Best Olympic photos: opening weekend at 2012 London Games
Romania’s gymnast Larisa Andreea Iordache performs on the uneven bars during the women’s qualification of the artistic gymnastics event of the London Olympic Games on July 29, 2012 at the 02 North Greenwich Arena in London. AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/GettyImages)
London and sites beyond teemed with excitement and action this weekend as the 2012 London Olympics began in earnest.
From swimming and beach volleyball to basketball, gymnastics and weightlifting, medals are starting to glitter around the necks of the world's athletes.
The first gold medal went to Chinese shooter Yi Siling in the women's 10-meter air rifle event.
Swimmer Ye Shiwen, 16, earned another gold for China and the first long-course women's world record since the ban on performance-enhancing swim suits.
Among other highlights were swimmer Ryan Lochte's dominating performance in the men's 400-meter individual medley, relegating the great Michael Phelps to fourth. They later teamed up to win silver in the 4×100 freestyle relay.
Americans also led the charge in gymnastics, with the men leading qualification ahead of favorites Japan and China.
Great Britain was hoping to cheer loudly for Mark Cavendish and Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins in the men's road race, but it was Alexandr Vinokourov of Kazakhstan who finished first.
New Zealand rowers Hamish Bond and Eric Murray set a world record, but it didn't even get them a medal. They won their heat in 6 minutes 08.50 seconds to advance to the semifinals.