LONDON (AP) — From chiming Big Ben to the London Eye. From Lord Nelson's statue to Buckingham Palace. Every view from the Olympic beach volleyball stadium is London in all its majesty. The players knew they would be competing in the showcase venue of these Summer Games, And now that they've finally seen it in person, almost every one of them is in awe heading into Saturday's opening matches of pool play. Defending gold medalist American Todd Rogers calls the beach volleyball players the "spoiled children" of the Olympics because they have it that good. During training Friday, a squirrel carrying a nut in its mouth scurried through the sand on one practice court. A lush, picturesque park surrounds Horse Guards Parade, and to this day only Queen Elizabeth II herself can enter through one nearby gate. Not enough grandeur for you? Also right outside is Westminster Abbey.
Beach volleyball players awed by majestic venue
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General view of the Beach Volleyball venue at the Horse Guards Parade at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
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A members of the Horse Guards parade enter the Admiralty House at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 26, 2012, in London. Beach Volleyball competitions are held at the historic Horse Guards Parade downtown London. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
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Reigning Olympic men's beach volleyball champion Phil Dalhausser, of the United States, trains at the Beach Volleyball Arena at Horse Guards Parade in central London prior to the start of the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday July 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Julien Behal,PA) UNITED KINGDOM OUT
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Players warm up during a Beach Volleyball practice session at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
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Julius Brink from Germany plays the ball during a practice session for the Beach Volleyball competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
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Contractors sit during a break outside the Beach Volleyball venue at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
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An umpire chair sits in a park at the Beach Volleyball venue at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
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An unidentified coach holds a ball during a practice session at the Beach Volleyball venue at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
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