The Cabinet Committee met this morning to discuss preparations for the Olympic Games. The meeting was chaired by Secretary of State for the Olympics Jeremy Hunt.

They discussed the planning for the Opening Ceremony this evening including transport, diplomatic and security arrangements.

The Opening Ceremony will be one of the biggest diplomatic events ever in the UK, and over 80 Heads of State from around the world will be attending. The Prime Minister and Samantha Cameron, along with Members of the Government, will be attending the Ceremony to represent the Government and host visiting dignitaries. It will also be the most watched event in the world and there is clearly a growing sense of excitement at home and abroad.

The Committee also discussed preparations for the events at the weekend including crowd management in and around the Olympic Park and at the Cycling Road Race.

The Committee agreed that the Torch Relay has been a fantastic success and put on record their appreciation to all those involved from Locog and the Met Police through to Local Authorities, transport bodies and countless other organisations up and down the country who have helped make it happen.

The Committee concluded that London is ready to stage the Olympic Games.

To date:

• Approximately 14.3 million people have lined the streets to see the Olympic Flame.  The Flame today travels on the River Thames between Hampton Court and London Bridge
• 24,657 Games Family members have now arrived in the UK (including just over 7,000 athletes)

We will be issuing a list of Heads of State attending the Opening Ceremony later today along with those Ministers who will be accompanying them.

Background information

Ministers and senior officials are meeting in the run up to and during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Committee has been established to ensure strategic coordination across the Olympic project.

Follow @2012govpress on Twitter for Government Olympic Communication updates.