-gold-medal/|work=Forbes|title=London's Olympic Gold Medal Worth The Most In The History Of The Games|date=26 July 2012|access-date=30 July 2012|first=Anthony|last=DeMarco|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729232146/http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonydemarco/2012/07/26/a-closer-look-at-the-olympic-gold-medal/|archive-date=29 July 2012}} The value of the materials in the gold medal was about £410 (US$644), the silver about £210 (US$330), and the bronze about £3 (US$4.71) as of 30 July 2012.{{cite news|url=http://olympics.yardbarker.com/blog/olympics/article/how_much_is_a_medal_actually_worth_not_as_much_as_youd_think/11334214|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731232433/http://olympics.yardbarker.com/blog/olympics/article/how_much_is_a_medal_actually_worth_not_as_much_as_youd_think/11334214|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 July 2012|work=Yardbarker.com|title=How much is a medal actually worth? Not as much as you'd think|date=30 July 2012}}

{{main|2012 Summer Olympics torch relay}}

The Olympics torch relay ran from 19 May to 27 July 2012, before the Games. Plans for the relay were developed in 2010–11, with the torch-bearer selection process announced on 18 May 2011.{{cite news|date=17 May 2011|title=London 2012 torch relay should focus on youth|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/8518637/London-2012-Olympics-torch-relay-should-focus-on-youth-says-Locog.html|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|access-date=17 May 2011|first=Jacquelin|last=Magnay|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521045410/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/8518637/London-2012-Olympics-torch-relay-should-focus-on-youth-says-Locog.html|archive-date=21 May 2011}} The torch was designed by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby.

On 18 May 2012 the Olympic flame arrived at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall from Greece{{cite web|date=18 May 2011|title=The Olympic Torch Relay|url=http://www.london2012.com/olympic-torch-relay|publisher=London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games|access-date=18 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608061845/http://www.london2012.com/olympic-torch-relay|archive-date=8 June 2011|url-status=dead}} on flight BA2012, operated by a British Airways Airbus A319 named "Firefly". The relay lasted 70 days, with 66 evening celebrations and six island visits, and involved some 8,000 people carrying the torch about {{convert|8000|mi|0|abbr=on}}, starting from Land's End in Cornwall.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13426353|work=BBC News|title=London 2012 Olympic torch relay route revealed|date=18 May 2011|access-date=18 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518081518/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13426353|archive-date=18 May 2011|url-status=live}} The torch had three days outside the United Kingdom when it visited the Isle of Man on 2 June, Dublin in Ireland, on 6 June,{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1208/breaking40.html|newspaper=The Irish Times|agency=Reuters|location=Dublin|title=Dublin to host Olympic Torch|date=8 December 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211165912/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1208/breaking40.html|archive-date=11 December 2011}} and both Guernsey and Jersey on 15 July.

The relay focused on National Heritage Sites, locations with sporting significance, key sporting events, schools registered with the Get Set School Network, green spaces and biodiversity, Live Sites (city locations with large screens), and festivals and other events.{{cite web|title=London Culture and 2012 Open Meeting|url=http://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/lcsg/docs/openmeetings/20091102/presentation3.pdf|publisher=Greater London Authority|access-date=19 May 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030062212/http://london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/lcsg/docs/openmeetings/20091102/presentation3.pdf|archive-date=30 October 2012}} Dumfries and Galloway was the only Region in the whole of the United Kingdom that had the Olympic Torch pass through it twice. A group of young athletes, nominated by retired Olympic athletes, ran the torch around the stadium. These torchbearers were Callum Airlie, Jordan Duckitt, Desiree Henry, Katie Kirk, Cameron MacRitchie, Aidan Reynolds, and Adelle Tracey. Together the torchbearers each lit a petal that spread the fire to the 204 petals of the cauldron, representing the countries that participated in the Games.{{cite news|last1=Urquhart|first1=Conal|title=Olympic Torchbearers who lit cauldron kept it secret from parents.|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk|access-date=8 December 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|date=28 July 2012|first2=Lizzy|last2=Davies|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214064224/http://www.guardian.co.uk/|archive-date=14 February 2012}} The cauldron was designed by Thomas Heatherwick.

The Olympic Park was planned to incorporate 45 hectares of wildlife habitat, with a total of 525 bird boxes and 150 bat boxes. Local waterways and riverbanks were enhanced as part of the process.{{cite web|url=http://www.london2012.com/news/archive/2009-02/new-biodiversity-plan-sets-out-future-for-olympic-park-wildlife.php|title=New biodiversity plan sets out future for Olympic Park wildlife|work=London 2012|access-date=5 March 2009|date=27 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309051828/http://www.london2012.com/news/archive/2009-02/new-biodiversity-plan-sets-out-future-for-olympic-park-wildlife.php|archive-date=9 March 2009|url-status=dead}} Renewable energy also featured at the Olympics. It was originally planned to provide 20% of the energy for the Olympic Park and Village from renewable technologies; however, only 9% of it was achieved.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13034546|title=London 2012 Olympics 'to miss renewable energy target'|work=BBC News|access-date=7 June 2011|date=11 April 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528023613/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13034546|archive-date=28 May 2011}} Proposals to meet the original target included large-scale on-site wind turbines and hydroelectric generators in the River Thames, but these plans were scrapped for safety reasons.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10234665|title=Olympic Games site wind turbine scrapped|work=BBC News|access-date=7 June 2011|date=4 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519213657/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10234665|archive-date=19 May 2011|url-status=live}} The focus subsequently moved to installing solar panels on some buildings, and providing the opportunity to recover energy from waste. Where it could not be reused or recycled, food packaging for use at the Olympics—including fast-food wrappers, sandwich boxes and drink cartons—was made from compostable materials like starch and cellulose-based bioplastics. After use, many of these materials were suitable for anaerobic digestion (AD), allowing them to be made into renewable energy.{{cite web|url=http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/news/compostable-bioplastics-set-for-big-win-at-london-olympics|title=Compostable bioplastics set for big win at London Olympics|work=NNFCC|access-date=31 May 2011|date=31 May 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606000417/http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/news/compostable-bioplastics-set-for-big-win-at-london-olympics|archive-date=6 June 2011}}

Post-Games, buildings like the Water Polo Arena were relocated elsewhere. Building parts like roofing covers and membranes of different temporary venues were recycled via VinyLoop. This allowed organisers to meet the standards of the Olympic Delivery Authority concerning environmental protection.

