Embarrassing: Olympic security firm G4S has said it can't guarantee it will have enough security guards. The military was already providing up to 13,500 personnel for the Games, including 7,500 for venue security.
MASCOTS: The zany antics of mascots have been an integral part of major sporting events of recent years (see Berlino, the mascot bear of the 2009 athletics world championships), and London 2012 will be no different. Look forward to the, er, outrageous shenanigans of Wenlock and Mandeville: two cyclopean drops of steel with a healthy love of sport and a free rein to write on Twitter.
OPENING CEREMONY: While Beijing may have had a representation of the Great Wall formed by thousands of performers and spacemen floating up to the Bird?s Nest roof, London proudly show off £27m-worth of farm animals, a cricket pitch, fake clouds and maypole dancing. What could go wrong?
CLOSING CEREMONY: For the more curmudgeonly among us ? this can?t come soon enough. Sadly for them, the title of A Symphony of British Music, which will take in 50 years of musical heritage, suggests that we may be have to enjoy the rhythmic dancing of veterans Cliff Richard once more.
TRANSPORT CHAOS: While much is made of the transformation of London, there is nothing that Brits love better than a bit of hand-wringing and fury over gridlock and delays. Whether this will happen for the GB Women?s football match against New Zealand in the first event in Cardiff is anyone?s guess.
RAIN: While the most recent Games (Sydney, Athens, Beijing) could mostly be relied upon to be dry and sunny, London and its environs cannot. Expect scenes of sodden athletes miserably looking at the camera, and the phrase ?the weather has not dampened people?s spirits? to feature a great deal in this Olympics.
MCDONALD?S: It could almost be considered an Olympic sport in itself. At an event that features the fittest athletes on the planet, official sponsor McDonald?s has responded and will put its largest outlet in the world in the Olympic Park... presumably so that athletes can watch the less energetic of us sample the fast-food giant?s wares.
NO MARRIAGE, PLEASE: Olympic organisers have slammed the door on any competitors hoping for the fairytale London wedding of their dreams, by restricting their visas so they can?t marry. Keep an eye on any that hope to flout the rules, though.
OLYMPIC STADIUM: After a tendering process with the clarity of mud and a £537m price tag, the Olympic Stadium is under pressure to impress when the athletes start in earnest. But gloominess won?t be a feature (hopefully), as the Stratford beast boasts 14 lighting towers at 70m high, supporting 532 lights.