The 2012 Olympic Summer Games kicks off Friday afternoon showcasing the best athletes from around the world and seven of them are from Saskatchewan.

Kaylyn Kyle and Kelly Parker take to the soccer field. Krista Phillips is on the basketball court, Cory Neifer takes aim with an air rifle,  Rachelle Viinberg is a rower, Brianne Thiessen competes in the heptathlon and Reuben Ross dives.

Ross is from Pilot Butte and this is his second Olympic experience. The opening ceremony four years ago is one he will never forget.

"In Beijing, the whole experience was kind of surreal until that moment, when you walk into a stadium with 90,000 people and the pictures are flashing and you are walking in with the other Canadian olympians, it is a high," he described.

Ross says it is something he will never forget.

"It just feels so, so cool, it is so special. All the hard work you have put in throughout those years comes together there and you realise, I have made it, this is the big time," he said.

Soccer star Kelly Parker, who spent her childhood in Saskatoon, had surgery on her knee just six weeks ago and she didn't know what the outcome of that would be. So it has been a whirlwind to be named to the Olympic team.

"It has been crazy, it has been emotional and kind of a rollercoaster. Luckily the surgery ended up being nothing serious so now to be part of the team it is a dream come true."

And famous face Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco is once again a boxing official. He walked out into the stadium for the Athens opening ceremony eight years ago.

"Honestly you've got tears in your eyes, because it is really remarkable, absolutely remarkable, the hair on the back of your neck stands up and you almost have to pinch yourself to say am I actually here."

Many of the athletes families are in London to support and cheer them on and after all the years of hard work, it all comes down to this competition. Let the Games begin.

In Humboldt, the students and staff from St. Dominic School recorded a message for their hometown heptathlon Olympic athlete Brianne Theissen.

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