Host city London is gearing up amidst much excitement for the Olympic Games to begin in three days.

Teams and representatives have been arriving from all around the world and participants are training hard to perform their best at the Games. Barges bearing the Olympic rings are a colourful sight for citizens and hundreds of tourists, attracted to London courtesy of the Games being held there.

Seven years in the making, costing 9.3 billion pounds ($14.5 billion) and featuring 10,490 athletes, the London Olympics opens Friday with 302 gold medals to be won and hard-fought reputations at stake.  -Photos by Agencies