Gunning for an unprecedented third consecutive gold in women's wrestling at 55 kg, Saori Yoshida led Japan's athletes into the Olympic Stadium as the London Games opened in spectacular style on Friday.

Flag bearer Yoshida led her teammates, dressed in red blazers and white trousers, at the extravaganza in front of around 80,000 spectators and dignitaries and an estimated worldwide television audience of 4 billion.

Japan has a 518-strong delegation here, 293 of whom are athletes, second in scale behind the 576 that went to the 2008 Beijing Games.