London 2012 inaugurated Olympic Games guidelines that included the recycling of PVC, which was used for temporary buildings such as the Basketball Arena and for the temporary parts of permanent venues such as the Olympic Stadium.{{cite web|title=London 2012 seeks sustainable solutions for temporary venues|url=http://www.london2012.com/news/articles/2009/5/london-2012-seeks-sustainable-solutions-for-temporary-ve-1243087.html|website=London2012|date=5 May 2009|access-date=20 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827113019/http://www.london2012.com/news/articles/2009/5/london-2012-seeks-sustainable-solutions-for-temporary-ve-1243087.html|archive-date=27 August 2012}} In the Water Polo Arena, PVC roofing was made from recycled cushions to provide insulation.{{cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.com/olympics/water-polo-arena_sto3329059/story.shtml|title=Water Polo Arena|date=2 July 2012|work=Eurosport}} Through this recycling process, the Olympic Games PVC Policy was fulfilled; the policy states:{{cite web|url=https://library.olympics.com/Default/doc/SYRACUSE/25798/policy-on-the-use-of-pvc-for-the-london-2012-olympic-and-paralympic-games-olympic-delivery-authority|title=Policy On The Use Of PVC For The London 2012 Olympic And Paralympic Games |date=2009 |page=4 |website=library.olympics.com |publisher=Olympic Delivery Authority |access-date=30 June 2023}}

:Where London 2012 procures PVC for temporary usage or where permanent usage is not assured, London 2012 is required to ensure that there is a take-back scheme that offers a closed-loop reuse system or mechanical recycling system for post-consumer waste.

According to Kirsten Henson, Materials Manager for the London 2012 Olympic Park: "The majority of temporary facilities created for the Olympic Games including the Aquatic centre temporary stands, basketball arena, Water Polo Arena, and the shooting facilities at the Royal Artillery Barracks, are essentially big tents. Basically, PVC stretched over lightweight steel frame. This design solution makes them efficient to install, reduces the need for any significant foundations and are, of course, reusable. We were challenged by the public around the use of PVC; but we considered it to be the right material for certain functions. We therefore challenged the PVC supply chain to have certain environmental performance criteria in place, including a take back and recycle scheme."{{cite web|url=http://www.plasticseurope.org/information-centre/televised-newslinks.aspx|title=Televised Newslinks: Discussing the Sustainability Legacy of the London Olympic Park |website=PlasticsEurope.org|date=22 June 2012|access-date=25 March 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308122835/http://www.plasticseurope.org/information-centre/televised-newslinks.aspx|archive-date=8 March 2013}}

{{Main|2012 Cultural Olympiad}}

File:Tower Bridge Olympic Lighting, London - July 2012.jpg

The Olympic Charter, the set of rules and guidelines for the organization of the Olympic Games and for governing the Olympic Movement, states that

LOCOG shall organise a programme of cultural events which must cover at least the entire period during which the Olympic Village is open.{{cite web|title=Olympic Charter|url=http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Olympic%20Charter/Charter_en_2010.pdf|publisher=International Olympic Committee|access-date=6 May 2011|page=80|date=11 February 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505101457/http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Olympic%20Charter/Charter_en_2010.pdf|archive-date=5 May 2011|df=dmy-all}}

The Cultural Olympiad comprised many programmes, with more than 500 events spread over four years across the whole of the United Kingdom, and culminating in the London 2012 Festival.{{cite web|title=Cultural Olympiad|url=http://www.london2012.com/cultural-olympiad|publisher=London 2012|access-date=27 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321172831/http://www.london2012.com/cultural-olympiad|archive-date=21 March 2012}}{{cite news|title=Cultural Olympiad 2012 reaches the critical masses|last=Brown|first=Mark|date=12 March 2012|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2012/mar/12/cultural-olympiad-2012-critical-masses|access-date=27 March 2012|location=London|work=The Guardian|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829180955/http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2012/mar/12/cultural-olympiad-2012-critical-masses|archive-date=29 August 2013}}

{{main|2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony|2012 Summer Olympics Parade of Nations}}

File:KOCIS Korea London Olympics TeamKorea 12 (7683500856).jpg

Titled "The Isles of Wonder", the opening ceremony began at 21:00 British Summer Time (UTC+1) on 27 July in the Olympic Stadium.{{cite web|url=http://blog.oup.com/2012/08/isles-of-wonder-bermuda-avalon-london-2012/|title=London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony called 'The Isles of Wonder'|date=27 January 2012|publisher=Olympics Medal Tally|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20120813181608/http://blog.oup.com/2012/08/isles-of-wonder-bermuda-avalon-london-2012/|archive-date=13 August 2012}} Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle was artistic director and Rick Smith of Underworld was musical director.{{cite web|title=Underworld announced as Music Directors for the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games|url=http://www.underworldlive.com/news/underworld-announced-as-music-directors-for-the-opening-ceremony-of-the-2012-london-olympic-games|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121216134401/http://www.underworldlive.com/news/underworld-announced-as-music-directors-for-the-opening-ceremony-of-the-2012-london-olympic-games|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 December 2012|date=n.d.|publisher=Underworld}} The opening ceremony was immediately seen as a tremendous success, widely praised as a "masterpiece" and "a love letter to Britain".{{cite web |last=Dawson |first=Andy |date=28 July 2012 |title=Boyle Command Performance is hampered by not-so-clever Trevor |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-reviews/bbcs-trevor-nelson-stumbles-but-danny-1177361 |access-date=31 July 2012 |work=Daily Mirror}}{{cite news |last1=Goldsmith |first1=Harvey |last2=Phillips |first2=Arlene |last3=Quantick |first3=David |last4=Brown |first4=Mick |last5=Beard |first5=Mary |date=29 July 2012 |title=London 2012: the experts' view of the Olympic opening ceremony |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9434563/London-2012-the-experts-view-of-the-Olympic-opening-ceremony.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=5 August 2012 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9434563/London-2012-the-experts-view-of-the-Olympic-opening-ceremony.html |archive-date=12 January 2022}}{{cbignore}} The principal sections of the artistic display represented Britain's Industrial Revolution, National Health Service, literary heritage, popular music and culture, and were noted for their vibrant storytelling and use of music.

