There are many different ways fans send athletes off on a hunt for Olympic medals.
They call their names, shout out their countries. They clap, they scream, they bang on chairs or stamp their feet.
Not at the start of the men's 20K race walk, though.
There was a marching band, then some rock songs, then elevator music. Then as the walkers got ready at the start, the announcer addressed the crowd at Buckingham Palace.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to ask you for a complete silence," he said.
The crowd went silent, but not completely.
So he added: "Shhhhhhhh."
And off they walked. Without a single cheer.
—Barbara Surk —Twitter http://www.twitter.com/BarbaraSurkAP
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.