Karachi: The athletes and the Olympic torch have arrived in London - and so has the party.
Away from the Games, Hollywood royalty such as Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Nicole Kidman will be rubbing shoulders with diplomats and businessmen. Meanwhile, Dizzy Rascal, The Wanted, Snow Patrol, Scissor Sisters and other musicians will perform at outdoor concerts across the capital.
One of the most glamorous bashes in town will be a charity gala dinner at the Victoria & Albert Museum on Wednesday, two days before the Olympic opening ceremony. Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Christopher Lee and Bob Geldof are expected to attend the black-tie event, which is organized by the charity Sports for Peace and held in honor of boxing great Muhammad Ali.
Others reportedly attending include Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Prince Harry. The organizers did not immediately confirm the reports, but judging from the list of celebrities sitting on the charity's committee — George Clooney, Catherine Deneuve and Hilary Swank, to name a few — there will definitely be no shortage of VIPs.
In Soho, London's buzzing restaurant and nightlife district, luxury watchmaker Omega will be hosting its own A-list soirees in a specially-refurbished townhouse until the end of the games on 12 August.
Kidman is expected at a launch party on 28 July, while a space-themed bash on 2nd August will feature American astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Gene Cernan and Tom Stafford. A publicist said other guests will include swimmer Michael Phelps and Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan.
Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, Actor Helen Mirren and boxing star Amir Khan are among those who recorded a "goodbye" video that will be played on screens as fans leave the Olympic venues at the end of each sports session.
The Olympic opening and closing ceremonies will also be focal points for celebration in London.
On the night before the opening ceremony, a concert at Hyde Park will mark the arrival of the Olympic torch with performances by Dizzee Rascal, The Wanted and DJ Mark Ronson.
The park will continue to host outdoor concerts throughout the games, with Snow Patrol and Stereophonics headlining on July 27 and Amy Macdonald and Alyssa Reid among the scheduled performers in following days.