The Games were officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19008471|title=Young athletes light London 2012 Olympic flame|work=BBC News|date=28 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728013818/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19008471|archive-date=28 July 2012}} This was the second Olympic Games opened personally by the Queen, the first being in 1976 in Montreal, Canada. The ceremony featured a short comic film starring Daniel Craig as secret agent James Bond and the Queen as herself.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/apr/02/london-2012-daniel-craig-olympics-bond|date=2 April 2012|title=London 2012: Daniel Craig to open Olympics as James Bond|work=The Guardian|location=London|access-date=2 April 2012|last=Child|first=Ben|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113193629/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/apr/02/london-2012-daniel-craig-olympics-bond|archive-date=13 November 2013}} There was also a musical comedy item starring Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean playing along with the London Symphony Orchestra.{{cite web|url=https://www.classicfm.com/artists/london-symphony-orchestra/rowan-atkinson-chariots-of-fire-sketch-2012-olympics/ |title=The iconic time Mr Bean played 'Chariots of Fire' with London Symphony Orchestra at the 2012 Olympics |last=Shaw Roberts |first=Maddy |work=Classic FM |date=4 August 2021 |access-date=27 June 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919234352/https://www.classicfm.com/artists/london-symphony-orchestra/rowan-atkinson-chariots-of-fire-sketch-2012-olympics/ |archive-date=19 September 2021}} These were widely ascribed to Britain's sense of humour.{{cite web |date=28 July 2012 |title=A "noisy, busy, witty, dizzying production": What the world thought of London 2012's opening ceremony |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/london-2012-what-the-world-thought-1178468 |access-date=22 August 2012 |work=Daily Mirror}}

Live musical performers included Frank Turner, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Mike Oldfield, Dizzee Rascal, Arctic Monkeys, and Sir Paul McCartney who performed "Hey Jude" as the closing act.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jun/06/paul-mccartney-london-olympics-ceremony|date=6 June 2012|title=Paul McCartney to close London Olympics opening ceremony|access-date=12 June 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|last=Martin|first=Dan|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113193635/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jun/06/paul-mccartney-london-olympics-ceremony|archive-date=13 November 2013}}{{cite news|first1=Michael|last1=Hirst|first2=Jenny|last2=Minard|first3=Christine|last3=Jeavans|title=London Olympic Games opening ceremony|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18906710|work=BBC Sport|date=27 July 2012|access-date=27 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727203543/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18906710|archive-date=27 July 2012}} Broadcast live on BBC One, the ceremony attracted a peak viewing audience of over 27 million in the UK.{{cite news|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/whats-new/weekly-top-30|title=Weekly Top 3 Programmes w/e 29 Jul 2012|work=BARB|date=10 August 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140919035351/http://www.barb.co.uk/whats-new/weekly-top-30|archive-date=19 September 2014}}

{{main|2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony|2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony flag bearers}}

The closing ceremony was held on 12 August. It featured a flashback fiesta to British music with The Who closing the performance. The ceremony also included a handover of the Olympic flag by Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, to Eduardo Paes, Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, the host city of the 2016 Summer Olympics.{{cite web|title=Closing Ceremony|url=http://www.london2012.com/spectators/ceremonies/closing-ceremony/|publisher=London 2012|access-date=20 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718061942/http://www.london2012.com/spectators/ceremonies/closing-ceremony/|archive-date=18 July 2012}} In his closing address, Jacques Rogge described the Games as "happy and glorious".{{Cite news |title="Happy and Glorious": London bids farewell to the Games |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/happy-and-glorious-london-bids-farewell-to-the-games |date=12 August 2012 |website=Olympic News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816021510/https://olympics.com/en/news/happy-and-glorious-london-bids-farewell-to-the-games |archive-date= 2024-08-16}}

[[File:2012 Summer olympics team numbers.svg|thumb|center|upright=2.8|Number of participating athletes by country

File:2012 Summer Olympic games countries.svg)]]

Around 10,500 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) took part,{{Cite news|title=Olympics – Countries|quote=From the 27th of July 2012 – 204 countries will send more than 10,000 athletes to compete in 300 events|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/countries|work=BBC Sport|access-date=19 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718221053/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/countries|archive-date=18 July 2012}} (85 countries acquired at least one medal: gold, silver or bronze){{cite web|url=http://www.london2012.com/medals/medal-count/|title=London 2012 Medal count|website=London2012.com|access-date=17 July 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120918203441/http://www.london2012.com/medals/medal-count/|archive-date=18 September 2012|url-status=dead}} surpassing the 1948 Summer Olympics in London and the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester as the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in the United Kingdom.{{Cite news|title=City of Manchester Stadium: The Wembley rescuers|last=Hubbard|first=Alan|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/city-of-manchester-stadium-the-wembley-rescuers-1132001.html|newspaper=The Independent|date=12 December 1999|access-date=13 July 2012|location=London|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109231106/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/city-of-manchester-stadium-the-wembley-rescuers-1132001.html|archive-date=9 November 2012}}

Three athletes from the Netherlands Antilles, which whose territory was dissolved in 2010 and lost its recognition during 123rd IOC session held during July 2011, and one athlete from South Sudan, which their NOC was recognized in 2015, participated as two independent athletes teams under the Olympic flag.{{cite web|title=Curtain comes down on 123rd IOC Session|url=http://www.olympic.org/ioc?articlenewsgroup=-1&articleid=133159|publisher=IOC|access-date=11 July 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606195922/http://www.olympic.org/ioc?articlenewsgroup=-1&articleid=133159|archive-date=6 June 2014}}

{{2012 Summer Olympics Participating National Olympic Committees}}

During the Games, some countries and continents had a "national house". These temporary meeting places for supporters, athletes and other followers were located throughout London.{{cite web|title=2012 Olympic Country Houses |url=http://www.londonprepares.com/olympic-national-pavilions |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403164124/http://www.londonprepares.com/olympic-national-pavilions |url-status=usurped |archive-date=3 April 2015 |website=LondonPrepares.com |access-date=10 May 2013}}{{cite web|title=Olympic National Hospitality Houses |url=http://www.londontown.com/London/Olympic-National-Hospitality-Houses |website=LondonTown.com |access-date=13 November 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=30 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630012140/http://www.londontown.com/London/Olympic-National-Hospitality-Houses}}

The 2012 Summer Olympics featured 26 different sports encompassing 39 disciplines and 302 events. In the list below, the number of events in each discipline is noted in parentheses.

