The long wait for the start of the London Olympics is over. Competition proper begins today. The Prime Minister David Cameron said the country must show the world “the best of Britain” over the next two weeks. The Olympic Games are a once-in-a-lifetime moment for the athletes, spectators and behind-the-scenes staff who make it happen - and these moments will be created throughout the coming weeks, over and over again.

 The Prime Minister commented: “It’s going to be an incredible few weeks for our country. It’s a great opportunity to show the world the best of Britain, a country that’s got an incredibly rich past but also a very exciting future.

Someone asked me yesterday what face of Britain do we want to put forward - is it Blur or the Beefeaters? - and frankly it’s both.”

Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) added: “London is ready.”

More than 10,000 athletes from 204 nations will compete for a coveted Olympic title.

David Beckham spoke of his pride at helping bring the Olympics to his home turf. The former England football captain, 37, said it would be an “amazing moment” with the Olympics boosting the fortunes of the East End for future generations.

Asked about the Games’ legacy, he said: “I think there is a huge amount being done. The whole area of East End London which has been reformed and the amount of jobs that have been created, just purely because of the Olympic Games, is incredible. But it is not just something that will stop once the Olympics are ended.”