Sixteen days of top international sport officially get under way live from the Olympic Stadium in Athens. Tonight's opening ceremony marks the return of the world's biggest sporting occasion to its spiritual home - the Greek capital was the birthplace of the ancient Olympics in 776 BC and the venue for the first Olympics of the modern era in 1896. The centrepiece of the evening will be the arrival in the stadium of the Olympic torch, which has travelled through five continents to reach Athens. This symbolic moment heralds the start of over two weeks of competition at the very highest level, in which athletes from over countries will contest 28 sports and 37 disciplines in no less than 35 different venues. Coverage of what promises to be a spectacular curtain-raiser is introduced by Sue Barker and Steve Rider , with commentary from Barry Davies. Executive producer Martin Hopkins ; Executive editor Dave Gordon BBCi: during the Games digital viewers can see four extra events on satellite and cable in addition to terrestrial coverage, and two extra events on Freeview. Meanwhile the internet offers five streams of live footage direct from Athens, with daily round-ups covering the best action, at www.bbc.co.uk/olympics
BBC BOOK: Olympic Cookbook, with recipes by Ainsley Harriott and Team GB, 19.99 RT's Olympic special starts on page 16