Women's boxing was included in the programme for the first time, and 36 women competed in three weight classes. There was a special dispensation for the shooting events, which would otherwise have been illegal under UK gun law.{{cite news|last=Fraser|first=Andrew|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/olympics_2012/4162498.stm|title=Shooters seek handgun law change|date=19 August 2005|work=BBC Sport|access-date=30 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728033926/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/olympics_2012/4162498.stm|archive-date=28 July 2012}}{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=oly&id=3478179|title=British government relaxes gun laws on sport ahead of 2012 Olympics|date=8 July 2008|publisher=ESPN|access-date=30 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729225442/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=oly&id=3478179|archive-date=29 July 2013}} In tennis, mixed doubles returned to the Olympic programme for the first time since 1924.{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/tennis/event/mixed-doubles/index.html|title=Tennis: Mixed Doubles preview|website=NBCOlympics.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718215159/http://www.nbcolympics.com/tennis/event/mixed-doubles/index.html|archive-date=18 July 2012|url-status=dead}}

London's bid featured the same 28 sports that had been included in other recent Summer Olympics, but the IOC voted to drop baseball and softball from the 2012 Games just two days after London had been selected as the host city. There was an appeal, but the IOC voted to uphold the decision, and the two sports were scheduled to be discontinued after their last appearance at the 2008 Olympics.{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2005-07-08-baseball-softball-dropped_x.htm|title=Baseball, softball bumped from Olympics|first=Vicki|last=Michaelis|access-date=17 August 2008|date=8 July 2005|work=USA Today|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709024822/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2005-07-08-baseball-softball-dropped_x.htm|archive-date=9 July 2008}} The IOC then voted on whether or not to replace them; karate, squash, golf, roller sports and rugby sevens were considered. Karate and squash were the two final nominees, but neither received enough votes to reach the required two-thirds majority.

Although formal demonstration sports were eliminated after the 1992 Summer Olympics,{{cite web|url=http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/past/innovations_uk.asp?OLGT=1&OLGY=1996|title=International Olympic Committee – Olympic Games|publisher=Olympic.org|access-date=12 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912061938/http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/past/innovations_uk.asp?OLGT=1&OLGY=1996|archive-date=12 September 2008|url-status=live}} special tournaments for non-Olympic sports can be run during the Games, such as the Wushu tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics.{{cite web|url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/london-legislator-heads-for-beijing-wants-cricket-in-2012-olympics_10080420.html|title=London legislator heads for Beijing, wants cricket in 2012 Olympics|first=Dipankar|last=De Sarkar|work=Thaindian News |access-date=20 August 2008|date=6 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080815225429/http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/london-legislator-heads-for-beijing-wants-cricket-in-2012-olympics_10080420.html|archive-date=15 August 2008|url-status=live}} There were attempts to run Twenty20 cricket and netball{{cite web|url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/35597/Gordon-Brown-backs-Olympic-netball|title=Gordon Brown backs Olympic netball|work=Daily Express|location=UK|access-date=10 September 2008|date=20 February 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20080928201036/http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/35597/Gordon-Brown-backs-Olympic-netball|archive-date=28 September 2008}} tournaments alongside the 2012 Games, but neither campaign was successful.

{{see also|Chronological summary of the 2012 Summer Olympics}}

The final official schedule was released on 15 February 2011.{{cite news|title=London 2012 Olympic Games schedule released|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/london_2012/9397378.stm|access-date=25 May 2011|date=15 February 2011|work=BBC Sport|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012033641/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/london_2012/9397378.stm|archive-date=12 October 2011|url-status=live}}

{{#section:Chronological summary of the 2012 Summer Olympics|Calendar}}

File:Mo Farah and Usain Bolt 2012 Olympics (cropped).jpg (left) with Usain Bolt (right), demonstrating one another's famous gestures (the "Lightning Bolt" and "Mobot")]]

{{main|World and Olympic records set at the 2012 Summer Olympics}}

These Olympic Games resulted in 32 world records in eight sports. The largest number of records were set in swimming, at eight. China, Great Britain and the United States set the most records, with five each.

{{Main|2012 Summer Olympics medal table}}

{{Further|List of 2012 Summer Olympics medal winners}}

A total of 85 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) won medals, 54 of those countries winning at least one gold medal. Seven NOCs won their first ever Olympic medal: Bahrain (gold),{{Cite web |url=https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/london-2012/results/athletics/1500m-women |title=London 2012, Athletics, 1500m Women, Results |date=7 March 2019 |website=olympics.com |access-date=28 October 2017 |archive-date=18 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518015822/http://www.olympic.org/olympic-results/london-2012/athletics/1500m-w |url-status=live}} Botswana (silver),{{Cite news|last=Beaumont|first=Mark|date=4 February 2014|title=Queen's Baton Relay: Nijel Amos, building on Olympic success|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-queens-baton-relay-26035470|access-date=13 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411000739/http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-queens-baton-relay-26035470|archive-date=11 April 2021|url-status=live}} Cyprus (silver),{{cite web|title=Cyprus celebrates first Olympic medal as Kontides claims silver|url=https://olympics.com/en/news/cyprus-celebrates-first-olympic-medal-as-kontides-claims-silver|website=olympics.com|access-date=29 June 2023|date=31 March 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103140820/https://olympics.com/en/news/cyprus-celebrates-first-olympic-medal-as-kontides-claims-silver|archive-date=3 January 2022}} Gabon (silver),{{cite news|title=Molfetta wins Olympic gold in men's plus-80K|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20120811/oly-tae-men-s-over-80k/|date=11 August 2012|work=Huffington Post|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610054353/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20120811/oly-tae-men-s-over-80k/|archive-date=10 June 2013}} Grenada (gold),{{cite news|title=Grenada's Kirani James wins Olympic 400m gold|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18909277|work=BBC Sport|last=Fordyce|first=Tom|date=6 August 2012|access-date=9 August 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120809003248/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18909277|archive-date=9 August 2012}} Guatemala (silver),{{cite news|title=Chen wins Olympic 20km walk, history for Guatemala|agency=Reuters|url=http://asia.eurosport.com/athletics/olympic-games-london/2012/chen-wins-20km-walk_sto3375063/story-london.shtml|work=Eurosport Asia|date=5 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806182827/http://asia.eurosport.com/athletics/olympic-games-london/2012/chen-wins-20km-walk_sto3375063/story-london.shtml|archive-date=6 August 2012 }} and Montenegro (silver).{{cite news|title=Olympics handball: Norway beat Montenegro to women's gold|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18912978|work=BBC Sport|date=11 August 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812083720/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18912978|archive-date=12 August 2012}} The United States finished at the top of the table, winning 48 gold medals and a total of 104 medals. China finished second with 38 gold medals and 91 medals overall, and hosts Great Britain came in third place, winning 29 gold medals and 65 medals overall in their best performance since London hosted its first Summer Olympics in 1908, pushing Russia—who won 18 gold medals and 64 medals in total, after doping redistributions (initially 24 gold and 82 total)—into fourth place.

