Mwanzoni Mwa Ufunguzi wa Olympics: Katika Picha

20:12, it must be time for the Greatest Show On Earth: Red Arrows fly over as Olympic Stadium prepares for a very British ceremony

• Sports fans will rub shoulders with heads of state from around the globe and VIPS including Michelle Obama, David Cameron and the Royal Family
• Ceremony starts at 9pm
• Looming rain clouds threaten to dampen proceeding
• Cows, sheep and goats have began arriving for tonight's show
• The audience have been handed 3D glasses and every seat has a magic wand with it
• Red Arrows fly past the stadium leaving trail of red, white and blue vapour at 20:12 exactly

Excited Olympics fans are filling the stadium ahead of tonight's Opening Ceremony - as police officers and soldiers filled the streets in the capital's biggest-ever security operation.
As ticketholders took to their seats inside the Stadium, they were greeted by the sight of the imposing Olympic Bell and England's 'Green and Pleasant Land' a giant countryside landscape occupying the centre of the Olympic arena that will form the starting point of ceremony director Danny Boyle's extravaganza.

The Red Arrows aerobatic display team fly over the Olympic Stadium at 8:12pm prior to the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games

The Red Arrows fly past as a giant clock countdowns to the start of the Opening Ceremony

Worldwide audience: More than a billion people around the world are expected to watch the historic event

Opening night: The organisers have promised the show will be spectacular

Dignitaries including Prime Minister David Cameron and London Mayor Boris Johnson have arrived in a VIP section that will include heads of state from across the globe.
As performers prepared for the ceremony,  the red Arrows flew overhead from east to west, leaving a spectacular trail of red, white and blue vapour.
The sound of the jet's engines was dwarfed by the cheers of the baying crowd below.
Those lucky enough to secure seats have taken to twitter to keep followers up to date on the comings and goings inside the Olympic Stadium.

High in the sky: An aerial view of the stadium shows the presence the Olympic Park in Stratford, East London

As they enter the stadium, ticketholders are greeted by England's 'Green and Pleasant Land' the starting point of Danny Boyle's Opening Ceremony extravaganza

Animals, including geese take to the stage against a backdrop of artificial clouds and a giant water wheel during the opening ceremony

Performers in costume gather on the field with animals before before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games

Long distance runner Mo Farah ‏took to his Twitter page to express his excitement about the Olympic Opening Ceremony. He tweeted: 'So excited to watch the opening ceremony..!! Can't believe the olympics are in my home town.!!! Shabba!!!'
Double-gold winning decathlete Daley Thompson also ‏tweeted: 'After kids this maybe the best day ever met so many friends from the past never realised how many people I love!’
Elsewhere, the stars of Downton Abbey tweeted a photograph of themselves outside the Olympic stadium after securing VIP tickets for the highly sought-after event.
Actor Hugh Bonneville, who plays the Earl of Grantham on the BBC show, tweeted: 'Team #DowntonAbbey invade the Olympic Park. 62 mins and counting. #OpeningCeremony.' Fittingly, Bonneville also stars as in the BBC Olympics spoof, Twenty Twelve.
He was joined by his glamorous co-stars, including Amy Nuttall, who plays maid Ethel Parks on the show, and Sophie McShera, who plays kitchen maid Daisy Mason.

The giant Olympic Bell strikes an imposing figure at the end of the stadium. The bell will ring during the show, marking the start of the Games

Clouds hover overhead as the Olympic Stadium fills with eager ticketholders

Showcase: Three young people in the crowd try out their 3D glasses at the Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium

Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge take in the pre-show after arriving at the Opening Ceremony

VIPS: Prime Minister David Cameron, London Mayor Boris Johnson and his wife Marina take their seats in the stadium

Performers in period costume as nurses pose as they arrive for the Opening Ceremony

All creatures great and small: Performers, human and animal, get into position for the start of the Opening Ceremony

Supporting Team GB: Spectators adorned with with the Union Jack flags pose in the Olympic Park prior to the start of the ceremony

Outside the stadium, anxious police and squaddies have up their positions around the Olympics site in Stratford, east London, while the final details of the spectacle were put in place.
As fireworks light up the night sky and thousands of performers take centre-stage in the three hour bonanza, officials will be monitoring a network of CCTV cameras for signs of trouble.