SPLASH! London called out to the Olympic Games last night with the main event now under a year away.
Plymouth diver and major medal hope Tom Daley, 17, christened the Aquatics Centre in Stratford with an inward one-and-a-half somersault pike, a dive he will perform in the synchronised competition next year.
There followed a swimming race between various British Olympic legends and competitors including Duncan Goodhew, Roger Black, Tessa Sanderson, Steve Backley, Gail Emms, Allison Curbishley and Jamie Baulch.
Five-time Olympic 50m swimmer Mark Foster won the race inside 25 seconds with former javelin gold medallist Sanderson coming last almost a minute later.
Meanwhile, the crowd in Trafalgar Square attempted to replicate the atmosphere from when London beat Paris in the bidding process for the Olympics 2012 on 6th July 2005.
The BBC screened a special programme during which The Feeling played a cover version of David Bowie's Heroes.
However, the strangest musical juxtaposition came about when a series of Conservative politicians were introduced to the stage by the sound of London Calling by left-wing punk band The Clash.
British Olympic Association chief Lord Colin Moynihan was joined, of course, by Logoc chairman Lord Sebastian Coe - but also by London mayor Boris Johnson and Prime Minister David Cameron.
In fairness to Mr Cameron, he made a fine welcoming speech to the visiting Olympic associations and he made clear his appreciation for the effort which has already been made by the Games organisers.
Mr Cameron said the Olympics would be "the greatest ever Games in the world's greatest country" and added: "It's on time [and] it's on budget.
"The great stadium is finished, the Aquatics Centre is finished, the Velodrome is finished and I believe this can be a great advertisement for our country."
But, while most of the venues may now be ready, the big question is: are the British athletes? And, perhaps, the even bigger question is: are the British public?
More follows tomorrow.
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