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London 2012: Images From The Summer Olympics (PHOTOS)

London 2012: Images From The Summer Olympics
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The Games are just beginning in East London as athletes and tourists arrive at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Among the brand-new backdrops for the events, spectators will file into Olympic Park for a view of the London Aquatics Centre and the Copper Box, a multi-game venue previously known as the handball arena. Other attractions include the Velodrome, a Prime Minister’s Better Public Building Award winner, and ArcelorMittal Orbit, currently the tallest structure in the UK at 377 feet tall. This stellar work of art is a functioning venue, but also the soon-to-be centerpiece of what will become Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

The main venue of the park is Olympic Stadium, a $758 million project that was just completed in 2011 and will live on after the Games to become part of East London's growing technology hub. The functional and attractive building can seat up to 80,000 during the Olympics but will seat a more permanent 25,000 in it's after life. Nearby Athletes Village connects the line of stadiums to shopping and amenities; it's just one of the plans officials have set in motion to revitalize Leyton following the tourism rush for the games.

Are you in town for the Games? Send us your photos of Olympic Park and London.

Show us your photos of the London 2012 Olympics!
Olympic Flame(01 of28)
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The Olympic Flame passing through London... (credit:Richard Bogle)
US Women's Basketball(02 of28)
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(credit:Paul Vale/HuffPost)
Olympics - Previews - Day - 4(03 of28)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 23: An airship flies overhead during a flag-raising welcome ceremony at the Athletes' Village at the Olympic Park, on July 23, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Khaled Desouki - Pool / Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Olympics - Previews - Day - 4(04 of28)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 23: A detail shot of the table tennis tables in the Excel Arena during previews ahead of the London Olympic Games at the Olympic Park on July 23, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
US women's basketball fans(05 of28)
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(credit:Paul Vale/HuffPost)
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The Zaha Hadid-designed aquatics center.
Olympics - Previews - Day - 4(07 of28)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 23: A general view of a busy Stratford station ahead of the London Olympic Games at the Olympic Park on July 23, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Olympics - Previews - Day - 4(08 of28)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 23: The Russian team on the floor exercise during training sessions for artistic gymnastics at North Greenwich Arena ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games on July 23, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
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One of the many colorful new apartment buildings in the area.
Olympics - Previews - Day - 4(10 of28)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 23: The Olympic rings are seen ahead of the London Olympic Games at the Olympic Park on July 23, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Olympics - Previews - Day - 4(11 of28)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 23: A general view of a busy Stratford station ahead of the London Olympic Games at the Olympic Park on July 23, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Olympics - Previews - Day - 4(12 of28)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 23: A construction worker erects an Olympic flag next to the Velodrom in the Olympic Park during previews ahead of the London Olympic Games on July 23, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Olympics - Previews - Day - 4(13 of28)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 23: A detail shot of the table tennis table in the Excel Arena during previews ahead of the London Olympic Games at the Olympic Park on July 23, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
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In a park in front of Abbey Mills sits this structure to commemorate the deaths of four men who fell down a well in the area. It's meant as a memorial for workers in general.
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A walkway along the canals near 3 Mills Studios. Some of the canal's house boat owners are being urged to move prior to the Olympics.
Olympics - Previews - Day - 4(16 of28)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 23: A general view of a busy Stratford station ahead of the London Olympic Games at the Olympic Park on July 23, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
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Kapoor's Orbit in the background. In front, the "Waste Paper Basket."
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The "waste paper basket"
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The Icona sits adjacent to Olympic Park. Apartments during the games are being rented for as much as 5,000 pounds per week, according to my tour guide.
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The Orbit, foreground, with main Olympic stadium in the background.
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The Water Polo arena (left)
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The exceptionally-large Westfield shopping center. Visitors who come to the Olympics via tube or national rail will enter through the mall.
Olympics - Previews - Day - 4(23 of28)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 23: The Brazil flag is raised as members of the Brazilian Olympic Squad are welcomed during a ceremony at the Athletes' Village at the Olympic Park, on July 23, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Pool / Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
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The Orbit and aquatics center, with the Olympic Park in the background.
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The Orbit, with the Shard in the background.
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From left: The grey and white striped building is the media center, which will be turned into a fashion institute post games; the building with glass windows and a pyramid-like roof is the start of Olympic Village, which will be converted into apartments to start opening in 2013.
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Workers enter the "Waste Paper Basket."
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The mall

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