;Key

{{Color box|#ffffff| ‡ |border=darkgray}} Changes in medal standings (see subpage)

{{:2012 Summer Olympics medal table}}

{{Main|List of 2012 Summer Olympics broadcasters}}

File:Here East bus (34746755072).jpg, the former London Olympics Media Centre. It now accommodates campuses for Staffordshire University, Loughborough University and University College London and is a location for start-up businesses.{{cite web |date=26 February 2014 |title=iCITY approved and new name revealed |url=https://news.hackney.gov.uk/icity-approved-and-new-name-revealed/ |access-date=15 October 2019 |publisher=Hackney Council}}]]

The host broadcaster was Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), an agency of the IOC. The OBS used its own cameras and crews subcontracted from other Olympic broadcasters to cover the events. The base video and audio were sold to other broadcasters, who added their own commentary and presentation.

The official recording format of the 2012 Summer Olympics used Panasonic's digital technologies. The official video was produced and distributed from the International Broadcast Centre in 1080/50i High-Definition (HD) format. Panasonic announced that DVCPRO HD would be the official recording format. OBS London used P2 HD shoulder-mount camcorders.{{cite press release|title=Panasonic Announces 3D P2 HD Shoulder-Mount Camcorder ... for London 2012 Olympic Games|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110410005065/en/Panasonic-Announces-3D-P2-HD-Shoulder-Mount-Camcorder|publisher=Panasonic|access-date=25 May 2011|date=10 April 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414131953/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110410005065/en/Panasonic-Announces-3D-P2-HD-Shoulder-Mount-Camcorder|archive-date=14 April 2011}}

The IOC wanted television coverage to reach as broad a worldwide audience as possible, and several national and regional broadcasters covered London 2012. In the UK, the BBC carried the Olympics and Channel 4 the Paralympics. The BBC aimed to broadcast all 5,000 hours of the Games.{{cite web|date=29 September 2010|title=Roger Mosey's Blog|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/rogermosey/2010/06/highlighting_an_issue.html|publisher=BBC|access-date=29 September 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703005322/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/rogermosey/2010/06/highlighting_an_issue.html|archive-date=3 July 2010}} BBC Parliament's Freeview channel was suspended, BBC Three's on-air time was extended so that it could show Olympic events in the daytime, and 24 additional BBC Olympics channels were available via cable, satellite and the internet in the UK.

The US television rights, owned by NBC, accounted for more than half the rights revenue for the IOC. Despite high viewership, many viewers were disappointed with NBC's coverage.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/sports/july-dec12/olympics2_07-31.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140121193734/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/sports/july-dec12/olympics2_07-31.html|url-status=dead|title=Social Media Users Express Disappointment with NBC's Olympics Coverage|website=PBS|archive-date=21 January 2014}} The operations of broadcasters granted rights to the Games were hosted in the dedicated International Broadcast Centre inside the security cordon of the Olympic Park. YouTube planned to stream the Games in 64 territories in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa where there were no official broadcasters.{{cite web|url=https://support.google.com/youtube/bin/static.py?hl=en&guide=2675200&page=guide.cs|title=2012 Olympics on YouTube – YouTube Help|access-date=25 March 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509114121/https://support.google.com/youtube/bin/static.py?hl=en&guide=2675200&page=guide.cs|archive-date=9 May 2013}}

In Sri Lanka a dispute occurred between Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) and MBC Networks (MTV/MBC) as to who was the official broadcaster of the Games. This problem was caused as Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) had offered the official broadcasting rights to both networks, as both of the networks were ABU members. So SLRC filed a case against MBC Networks for broadcasting rights at the Colombo Magistrate's Court. Considering the case, the court issued a special court order preventing MBC Networks' Olympic broadcast and stated that SLRC should be the sole broadcaster.{{cite web|url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=18124|title=Olympic broadcasting rights only to Rupavahini|date=17 May 2012|website=AdaDerana.lk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630031020/http://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=18124|archive-date=30 June 2017|url-status=live}} However, when the Games started, both networks broadcast most of the events simultaneously. Another dispute had previously occurred between Carlton Sports Network (CSN) and SLRC, but the Sports Minister, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, had stated that SLRC had the exclusive rights.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/sinhala/news/story/2012/03/120319_csn_rupavahini_olympics.shtml|title=BBCSinhala.com – Sandeshaya – Olympic rights 'will not be transferred'|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111234445/http://www.bbc.com/sinhala/news/story/2012/03/120319_csn_rupavahini_olympics.shtml|archive-date=11 January 2016}}

In November 2012, the IOC announced the winners of the Golden Ring Awards for the best broadcast coverage of the Games. Best Olympic Sports Production was awarded to the sailing, produced by Christopher Lincoln, Gary Milkis, and Ursula Romero. The production for the canoe/kayak slalom and the rowing/canoe sprint came second and third respectively. The award for Best On Air Promotion went to NBC with Foxtel and ZDF finishing second and third. NBC Olympics also won the Best Olympic Feature category, as Sky Italia came second and ZDF third. The Best Athlete Profile award went to TV Record's profile of Sarah Menezes, NBC came second with their profile of David Rudisha, and ESPN Latin America took third place with a profile of Miguel Correa and Ruben Rezola. The award for Best Olympic Programme went to NBC, host broadcasters the BBC took second place for Super Saturday (the middle Saturday of the Games), and third place was claimed by the Nine Network for their live coverage of Day 16 of the Games.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-honours-broadcasters-for-london-2012-coverage|date=30 November 2012|work=IOC|title=IOC honours broadcasters for London 2012 coverage|access-date=12 January 2019|archive-date=15 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210315174921/https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-honours-broadcasters-for-london-2012-coverage|url-status=live}}

