CHECK IT OUT: The only difference between me and you is that I’m writing this blog and you’re reading it. Throughout the Olympics, we at CNN want to hear from you, however you are living the Olympic experience, whatever you want to say. It couldn’t be easier: post a comment using the form on this page; tweet the hashtag #CNNOlympics and tweet me, Jonathan Stevenson. Do we have a deal?

1850: Without further ado, an explanation. If you’re already feeling more out of place than a shot putter on the balance beam, fret not. This is going to be CNN’s home of the 2012 Olympic Games for the next two-and-a-half weeks.

The Olympics, in case you’re new to it, is the world’s foremost international sporting event taking place every four years, in which thousands of athletes compete against each other for medals for their country, of which there are 204 represented. London 2012 starts officially today with the Opening Ceremony that gets under way at 9pm London Time and the competition finishes on Sunday August 12th, with 302 events in 26 sports in all.

1857: Great picture, that, sent in by CNN's Ben Wyatt. Ben is going to be at the Olympic Park every minute of every day over the next two-and-a-half weeks, sending us updates in both text and photo form as and when things happen. He won't be the only one, either. I expect we'll be inundated. Let us know the sort of thing you'd like to see.

1913: What do you want to see at the Opening Ceremony? We know already there will be sheep involved, the National Health Service will play a part, and at some stage there will be rain - real or fake. But what else? Let us know.

ISLES OF WONDER
That’s the title of artistic director Danny Boyle’s Opening Ceremony super show and it has been shrouded in secrecy, with only a few titbits revealed (hence the popularity of the Twitter hashtag #SaveTheSurprise). So, what can we potentially expect to see in the $42.3m show that will last about three hours?
- Sheep, horses, chickens and sheepdogs
- Maypoles representing England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
- Cricket (Google it. You don’t have time to learn it)
- A celebration of the National Health Service
- James Bond
- A celebration of Glastonbury
- The legendary Paul McCartney
- Much, much more that we can’t possibly tell you #SaveTheSurprise

CNN’s Olympics iReport
Fancy yourself behind the lens? Then you should get yourself involved in CNN’s iReport assignment, which is aiming to get as many fun, spectacular and interesting images and videos from the Olympics around the city of London. And if you can’t make it to London, iReport wants to know what you’re doing to celebrate the Games in your part of the world. Crucial bit: you could even end up on air! Now get to it…

2005: Sadly, I had to turn them down, Juanita - I believe CNN's live blog public are far more important than the Olympic flame. But who will be lighting it? Sir Steven Redgrave? Daley Thompson? Roger Bannister? The Queen?! Maybe David Beckham...?

CNN's Dylan Reynolds in the Olympic Stadium:
"Principal performers are listed as: Arctic Monkeys, Rowan Atkinson, Tim Berners-Lee, Kenneth Branagh, Daniel Craig, Dockhead Choir, Dame Evelyn Glennie, the Kaos Singing Choir for Deaf and Hearing Children, Sir Paul McCartney, Mike Oldfield, Dizzee Rascal, Sir Simon Rattle, Elizabeth Roberts, JK Rowling, Emeli Sande, Alex Trimble, Frank Turner."