More than 10,000 athletes from 204 nations will compete for a total of 302 gold medals in London, which also hosted the Games in 1908 and 1948. More women are taking part than ever before.
Adlington added that the home crowd could have a key role to play as Britain seek to better their fourth-place finish at the 2008 Games. They won 19 golds in China and 47 medals in total.
“It’s going to lift us all and pick us up if we’re feeling low,” she said. “I’m sure it’s just going to be 100% positive for the whole week.”
Britain have been set a target of at least 48 medals by UK Sport, the body that helps fund Britain’s Olympians.
Some of GB’s main hopes rest on the likes of Adlington, sailor Ben Ainslie, athletes Jessica Ennis,Dai Greene and Mo Farah, cyclists Sir Chris Hoy, Mark Cavendish and Victoria Pendleton, gymnasts Beth Tweddle and Louis Smith, and rowers Kath Grainger,Anna Watkins,Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter.
“I think GB can be really successful,” Ennis said. “Having a home crowd is just going to bring out some extra performances in all of us.”
The heptathlete, who missed the 2008 Games because of injury, hopes the British team can feed off each other’s success.
“When you see someone performing well in the team it gives you that extra edge and feeling that you want to perform just as well and keep that ball rolling,” she added.
Cavendish could give Britain their first gold medal of the Games when he competes in the men’s road race on Saturday. He is already the world’s best sprinter but has yet to win an Olympic title.
“An Olympic medal, regardless if it’s the first or last on offer, is an Olympic medal for your team,” he said. “It’s easy to get emotional about it. I’ve been nervous this week.”
Friday’s opening ceremony marks the official start of the XXX Olympiad, but the action has already begun.