Michelle Obama akiwa Na Beckham Before Olympics Opening Ceremony

Hug it like Beckham! First Lady and fierce soccer mom Michelle Obama joins David to help kick off London 2012

• First Lady met country's top athletes at their training base in east London
• Thanked them for their determination and said everyone in the US 'is rooting for you'
• Looked at ease with David Beckham whom she hugged and joked with during exercise session
• Will attend reception hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace and is also holding Let's Move! events
• Olympic torch concluded its epic 8,000 mile journey at London's Tower Bridge after passing landmarks

As the countdown to the greatest show on earth begins, Michelle Obama met David Beckham today to help kick start the Olympics - with a quick game of football.
Proving the First Lady has that competitive edge she gave Team USA a rousing pep talk just hours ahead of the opening ceremony, urging the athletes to 'have fun - but also win'.
She met America's sports stars at their training base in east London, where she thanked them for their inspiring determination and said it was 'otherworldly' to be in London to witness them on the world stage.
With cheerleaders and a band welcoming her, Mrs Obama then hosted an exercise session as part of her 'Let's Move!' anti-obesity campaign, where she put on an affectionate and jovial display with British footballer David Beckham, who gave her tips on her soccer skills.

Friends: David Beckham laughs along with Michelle Obama on stage during her 'Let's Move!' speech before embracing her in a hug

Hard work: She shows off her famous toned arms during a game of 'tug of war' with the children

Getting some pointers: Despite his formal wear, David Beckham shows Michelle Obama how it's done during the exercise session

Motherly: Mrs Obama hugs a child at the exercise session. Her own children will join her at the ceremony later

Flotilla'Wow - I’m going to be saying that a lot over the next few days. Wow! I can’t believe I am here, I am beyond proud,' she enthused at the breakfast event.
'Some of my fondest memories growing up and even as an adult for that matter involved watching the Olympics on TV. I know each of you probably were in that position. Being here is otherworldly for me, you know. I am still so inspired by all of you. I am still in awe of everything you have achieved.'
Mrs Obama, dressed in a patriotic red-and-white striped jacket, added with a smile: 'Try to have fun. Try to breathe a little bit. But also win, right? In the end winning is good.'
Her pep talk came as the Olympic torch started the final leg of its epic 8,000 mile journey to the Olympic Stadium. It will be carried to the Stratford stadium in east London on Friday night and lit by a mystery VIP at the hotly anticipated Opening Ceremony, where Mrs Obama will have a ringside seat.
She is also expected to attend a reception hosted by Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace and meet Samantha Cameron, the wife of British Prime Minister David Cameron, whom she has met on previous visits.
But the highlight of her visit will no doubt be the opening ceremony - a three-hour extravaganza which will be watched by a global audience of more than one billion, begins at 2000 GMT - 3 p.m. ET.
With crowds swarming to meet Mrs Obama, it was a warmer welcome than that for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who has come under fire for labelling preparations for the event 'disconcerting', sparking outrage from the public and Mr Cameron.
Mrs Obama, speaking at the University of East London on Friday morning, added that watching the Olympics had inspired her father, who suffered from multiple sclerosis, to retain his athletic spirit.

Grand welcome: Mrs Obama arrives at a 'Let's Move!' event in Regent's Park - in a much warmer welcome than that given to Mitt Romney on Thursday

In need of a few tips? Mrs Obama demonstrates her football skills with David Beckham at the 'Let's Move!' event on Friday

Active: David Beckham cheers as the First Lady of football enthusiastically takes part in sports events for the health campaign

'In a matter of several years he went from a man who was once a thriving competitor - he was a boxer and swimmer throughout high school - and then he was stripped of all of his hopes,' she said.
'But he retained his love of sports truly. And the Olympics was a special time for him to watch amazing athletes of all abilities compete on the world stage... So these games especially affected our little house on the south side of Chicago.'
She went on: 'You never know who you are inspiring. You just never know. From a family like ours on the south side of Chicago to young athletes who are going to pick up a soccer ball or start running after watching something that you all do.
'I know for many of you that's how you got here watching someone else ... we are proud of you all. You have got a country back home who is rooting for you every single second, so you have already won. And try to have some fun.'
After her speech, Mrs Obama met the athletes, posing for photographs, before leaving for her Let’s Move! sporting event - part of her anti-obesity campaign - at the U.S. Ambassador's residence in central London for about 1,000 U.S. military children plus American and British students.

Encouragement: The First Lady embraces a member of the Team USA women's basketball team during the athletes breakfast at their training base

Good sport: She poses with the Team USA women's basketball team in east London, where she told the athletes to 'have fun, breathe a bit - but also win'

Team: Mrs Obama, posing with the Team USA women's basketball team, added that watching the Olympics had inspired her father, who suffered from multiple sclerosis, to retain his athletic spirit

In the spirit: Mrs Obama, who wore patriotic colours of red, white and blue, jokes with one of the members of the basketball team

The children, who gathered at the residence at Winfield in Regents Park, tried out different sports, including tennis, football and basketball, and met some of sports' top stars.
Former Denver Nuggets star Dikemne Mutombo was giving the youngsters a lesson in basketball. The 46-year-old, who lives in Atlanta, Georgia, said he was 'so happy that the First Lady and the US Embassy were able to put this together'.
'I support anything that takes our children away from their computers, their GameBoys and their TVs,' he added.
Her speech came as the Olympic torch began the final leg of its epic 8,000 mile journey to the Olympic Stadium this morning sailing triumphantly along the River Thames on board the Queen's majestic Jubilee barge. It completed the mammoth journey at Tower Bridge at 12.45 p.m GMT.

What a welcome! Members of the University of Florida marching band perform during Michelle Obama's 'Let's Move-London' anti-obesity event at Winfield House

Anticipation: Their performance came just hours before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games

Happy to be there: Mrs Obama hosted the 'Let's Move!' event for around 1,000 American military children and American and British students

Showing them how it's done: Mrs Obama plays tennis with schoolchildren during the exercise session

Too much Michelle? In another activity, she tries to keep up with schoolchildren, many of whom are children of American military members

 organiser Malcolm Knight, a director of Thames Alive, declared 'mission accomplished' on his loudspeaker as the boats arrived at Tower Bridge. Back on dry land, he said: 'It was marvellous, absolutely marvellous. The whole thing went fantastically, there were boats everywhere and the banks were lined with thousands of people. The master plan worked, which is wonderful - the torchbearers, the crews and the crowds all played their part.
'It's a great way to bring the flame into central London, using the highway of London.'
He said he was always confident the weather would hold up, adding: 'It doesn't rain on my parade - and it was never going to be as cold as the Jubilee pageant.' A total of 400 rowers took part on 90 boats.
The torch arrived by boat at City Hall, where it went inside for a reception with London Mayor Boris Johnson, Lord Coe and other dignitaries.