{{main|2012 Summer Olympics marketing}}

"Survival" by Muse was announced as the official song of the Olympics,{{cite news|title=Muse unveil official Olympic song|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18607319|work=BBC News|date=28 June 2012|access-date=27 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120706133638/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18607319|archive-date=6 July 2012}} to be played by international broadcasters reporting on the Games.{{cite news|title=Muse song Survival unveiled as the official London 2012 Olympic theme tune|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/olympicsvideo/9361112/Muse-song-Survival-unveiled-as-the-official-London-2012-Olympic-theme-tune.html|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=28 June 2012|access-date=27 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723014552/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/olympicsvideo/9361112/Muse-song-Survival-unveiled-as-the-official-London-2012-Olympic-theme-tune.html|archive-date=23 July 2012}} The track was noted to express a sense of conviction and determination to win.{{cite news |date=28 June 2012 |title=Olympics 2012: Five things Survival by Muse tells us about sporting anthems |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-18624954 |access-date=10 October 2023}} In August 2009, the Royal Mail commissioned artists and illustrators to design 30 stamps, which were released in batches of 10 between 2009 and 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www2.royalmailgroup.com/news/2009/royal-mail-launches-major-series-olympic-stamps-london-2012|title=Welcome to Royal Mail Group|publisher=royalmailgroup.com|date=24 August 2009|access-date=15 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118174139/http://www.royalmailgroup.com/news/2009/royal-mail-launches-major-series-olympic-stamps-london-2012|archive-date=18 January 2012|url-status=dead}} The last ones were released on 22 July 2011.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14244890|work=BBC News|title=Year-to-go Olympic stamps unveiled by Royal Mail|date=22 July 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920080303/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14244890|archive-date=20 September 2011}} Two £5 coins designed by Saiman Miah have been made to commemorate the Olympics.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15718464|title=London 2012 £5 coin design success for Midlands pair|work=BBC News|date=14 November 2011|access-date=31 May 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229114002/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15718464|archive-date=29 December 2011}} As with other Olympics since 1952, the Royal Mint will strike a set of commemorative one-kilogram gold and silver coins.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/nov/23/olympic-one-kilo-coins-unveiled|title=Olympic one kilo coins to mark London 2012 Games unveiled|first=Maev|last=Kennedy|newspaper=The Guardian|date=23 November 2011|access-date=21 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113193742/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/nov/23/olympic-one-kilo-coins-unveiled|archive-date=13 November 2013}}

The official motto for the 2012 Summer Olympics is "Inspire a generation". It was chosen to highlight the organisers' commitment to inspire the world, including younger generations, to get involved in sporting events through the Games' legacy.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9210790/London-2012-Olympics-Inspire-a-Generation-unveiled-as-official-slogan-for-Games.html|title=London 2012 Olympics: 'Inspire a Generation' unveiled as official slogan for Games|date=18 April 2012 |publisher=The Telegraph|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227124347/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9210790/London-2012-Olympics-Inspire-a-Generation-unveiled-as-official-slogan-for-Games.html|archive-date=27 December 2017}} A secondary motto of "Be part of it" was also used throughout marketing.{{cite web |title=London 2012 – Emblem |url=http://www.theolympicdesign.com/olympic-games/emblems/london-2012/ |access-date=11 April 2024 |website=theolympicdesign – Olympic Design Webseite! }}

There have been two London 2012 logos: one used for the bidding process, and the other used in the branding for the Games themselves. The bid logo, created by Kino Design, was a ribbon with blue, yellow, black, green, and red stripes winding through the text "LONDON 2012", making the shape of the River Thames in East London. The main logo, designed by Wolff Olins and published on 4 June 2007, is a representation of the number 2012, with the Olympic Rings embedded within the zero.{{cite web|url=http://www.london2012.com/about-newlook-video.html|title=The new London 2012 brand|publisher=London 2012|date=4 June 2007|access-date=4 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070606204757/http://www.london2012.com/about-newlook-video.html|archive-date=6 June 2007}}

{{Wide image|2012 Summer Olympics logos.svg|640px|The Paralympics logo (far left) and the different official colour combinations for the Wolff Olins main logo design}}

Public reaction to the main logo in a June 2007 BBC poll was negative; more than 80% of votes gave it the lowest possible rating.{{cite web|url=http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/olympics_2012/6718243.stm|title=London unveils logo of 2012 Games|website=BBC Sport|date=4 June 2007|archive-date=10 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610021432/http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/olympics_2012/6718243.stm|url-status=live}} Several newspapers ran their own logo competitions, displaying alternative submissions from their readers,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/06/world/europe/06iht-brits.4.6026414.html?_r=1|title=British turn up their noses at London Olympics logo|newspaper=The New York Times|date=6 June 2007|last=Cowell|first=Alan|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314212803/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/06/world/europe/06iht-brits.4.6026414.html?_r=1|archive-date=14 March 2017}} and several writers from news agencies criticised the logo.{{cite web|last=Stocks|first=Claire|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/sporteditors/2007/06/why_we_should_give_london_2012.html|title=Why we should give London 2012 logo a chance|work=BBC Sport Editors' Blog|date=5 June 2007|access-date=20 May 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429104334/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/sporteditors/2007/06/why_we_should_give_london_2012.html|archive-date=29 April 2009}}{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6724245.stm|title=Epilepsy fears over 2012 footage|work=BBC News|access-date=5 June 2007|date=5 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711041435/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6724245.stm|archive-date=11 July 2007|url-status=live}} It was suggested that the logo resembled the American cartoon characters Lisa Simpson and Bart Simpson performing fellatio.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/artblog/2007/jun/05/howlisasimpsontooktheolym|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|title=How Lisa Simpson got ahead at the Olympics|first=Jonathan|last=Glancey|date=5 June 2007|access-date=16 November 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030064109/http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/artblog/2007/jun/05/howlisasimpsontooktheolym|archive-date=30 October 2013}}{{cite news |last=Montgomery |first=Angus |date=23 July 2012 |title=London 2012 design icons – the Olympic logo |url=https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/may-2012/london-2012-design-icons-the-olympic-logo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224003341/https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/may-2012/london-2012-design-icons-the-olympic-logo/ |archive-date=24 December 2023 |access-date=7 July 2024 |newspaper=Design Week}} In February 2011, Iran threatened to boycott the Olympics, complaining that the logo appeared to spell out the word "Zion". However, this boycott did not occur.{{cite news|title=London Olympics: Iran to compete despite logo complaint|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12724166|work=BBC News|date=12 March 2011|access-date=24 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120807133208/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12724166|archive-date=7 August 2012}}

{{color box|#F10D90||}}{{color box|#00B9FF||}}{{color box|#0DD385||}}{{color box|#FF7C00||}} The four main colours used in the branding of the Games were pink, blue, green and orange. These colours were chosen to showcase the spirit of the Games: energetic, spirited, youthful, and bright.

{{color box|#6A117C||}}{{color box|grey||}}{{color box|Gold||}} The auxiliary colours used in the branding were dark purple, grey, and gold. These were mostly used in symbols and graphics to offset the brightness of the main colours.

{{Main|Wenlock and Mandeville}}

The official mascots for the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games were unveiled on 19 May 2010.{{Cite news|title=London 2012 unveils Games mascots Wenlock & Mandeville|work=BBC Sport|date=19 May 2010|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/london_2012/8690467.stm|access-date=19 May 2010|first=Gordon|last=Farquhar|archive-url=https://archive.today/20100522124841/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/london_2012/8690467.stm|archive-date=22 May 2010|url-status=live}} Wenlock and Mandeville are animations depicting two drops of steel from a steelworks in Bolton.

