Shopping athletes head to Westfield - but get there before doors open

The potential stars of the Games were quick off the mark today — straight from the athletes’ village into Westfield Stratford.

Some were inside the giant shopping complex adjacent to Olympic Park before the shops had opened.

Members of Spain’s archery squad, right, tried the doors of JD Sports only to find they were 30 minutes too early. “Its okay, we will come back, ” said one athlete. Others from Japan and France milled around the food area, looking for a coffee.

Meanwhile, 12 members of the Canadian team were in danger of missing their flight to a training camp in the Netherlands when the car booked to take them to the airport was too small. The team spent 15 minutes trying to squeeze into the people carrier before four members gave up and trudged to the main road to try to hail a taxi.