LONDON - Around the 2012 Olympics and its host city with journalists from The Associated Press bringing the flavor and details of the games to you:
READY TO GO!
After years of preparation work, British Olympic organization chief Sebastian Coe says London is ready and - like an athlete - raring to go.
"We're now in the last of the call rooms. We've gone from the training track to the warm-up track to the stadium. The volunteers are in place. The city is dressed. The torch is on its way."
TRAVEL TROUBLES
More signs Tuesday that London's transit system is feeling the strain, but it's all quite good-natured - at least for now.
At St. Pancras International station, the launching point for the high-speed Javelin train that takes visitors to the Olympic Park gates, more than 100 people couldn't get onto the platform Tuesday afternoon. Eventually, they got on to two trains, but neither was going anywhere.
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Confused passengers flip-flopped trains, hoping to get lucky with one that would whisk them away, but both were delayed for at least 50 minutes, with little communication from train supervisors to explain what was happening. Some shouted questions to passing train workers, but this was no foul-mouthed, rush-hour mob foaming at the mouth. Everyone remained calm, if a little agitated, until the first one pulled out of the station.
AN AIRPORT STRIKE - NOW?
British authorities are going to court to try and prevent a major strike at U.K. airports on Thursday, the eve of the games. Immigration staff are angry over pay and job losses, but officials are urging them to stop and think about the consequences given that "the eyes of the world" will be on the U.K.
FROM ROW 62 AT THE OLYMPIC AQUATIC CENTER
The worst seats in the Olympics? Check out the very top row of the London Aquatic Center.
From the main concourse, it's a staggering hike up 169 steeply pitched steps to row 62. Tickets in that part of the building should've at least come with a warning: Making this climb could be hazardous to your health unless you're in decent physical condition.
The view isn't much, either. The entire pool is visible, in spite of the sloping roof over the temporary seats, but the swimmers look like ants in the water. Fortunately, there are video screens hanging from the ceiling.
ROUGH ASSIGNMENT
Prince Harry's office says he will attend the women's beach volleyball event on Aug. 8 - the day the gold medal is awarded. The event is being held at Horseguard's Parade in central London near Downing Street, the prime minister's residence.
Tickets for the event have been one of the most sought after in the games.
WHAT - NO A/C?
You'd have to forgive the organizers for smirking at this one.
So many people feared the games would be a washout. Yet now the Dominicans are saying it's too hot.
"The apartments in the village don't have any air conditioning, and at least since we've been here it's been really hot," says Edwin Rodriguez, the country's gymnastics federation president.
Relief is probably on the way. Forecasts suggest the hot spell should end by the weekend.
Daily games coverage
Starting Saturday, find coverage of daily contests in the Olympics plus TV listings for all upcoming events in Sports.
