Imagine standing 100 feet (about 30 meters) away from a jet engine. That's what it has sounded like in the Olympic Velodrome.
Officials at the venue for track cycling said Sunday that the noise level in the 6,000-seat arena has reached close to 140 decibels during the victories of Britain's Victoria Pendleton in the women's keirin and Chris Hoy, Jason Kenny and Philip Hindes in the men's team sprint.
According to The Dangerous Decibels project, a U.S.-based public health campaign designed to reduce the incidences of noise-induced hearing loss, 140 decibels is also roughly equal to fireworks and the sound of a gunshot, and louder than jackhammers and an iPod at peak volume.
Britain has won four of the first five gold medals awarded in track cycling. Edward Clancy has a chance to add to the haul when he wraps up the multidiscipline omnium later Sunday.
— Dave Skretta — Twitter http://www.twitter.com/APdaveskretta
EDITOR'S NOTE — "Eyes on London" shows you the Olympics through the eyes of Associated Press journalists across the 2012 Olympic city and around the world. Follow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item.