They are named after Much Wenlock, a town in Shropshire that holds a forerunner of the current Olympic Games, and Stoke Mandeville, a village in Buckinghamshire where a forerunner of the Paralympic Games was first held. The writer Michael Morpurgo wrote the story concept for the mascots, and an animation was produced.{{cite web|title=The London 2012 mascots|publisher=London 2012|date=19 May 2010|url=http://www.ourlondon2012.com/mascots/|access-date=20 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521054503/http://www.ourlondon2012.com/mascots/|archive-date=21 May 2010|url-status=dead}} Four stories have been created about the mascots: Out Of A Rainbow, Adventures On A Rainbow, Rainbow Rescue, and Rainbow to the Games.{{cite web|url=http://www.mylondon2012.com/mascots/|title=Home – London 2012 Mascots|publisher=Mylondon2012.com|access-date=15 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008102110/http://www.mylondon2012.com/mascots/|archive-date=8 October 2011}}

Creative Review magazine liked the mascots,{{cite web|url=http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2010/may/olympics-mascots|title=Wenlock & Mandeville: London's Olympic mascots|publisher=Creative Review blog|access-date=16 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913081608/http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2010/may/olympics-mascots|archive-date=13 September 2012}} but elsewhere their design was greeted with some disdain. However, the mascots' creators claim that young people find the duo appealing.{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/news/?newsId=3224807.html|title=Interview: London 2012 Olympic mascots' creator discusses their design|work=Digital Arts|access-date=16 May 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002091349/http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/news/illustration/interview-london-2012-olympic-mascots-creator-discusses-their-design/|archive-date=2 October 2012}}

The 1981 Best Picture Oscar–winning film Chariots of Fire, which tells the story of two British athletes in the 1924 Olympics, was a recurring theme in promotions for the 2012 Olympics.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1yLRK2M8YQ|title=London Fireworks 2012 – New Year Live – BBC One|publisher=YouTube|date=1 January 2012|access-date=23 June 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20120722233546/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1yLRK2M8YQ|archive-date=22 July 2012}} A digitally re-mastered version of Chariots of Fire was released on 13 July 2012 and screened in over 100 UK cinemas as part of the celebrations,{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/news/173|title=Chariots of Fire returns to UK cinemas ahead of the Olympics|date=23 March 2012|work=British Film Institute|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328130757/http://www.bfi.org.uk/news/173|archive-date=28 March 2012|url-status=dead}} and a 2012 stage adaptation ran in London theatres from 9 May 2012 to 5 January 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-chariots-of-fire-olympics-20120418,0,7064980.story|title='Chariots of Fire' is West End-bound, coinciding with Olympics|last=Ng|first=David|date=18 April 2012|work=Los Angeles Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502183351/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-chariots-of-fire-olympics-20120418,0,7064980.story|archive-date=2 May 2012|url-status=live}} The film's theme tune was performed during the opening ceremony by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Simon Rattle. The performance was accompanied by a comedic skit by Rowan Atkinson, which included the opening beach-running footage from the film.{{cite web|title=Mr. Bean's 'Chariots Of Fire' Skit At 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/367792/20120727/mr-bean-rowan-atkinson-olympic-opening-ceremony.htm|work=International Business Times|date=27 July 2012|access-date=29 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731030715/http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/367792/20120727/mr-bean-rowan-atkinson-olympic-opening-ceremony.htm|archive-date=31 July 2012}} A new orchestration of the film's theme tune was played during each medal presentation of the Games.{{cite web|url=http://www.newagemusicworld.com/olympic-song-chariots-of-fire-by-vangelis|title=Olympic Song – Chariots of Fire by Vangelis|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805045843/http://www.newagemusicworld.com/olympic-song-chariots-of-fire-by-vangelis/|archive-date=5 August 2012}}

{{main|Controversies at the 2012 Summer Olympics}}

During the lead-up to the Games, there were controversies over sponsorship,{{cite news|last=Carman|first=Tim|date=18 July 2012|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/mcdonalds-olympian-achievement-in-london-a-french-fry-monopoly-and-largest-fast-food-restaurant/2012/07/18/gJQAZ6tQuW_story.html|title=McDonald's Olympian achievement in London: A French fry monopoly and largest fast-food restaurant|newspaper=The Washington Post|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719175857/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/mcdonalds-olympian-achievement-in-london-a-french-fry-monopoly-and-largest-fast-food-restaurant/2012/07/18/gJQAZ6tQuW_story.html|archive-date=19 July 2017}} the athletes' use of social media, and several political issues. After a complicated lottery process, thousands of people failed to secure seats for the events they wanted, but a large number of empty seats were observed early in the Games, even at some of the most popular events. There was speculation that this was due to a failure of corporate sponsors to make use of tickets they had received.

During the Games, eight competitors in the badminton women's doubles were disqualified for "not using best efforts", when they tried to lose matches in the group stage to obtain more favourable fixtures in the knockout rounds.{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-blogs/badminton/all-eight-women-disqualified-for-throwing-badminton-matches.html|title=All eight women disqualified for throwing badminton matches|date=1 August 2012|website=NBCOlympics.com|last=Harris|first=Rob|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801173250/http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-blogs/badminton/all-eight-women-disqualified-for-throwing-badminton-matches.html|archive-date=1 August 2012}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19072677|title=Olympics badminton: Eight women disqualified from doubles|work=BBC Sport|date=1 August 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903130250/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19072677|archive-date=3 September 2012}} A number of results in boxing, gymnastics and judo were overturned by officials after initial decisions were appealed against.{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-blogs/boxing/olympic-boxing-officials-punished-for-controversial-rulings.html|title=Boxing referee expelled from Olympics after scandal|website=NBCOlympics.com|last=Maquinana|first=Ryan|date=13 August 2011|access-date=2 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814203322/http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-blogs/boxing/olympic-boxing-officials-punished-for-controversial-rulings.html|archive-date=14 August 2012}}{{cite news|last=John|first=Emma|title=Olympics: Kristian Thomas keeps cool as Team GB grab gymnastics bronze|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jul/30/london-2012-great-britain-gymnastics|access-date=14 August 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|date=30 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113193738/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jul/30/london-2012-great-britain-gymnastics|archive-date=13 November 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j3bNS7fgOzpv5yhYWWpsIawrm3HQ?docId=CNG.174be06ad8ee4755308494817ef96f0e.a21|title=Farcical scenes in Japan-Korea judo quarter final|agency=AFP|last=Chesterman|first=Barnaby|via=google.com|date=29 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226074712/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j3bNS7fgOzpv5yhYWWpsIawrm3HQ?docId=CNG.174be06ad8ee4755308494817ef96f0e.a21|archive-date=26 February 2014}}

{{main|Use of performance-enhancing drugs in the Olympic Games#2012 London}}

It was announced before the Summer Games that half of all the competitors would be tested for drugs, with 150 scientists set to take 6,000 samples between the start of the Games and the end of the Paralympic Games.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18849517|title=London 2012: All medallists to be drugs tested at Olympics|work=BBC Sport|access-date=28 July 2012|date=15 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729034932/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18849517|archive-date=29 July 2012}} Every competitor who won a medal was also tested. The Olympic laboratory tested up to 400 samples every day for more than 240 prohibited substances.

