Olympic Games: thousands of athletes, officials stream into London
A general view of the Tower Bridge decorated with the Olympic ring symbol, in central London, on July 15, 2012, as Britain prepares for the beginning of the Olympic Games. The London 2012 Olympic Games will begin on July 27, 2012.
With the opening of the Olympic Games just 11 days away, thousands of people are arriving in London, where the first official "Games Lane" connecting Heathrow Airport and the Olympic drug testing lab opened today, reported BBC News.
An accident, however, quickly marred its debut, making good on expert warnings that the new M4 lane would make for "the perfect storm" of traffic in the event of any obstruction, reported Britain's The Telegraph.
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The so-called "Olympic Family" arriving for the games sat in traffic some 32 miles long this morning, said The Telegraph. Ordinary drivers and bicylists will be fined 130 pounds if they are caught using the special Olympic ring-emblazoned roadway.
Airport officials said Heathrow expects to see as many as 236,955 passengers pass through today, breaking all previous records, according to BBC.
Games officials told BBC over 1,000 members of the "Games Family," an umbrella term used for the althetes, coaches and their entourage, are set to arrive in London today from over 50 countries.
Most will head straight to Olympic Village in Stratford, east London, a special town that will house some 16,000 athletes and officials at the high point of the games, according to BBC.
The Olympic games begin on July 27.