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London 2012: Cardiff to stage Olympics' first event London 2012: Cardiff to stage Olympics' first event
(40 minutes later)
London 2012 chairman Lord Coe arrived in Cardiff to herald the start of the Olympics as the Welsh captial prepares to host the first event of the Games.London 2012 chairman Lord Coe arrived in Cardiff to herald the start of the Olympics as the Welsh captial prepares to host the first event of the Games.
More than 40,000 fans are expected to watch the kick off of the world's biggest sporting event as Great Britain take on New Zealand in women's football at the Millennium Stadium.More than 40,000 fans are expected to watch the kick off of the world's biggest sporting event as Great Britain take on New Zealand in women's football at the Millennium Stadium.
The match comes two days before the opening ceremony in London on Friday.The match comes two days before the opening ceremony in London on Friday.
Lord Coe described the past seven years as an extraordinary journey. Lord Coe said it was important the Games was not uniquely a London story.
Spectators are warned to arrive two hours before kick-off due to "rigorous" security search procedures in place. Following his tour of the stadium, he said: "One of the commitments we made when we were bidding, and I felt strongly about this as somebody who was not brought up in London, was this had to be about the whole of the UK, and this is a really strong signal to our commitment to that concept.
Around 100 people were queuing for football tickets at the main 2012 ticket booth at the Millennium Stadium at 11:30 BST ahead of the first game. "A lot of the Games are in London but this is not uniquely a London story.
The match, which will be followed by Cameroon v Brazil at 18:45 BST is among 11 being held at the Millennium Stadium throughout the Games. "When I came in this morning I felt I was arriving in an Olympic city, have been to Cardiff plenty of times but it had a different feel about it today."
"Everything is ready to go," said stadium manager Gerry Toms. "Let's get the show on the road. The Welsh capital boasted a festival atmosphere with Olympic events href="/news/uk-wales-18888699" >Cardiff to kick off Olympic Gamesbeing stated across the city centre for an expected crowd of 40,000 to Wednesday's first game.
"We are pleased that the Olympic Games have chosen Cardiff and the venue as a stadium to host the football. It will be followed by Cameroon v Brazil at 18:45 BST - among 11 being held at the Millennium Stadium throughout the Games.
Available tickets FIFA president Sepp Blatter is set to attend the opening event of the Games.
Meanwhile the security operation around the city is being stepped up, while roads around the stadium have been closed.
South Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Julian Kirby said the eyes of the world are on Cardiff .
"Wales is good at big events - the World Cup, FA Cup, football play-off finals and the Six Nations," he said.
"We've stepped up from that. Our ambition is that tody's event goes off and the public don't notice us. At the moment everything is in place.
"It's an Olympic football match and what has brought it home to me this morning is on the national news that all eyes are on Cardiff.
"It's my job to make sure that Wales looks good."
In terms of organisation inside the stadium, manger Gerry Toms said everything was "ready to go".
"Let's get the show on the road," he said.
"It reflects the recognition that both the Millennium Stadium and Cardiff is an ideal centre for a worldwide event.""It reflects the recognition that both the Millennium Stadium and Cardiff is an ideal centre for a worldwide event."
The number of tickets available for the double-header is 75,000 and can be bought from ticket booths up until kick-off, but the stadium is not expected to reach capacity. Tickets for both matches will be on sale in ticket booths up until kick-off but the stadium is not expected to reach capacity.
Organisers gave up trying to fill football venues and withdrew half a million tickets across the UK.
Should the crowd at the Millennium Stadium be higher than 48,000, it will eclipse the attendance for last year's Women's World Cup final in Germany, but still fall short of the 90,000 record set in the United States in 1999.Should the crowd at the Millennium Stadium be higher than 48,000, it will eclipse the attendance for last year's Women's World Cup final in Germany, but still fall short of the 90,000 record set in the United States in 1999.
Because of the way football is scheduled, the tournament has to start before the opening ceremony of the Games. Because of the way football is scheduled with the number of games and rest periods, the tournament has to start before the opening ceremony of the Games.
Under International Olympic Committee (IOC) rules, no events can be held in the host city until after the ceremony takes place.Under International Olympic Committee (IOC) rules, no events can be held in the host city until after the ceremony takes place.
The opening ceremony of London 2012 takes place in London on Friday.
Games chairman Seb Coe is in Cardiff ahead of the start of the football game, although he will not be attending the match itself.
However, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan will be at the women's football match.
'Lasting legacy'
Mrs Gillan said she was "immensely proud that the world's greatest sporting event starts in Wales".
"Wales is playing a leading role in London 2012 - the medals and the athletes' numbers are all made in Wales as well as key elements of the Olympic Park itself," she said.
"I want the whole country to take this opportunity to showcase everything that's great about Wales, and ensure a lasting legacy long after the Games are over."
Roads in Cardiff city centre will be closed on Wednesday for eight hours from 13:30 BST and there will be extra capacity on train services.Roads in Cardiff city centre will be closed on Wednesday for eight hours from 13:30 BST and there will be extra capacity on train services.
Music, comedy and sporting activities are taking place around the city centre from 11:00 to 19:00 BST while fans without tickets will be able to watch the action on the big screen in the Hayes.Music, comedy and sporting activities are taking place around the city centre from 11:00 to 19:00 BST while fans without tickets will be able to watch the action on the big screen in the Hayes.
Elsewhere, Team GB cyclists, including Wales' Geraint Thomas, will be training at Wales National Velodrome in Newport on Wednesday from 14:00 BST.Elsewhere, Team GB cyclists, including Wales' Geraint Thomas, will be training at Wales National Velodrome in Newport on Wednesday from 14:00 BST.
Newport council said the event had been put on due to demand to see the athletes with no need to book tickets in advance.Newport council said the event had been put on due to demand to see the athletes with no need to book tickets in advance.
First Minister Carwyn Jones said: "In two days the eyes of the world will focus on the opening ceremony in London, but today Wales is in the spotlight and once again we have an opportunity to show people across the globe what a fantastic host we are for top sporting events."First Minister Carwyn Jones said: "In two days the eyes of the world will focus on the opening ceremony in London, but today Wales is in the spotlight and once again we have an opportunity to show people across the globe what a fantastic host we are for top sporting events."