Around town at the Olympic Games

Tourist Sorcha Gavin posed for a photo with the waxwork of the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, during its unveiling at the Madame Tussauds in London July 23. It is just one of the many attractions that will greet thousands this week as the 2012 Summer Olympics get underway.

Street artist James Cochran, also known as Jimmy C, worked on his spray painted picture of Bolt. The Games begin on Friday.

People posed for a photo with an Olympic mascot painted as a Yeoman of the Guard, known as a Beefeater, in front of Tower Bridge and the Olympic Rings.

Traditional red telephone box keyrings at a kiosk in London.

The Household Cavalry at Horse Guards Parade are popular with tourists in central London.

Tourists posed for a photograph next to a member of the Household Cavalry at Horse Guards Parade.

Nuns visiting London photographed the Houses of Parliament.

A tourist took a picture of herself in front of the River Thames and the London Eye.

Cheerleaders practiced a routine near Green Park.

A cheerleader practised a stunt by the Queen Victoria Memorial at Buckingham Palace.

A view showed the St. Pancras International Station with Olympic rings and a statue of John Betjeman, a famous English poet.

A woman enjoyed the sunshine in St. James’s Park.

Soldiers march through Westminster to provide security.

Road signs indicated the closure of The Mall for the Olympic Games.

London Bridge was lit up to celebrate the Olympics.

Southwark Bridge is also illuminated.

A shop sold official merchandise in Green Park.

A tourist photographed the Olympic countdown clock at Trafalgar Square.

A Dutch volunteer worked at Lee Valley Campsite, one of the several Olympic campsites.

Passersby viewed an installation by Brazilian graphic artist Breno Pineschi: bananas attached to a public telephone box, as part of as part of the arts campaign “Rio Occupation London’’ in South Kensington. Before London hands over the Olympic baton to Rio De Janeiro, 30 of Rio’s top artists have 30 days to blast the capital with their city’s vibrant, cutting edge culture.

A group of people gathered at the Electric Matchbox coffee bar and club in Hackney Wick.

Hackney Wick, situated next to the London 2012 Olympic Games site, is a growing cultural center for artists and musicians in East London.

The entrance to the Schwartz Gallery.

Owen Phillips (right) and Luke James, from the Bread Art Collective, painted a mural in Hackney Wick.