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Olympics: London 2012 kicks off with football Olympics: London 2012 kicks off with football
(about 1 hour later)
The first event of the Olympics is to kick off later, two days before the official opening ceremony.The first event of the Olympics is to kick off later, two days before the official opening ceremony.
The Team GB women's football side will get 18 days of sport under way at 16:00 BST when they take on New Zealand at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. The Team GB women's football side will get 18 days of sport under way at 16:00 BST (15:00 GMT) against New Zealand at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
Designated Games Lanes, covering about 30 miles of roads and off limits to the public, have begun operation in London. Designated Games Lanes, covering about 30 miles of roads and off limits to the public, have begun operating in London.
And government lawyers will be in court to try to stop a public sector workers' strike on the eve of the Games. And government lawyers will go to court to try to stop a public sector workers' strike on the eve of the Games.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt will join Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan in Cardiff for the first event of the 2012 Games.Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt will join Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan in Cardiff for the first event of the 2012 Games.
In other Olympics news:
  • The Olympic flame visits Wembley Stadium as it travels 30 miles through the London boroughs of Harrow, Brent, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey. Follow day 68 of the torch relay here, during which England's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks, Rupert Grint of the Harry Potter films, and decathlete gold medallist Daley Thompson will be among the torchbearers
  • The final dress rehearsal for the opening ceremony is due to take place later at the Olympic Stadium, in Stratford, east London
Team GB coach Hope Powell said opening the Games was a "great honour" and would hopefully give people "a greater appreciation of how good women's football actually is".Team GB coach Hope Powell said opening the Games was a "great honour" and would hopefully give people "a greater appreciation of how good women's football actually is".
And captain Casey Stoney said she hoped the fixture could "raise the profile of women's football".And captain Casey Stoney said she hoped the fixture could "raise the profile of women's football".
"It's a global thing, not just for our nation, and hopefully we can put on a good show - but we are just focused on getting the job done.""It's a global thing, not just for our nation, and hopefully we can put on a good show - but we are just focused on getting the job done."
Team GB drew 0-0 against Sweden in their final warm-up fixture at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium last Friday.Team GB drew 0-0 against Sweden in their final warm-up fixture at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium last Friday.
Relative unknowns Cameroon and heavily fancied Brazil will take each other on at the stadium after the GB game, and four other matches in the same competition are also taking place later in the day at Hampden Park in Glasgow and the City of Coventry Stadium.Relative unknowns Cameroon and heavily fancied Brazil will take each other on at the stadium after the GB game, and four other matches in the same competition are also taking place later in the day at Hampden Park in Glasgow and the City of Coventry Stadium.
'Really busy'
The Olympic Route Network (ORN), made up of 175 miles of roads connecting up the main Olympic venues across the country, comes into force on Wednesday.The Olympic Route Network (ORN), made up of 175 miles of roads connecting up the main Olympic venues across the country, comes into force on Wednesday.
It is designed to make it easier for athletes and officials to get around the Games and has seen junctions blocked off, bus stops moved and parking bays suspended.It is designed to make it easier for athletes and officials to get around the Games and has seen junctions blocked off, bus stops moved and parking bays suspended.
As part of the ORN, the designated Games Lanes in London will be in operation between 06:00 BST (05:00 GMT) and midnight and only open to VIPs, athletes and accredited media.As part of the ORN, the designated Games Lanes in London will be in operation between 06:00 BST (05:00 GMT) and midnight and only open to VIPs, athletes and accredited media.
Ordinary motorists going into the lanes face fines of £130.Ordinary motorists going into the lanes face fines of £130.
Mark Evers, Transport for London's (TfL) director of Games transport, said commuters must leave more time for their journeys.
"The worst case scenario for us is that people try to chance it and, those first few days of the Games, that they try to do what they ordinarily do - and I can guarantee all people that travel around London, those first few days of the Games are going to be really busy," Mr Evers said.
"It's vitally important that they come up with a plan that takes into account the busy parts of the network."
TfL commissioner Peter Hendy said the early signs were positive: "We've seen a marked reduction in road traffic in the last 10 days, which is along the lines of what we asked Londoners and people who work in London to do."
In the High Court, the government is to argue for an injunction to prevent public sector workers, including immigration and passport workers at Heathrow and other airports, taking strike action on Thursday.In the High Court, the government is to argue for an injunction to prevent public sector workers, including immigration and passport workers at Heathrow and other airports, taking strike action on Thursday.
Thousands of spectators are expected to arrive at Heathrow Airport on that day.Thousands of spectators are expected to arrive at Heathrow Airport on that day.
The Home Office says it believes there was a "procedural error" in the ballot of members of the Public and Commercial Services union.The Home Office says it believes there was a "procedural error" in the ballot of members of the Public and Commercial Services union.
But the PCS said it was "confident" the strike was legal and would happen.But the PCS said it was "confident" the strike was legal and would happen.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Hendy said: "Nearly all the athletes are here and the Olympic family are largely here, so I would imagine that any disruption to them would be fairly limited."
The government insists contingency plans are in place in the event of industrial action.The government insists contingency plans are in place in the event of industrial action.
Meanwhile, the final dress rehearsal for the opening ceremony is due to take place at the Olympic Stadium. Are you going to the Olympic Games? Will your travel plans be affected by London 2012? Will the operation of designated Games Lanes impact on you? You can send us comments and experiences using the form below.
And the Olympic flame will visit Wembley Stadium as day 68 of the torch relay travels 30 miles through the London boroughs of Harrow, Brent, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey.
England's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks, Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films, and decathlete gold medallist Daley Thompson will be among the torchbearers.
Are you going to the Olympic Games? Are you planning to watch the official opening ceremony? Are you an overseas visitor coming especially for the event? Are you trying to avoid the Games altogether? Will your travel plans be affected? Share your comments and experiences.