Olympics: Opening Ceremony Just Hours Away

A potential worldwide audience of billions will watch the Olympic Games get under way later with a £27m opening ceremony.

In a matter of hours, the Isles of Wonder spectacular will welcome the world to east London as the build-up of the last few months suddenly becomes an Olympic movement.

Opening ceremony director Danny Boyle has dedicated the extravaganza to the 15,000 volunteers helping to bring it to life as organisers said they expected a sell-out crowd of 62,000 in the audience at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford.

He said: "This is a live performance and it's the actors, and in our case they're volunteers, who have to get up there and do it."

Speaking at the Olympic Park, the Oscar-winning filmmaker added: "It's been a long road and we're almost there. I'm looking forward to it very much."

Organisers Locog said just 50 tickets were left for the ceremony.

Earlier, thousands of people lined the River Thames to cheer the Olympic torch as it made its way to the end of its journey at the Olympic Park.

And bells rang out across the UK this morning to mark the final countdown. London's Big Ben was joined by hundreds of churches across the nation as it chimed non-stop for three minutes to ring in the Games.

Prime Minister David Cameron said Britain was ready to welcome "the greatest show on Earth", telling reporters: "We have got a great past, a very exciting future and this is a great moment for our country, so we must seize it."

Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) added: "London is ready."

But those heading towards the Olympic Park were beset by transport problems , with main line train and Tube delays causing hold-ups in and around the capital.

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt was also involved in a mishap and narrowly missed injuring bystanders as he rung an Olympic bell and its handle flew off during celebrations on the banks of the Thames.

Mystery still surrounds who will be given the honour of lighting the Olympic flame.

The Queen, Sir Steve Redgrave, Sir Roger Bannister, Daley Thompson and David Beckham have all been touted as contenders but organisers have managed to keep it secret.

Anticipation has rippled through the crowds visiting the Olympic Park.

American sports fan Rod Coffee, from Miami, told Sky News: "It has already outlived my expectation you guys have done an amazing job."

Mayor of London Boris Johnson told Sky News: "It is just sensational.. in the last two days it has all changed everything has come together."

"You are seeing people who were really hostile and sceptical about the Olympics suddenly being infected by a bug, this benign virus of enthusiasm and they are enjoying it."

Antonia Nkemnacho, who lives in Stratford, added: "I am very pleased to be welcoming the world, you don't feel like going to the West End now because what we have here makes you feel proud."

The pace of change in this corner of east London has been extraordinary. In seven years industrial wasteland has been transformed into a festival site incorporating the very best sporting facilities.

Although the early rounds of some competitions are already under way, tonight's show gives the athletes a chance to announce their nation's arrival at London 2012.

Jamaican 4x400M relay runner Dominique Blake told Sky News: "It is just a really amazing sense of pride that you carry and it is a memory you will remember for the rest of your life. It's awesome!"