The Bulgarian Olympic delegation marched Friday night under number 31 at the Parade of Athletes during the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

The country's competitors were enthusiastically cheered by President Rosen Plevneliev who watched live the ceremony held in the filled-to-the-top Olympic Stadium.

Legendary gymnast, Yordan Yovchev, carried the national colors and led the 63-strong delegation.

The International Olympic Committee, IOC, changed for the first time the name of the event from Parade of Nations to Parade of Athletes with the goal to shorten the ceremony, which usually lasts several hours.

The first group to march in the parade was the one from Greece as the country that gave the start of the Olympic tradition. Great Britain, as the host, closed the ceremony.

The 2012 London Olympics feature 205 countries that are sending more than 10 000 athletes to compete in 300 events. For the first time ever every single nation is sending at least one female competitor.

This is the third time the Olympics come to London after 1908 and 1948.

Plevneliev will be in London between August 8 and 12, where he will have a working breakfast with representatives of the London City and will visit a business park.

"We arrived precisely for the opening ceremony on the invitation of the Quinn. I will be here, on the Stadium's stands from August 8 until I depart on the 12th to cheer and keep my fingers crossed," Plevneliev said.

Speaking for the Bulgarian National Television, BNT, he stated he was optimistic about the performance of the Bulgarian athletes at the Games.

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