Although there were less than 10 doping violations detected during the games, in the years following many samples were retested with improved laboratory procedures. This resulted in a large number of disqualifications and rescinded medals. As of mid 2024, 44 medals have been stripped due to doping violations with around 130 total disqualifications.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/21/sports/olympics/olympics-doping-medals-stripped.html |title=Olympics History Rewritten: New Doping Tests Topple the Podium |work=The New York Times |date=21 November 2016 |first=Rebecca |last=Ruiz |access-date=27 July 2024}} In particular, almost 50 were from Russian athletes. Testing for drugs was completed by GSK (GlaxoSmithKline).{{Cite web|date=16 July 2012|title=GlaxoSmithKline celebrates its role in supporting the biggest anti-doping operation in the history of the Olympic Games|url=https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/media/press-releases/glaxosmithkline-celebrates-its-role-in-supporting-the-biggest-anti-doping-operation-in-the-history-of-the-olympic-games/|website=GSK|access-date=31 July 2020|archive-date=13 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813094028/https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/media/press-releases/glaxosmithkline-celebrates-its-role-in-supporting-the-biggest-anti-doping-operation-in-the-history-of-the-olympic-games/|url-status=live}}

In the movie 2012, numerous earthquakes occur around the globe as a result of the 2012 apocalypse, while the games are put on hold amid protests marched to 10 Downing Street, as reported in a news broadcast on television.

{{IOC seealso|games=2012 Summer Olympics}}

• 2012 Olympic hunger summit
• Twenty Twelve, a comedy mockumentary featuring a fictional London Olympics committee

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite journal|last1=Jaworska|first1=Sylvia|last2=Hunt|first2=Sally|title=Intersections and differentiations: a corpus-assisted discourse study of gender representations in the British press before, during and after the London Olympics 2012|journal=Gender and Language|volume=11|issue=3|pages=336–364|doi=10.1558/genl.28858|year=2017|url=http://centaur.reading.ac.uk/56337/1/Intersections%20of%20Gender%20Nation%20and%20Race_resub_to%20GaL_revised%20220216.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427094422/http://centaur.reading.ac.uk/56337/1/Intersections%20of%20Gender%20Nation%20and%20Race_resub_to%20GaL_revised%20220216.pdf|archive-date=27 April 2019|url-status=live}}
• {{cite web|last=Mallon|first=Bill|title=An Update On London 2012 Doping Positives|work=OlympStats|date=18 January 2019|url=https://olympstats.com/2019/01/18/an-update-on-london-2012-doping-positives/}}
• {{Cite web|last=Mallon|first=Bill|title=All Olympic Doping Positives – The Count By Games|work=OlympStats|date=18 January 2019|url=https://olympstats.com/2019/01/18/all-olympic-doping-positives-the-count-by-games/}}
• Pamment, James. "'Putting the GREAT Back into Britain': National Identity, Public-Private Collaboration & Transfers of Brand Equity in 2012's Global Promotional Campaign," British Journal of Politics & International Relations (2015) 17#2 pp 260–283.
• Surowiec, Pawel. and Philip Long. "Hybridity and Soft Power Statecraft: The 'GREAT' Campaign." Diplomacy & Statecraft 31:1 (2020): 1–28. [https://hdiplo.org/to/AR989 online review] [https://doi.org/10.1080/09592296.2020.1721092]

Official reports

• {{cite book|editor=LOCOG|title=Volume 1: Summary of the bid preparation|date=2013|publisher=LOCOG|location=London|url=https://library.olympics.com/Default/digital-viewer/c-37734|series=London 2012 Olympic Games: The Official Report}}
• {{cite book|last1=Knight|first1=Tom|last2=Ruscoe|first2=Sybil|title=Volume 2: London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games: the Official Commemorative Book|date=2012|publisher=Wiley|location=Chichester|isbn=978-1-119-97314-0|url=https://library.olympics.com/Default/digital-viewer/c-37734|ol=OL24283202W|series=London 2012 Olympic Games: The Official Report}}
• {{cite book|editor=LOCOG|title=Volume 3: Summary of Olympic Games preparations|date=2013|publisher=LOCOG|location=London|url=https://library.olympics.com/Default/digital-viewer/c-37734|series=London 2012 Olympic Games: The Official Report}}

{{sisterlinks|d=Q8577|c=Category:2012 Summer Olympics|q=no|n=Olympics organisers insist London win in 2012 ballot was fair|b=no|v=no|voy=London 2012|m=no|mw=no|s=no|wikt=no|species=no}}

;Official

• {{IOC games|games=2012 Summer Olympics}}
• {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130228114959/http://www.london2012.com/|date=dmy|title=Official website (London2012.com)}}

;News media

• {{bbc.co.uk|2012|London 2012}}
• {{Guardiantopic|sport/olympics-2012}}
• {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703111256/http://www.2012.nbcolympics.com/|date=dmy|title=2012 London Olympics at NBC}}
• {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914000517/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/london-olympics-business/|date=dmy|title=London Olympics Business at The Telegraph}}

{{S-start}}

{{s-sports|soly}}

{{S-bef|before=Beijing}}

{{S-ttl|title=XXX Olympiad
London|years=2012}}

{{S-aft|after=Rio de Janeiro}}

{{S-end}}

{{Olympic Games}}

{{2012 Summer Olympic bids}}

{{Qualification for the 2012 Summer Olympics}}

{{Nations at the 2012 Summer Olympics}}

{{EventsAt2012SummerOlympics}}

{{2012 Summer Olympics venues}}

{{London history}}

{{Portal bar|Olympics|United Kingdom|London|Sports|2010s}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Summer Olympics, 2012}}

2012

2012

2012

Category:2012 in British sport

Category:2012 in multi-sport events

Category:2012 in sport in London

Category:August 2012 sports events in the United Kingdom

Category:July 2012 sports events in the United Kingdom