The London 2012 Olympics has begun in Cardiff with a women’s football match – two days before the opening ceremony.
Team GB’s women won 1-0 against New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium – the first of 11 football matches that will be played there.
First Minister Carwyn Jones, who attended the game alongside Heritage Minister Huw Lewis, said beforehand: “The Olympics are the greatest show on earth and today we will see the very first sporting action taking place here in Wales and it is great that we are part of this global event.
“In two days the eyes of the world will focus on the opening ceremony in London, but today Wales is in the spotlight and once again we have an opportunity to show people across the globe what a fantastic host we are for top sporting events.”
Millennium Stadium General Manager Gerry Toms said: “We are extremely proud to be opening the London 2012 Olympics here in Cardiff on July 25 and our staff are busy behind the scenes to make sure the Stadium is in great shape.”
In total, 11 football matches will be played over 16 days at the Millennium Stadium. In the men’s tournament, fans can also watch Brazil play Egypt in Cardiff on July 26 and the Bronze Medal Final on August 10.
The stadium, which holds 74,500 spectators, had a 30,847 fans for the 4pm kick-off.
The Welsh Government has said the games will have a huge impact on tourism and businesses.
Around £38 million worth of games-related contracts have been won by businesses based in Wales.
But not all businesses have been able to cash in.
Thousands of unauthorised Olympic branded T-shirts and mugs have been seized by trading standards officers in Cardiff.
The BBC has reported that shops and traders near the Millennium Stadium have been warned against selling items in breach of strict sponsorship controls.
Business in Caerphilly County Borough have also felt the impact over the protection of the Olympic brand.
A spokeswoman for Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “Our Trading Standards team work pro-actively to tackle the sale of all counterfeit goods, and have responded to the very small number of reported cases of counterfeit ‘Olympic’ goods in the run up to the Olympic games.”
Wales is sending its largest ever contingent to the Olympic Games with 30 athletes confirmed as Team GB members.
All eyes will be on the athletes including 400m hurdler and Team GB athletics captain, Dai Green and World Champion triathlete Helen Tucker as they prepare to take the London 2012 stage in the quest for medal glory.