At least 41 Portuguese athletes have achieved qualifying standards to compete at the London 2012 Olympics Games, officially known as the “Games of the XXX Olympiad,” scheduled for July 27 through August 12. However, over the next six months, the number could double.

According to Mário Santos, head of the Portuguese Olympic Mission, a total of 60 to 80 athletes are expected to qualify. Four years ago, 78 Portuguese athletes competed in 17 different sports at the 2008 China Olympic games.

Nelson Évora, the Olympic Gold medalist in the triple jump at the Beijing/2008, and the Portuguese great hope for this year London Olympics, will not compete due to a recent tibia fracture.

The qualifying Portuguese athletes will competed in athletics, canoeing, cycling, gymnastics, rowing, sailing, shooting, and swimming.

The London 2012 Olympic Games will be the tenth Olympic Games. London will become the first city to officially host the modern Olympic Games three times, having previously done so in 1908 and in 1948.

Oscar winning director Danny Boyle will be the artistic director for the spectacular opening ceremony called ‘The Isles of Wonder’.

The London 2012 Olympic Games will be followed by the 2012 Paralympic Games to take place from 29 August to 9 September.

A total of 205 nations will take part in 300 events at the Olympic Games in 2012, while 147 nations will take part in the Paralympic Games.

About 20,000 performers are expected to take part in Olympic and Paralympic opening and closing ceremonies. The combined TV audiences for the four ceremonies are predicted to be more than four billion people.

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