The fountain at the Victoria Memorial next to Buckingham Palace in central London receives a cleaning before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Fabrice Coffrini / AFP / Getty Images)
The Summer Games’ beach volleyball competition will take place at an area called the Horse Guards Parade, a stone’s throw from the prime minister’s rear garden at 10 Downing Street. (Andy Rain / EPA)
An aerial view of the Horse Guard Parade shows construction of the arena for Olympic beach volleyball. (Dominic Lipinski / Associated Press)
Participants run down the Mall in front of Buckingham Palace during the London Flora Marathon 2007. The Mall will be part of cycling and some athletics events. (Andy Rain / EPA)
Queen Elizabeth II, who celebrates her Diamond Jubilee this year, exits the prime minister’s residence at 10 Downing Street. (Oli Scarff / Getty Images)
London’s famed Tower Bridge decorated with the Olympic rings ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)
Colin Hill swims past the Serpentine Pavilion at Hyde Park. He was testing the 10-kilometer open water course that will be used during the Olympics. (Daniel Berehulak / Getty Images)
Hampton Court Palace, the former home of King Henry VIII, will be the site of the road cycling time trial. (Andy Rain / EPA)
The Royal Naval College is located on the Thames River. Nearby, the North Greenwich Arena will host basketball and gymnastic events. (Lewis Whyld / Associated Press)
Old Trafford football stadium will host soccer matches during the 2012 London Olympics. (Scott Heppell / Associated Press)
