The London Olympics 2012 opening ceremony is just hours away and the world is eagerly anticipating it, however one famous athlete Michael Phelps will not be attending the Opening Ceremony on Friday
The 14-time gold medalist told reporters he won't join his teammates during Friday night's celebration in order to rest for his first event the following morning, according to USA Today.
Phelps will swim the 400-meter individual medley, an event that includes U.S. rival Ryan Lochte, on Saturday morning.
"I will not be walking at opening," Phelps said Wednesday at a Speedo event. "I'm planning on walking in closing." He said he usually watches the opening ceremony on TV. "That is one of the downfalls swimmers have of competing early in the Olympics," he said, "but I kind of like going first." Standing for four hours and marching into the stadium isn't believed to be a good training technique for the most rigorous swimming event of the Games.
The opening ceremony will be on Friday evening in a worldwide broadcast and is estimated to cost nearly $42 million. The spectacle will be directed by famed film director and producer Danny Boyle, known for such classic films such as "Trainspotting" and "Slumdog Millionaire." The opening ceremony features the Parade of Nations, as athletes from more than 200 countries march into the Olympic Stadium together in one of the most powerful symbolic events in the world.
Watch the London Olympic's 2012 opening ceremony live on NBC at at 6:30 p.m. Central Time Friday. IOC executive director Gilbert Felli has said the opening ceremony should last no more than three hours.
NBC is live streaming the rest of the Olympics. Those who want to see events on live stream can visit here to watch live streaming online at www.nbcolympics.com.
