Hopes are high as countdown starts for the 2012 Olympics

As the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), begins to hand over major venues, London 2012 chairman Lord Coe said: “It’s a pretty big moment for us. I feel pride that it’s ‘sport wot done it’. I cannot look at the Olympic Park without taking great pride that all of us in sport did this.”

Lord Coe said there was “tangible evidence” the public were already keenly anticipating the Games and he believes the British team is well-placed to match or exceed their medal haul in Beijing.

A series of events have been lined up to mark the countdown – Tom Daley takes the first plunge into the diving pool at the Aquatics Centre, while a special party attended by VIPs will also be held at London’s Trafalgar Square.

The Royal Mail has also announced every British Olympic victory will be celebrated with a special gold medal stamp.

The stamps, which will feature both individual and team successes, will be the first time that Royal Mail has issued stamps to mark Olympic victories and could feature Sheffield’s Jessica Ennis, the 25-year-old heptathlon star, the world number one for three years who missed out on Beijing because of a foot injury.