Audience urged to save surprise of opening ceremony

Spectators who attended a sneak preview of the Olympic opening ceremony were urged not to spoil the surprise for the rest of the world by keeping details of the eagerly-anticipated curtain raiser under wraps.

Games organisers last night asked thousands of people who were invited to a technical dress rehearsal of the £27m (€34m) spectacular to try and refrain from circulating any revealing pictures or videos taken inside the Olympic Stadium.