The Bangladesh flag is hoisted yesterday during the Team Welcome Ceremony at the Olympic Village in Stratford, London.Photo: STARSports Reporter From London

The Bangladesh anthem rang out and the red and green flag was hoisted at the Olympics, for the first and probably only time, as London 2012 officially welcomed the Bangladeshi contingent to the Games via an interactive Team Welcome Ceremony held at the Olympic Village in London on Monday.

A traditional part of most Olympics, the Team Welcome Ceremony usually takes place ahead of the Opening Ceremony and acts as a way of formally inviting the athletes to the Village and the Games.

For most countries with modest sporting ambitions, Bangladesh included, this is probably the only time they get to see their anthem played and the flag raised. So in hindsight, the athletes could hardly have asked for a better setting as they lined up under brilliant sunshine in a cool and beautiful London morning.

They were treated to a fun and interactive show, created, written, staged and performed by the young members of the National Youth Theatre. The show highlighted the "open-arms" and neutrality policy of the Games and extended a warm welcome to the Bangladeshi athletes and other members of the contingent through a mixed array of dances, songs and performances. It also urged the athletes to strive to perform better through the official poem which reminded the athletes that "Courage must be bigger than expectation" and that they should "Stand tall for their ambition".

The Mayor of the Olympic Village Charles Allen and Bangladesh Chef-de-Mission Nurul Fazal Bulbul exchanged crests with a vow to spread the Olympic movement far and wide.

Four of the five Bangladeshi athletes who will be participating attended the event with only shooter Sharmin Akhter Ratna missing out as she was due to join the team later in the day.

The ceremony is held with the Truce Wall as a backdrop. The Wall features quotes and images from schoolchildren reflecting their feelings about the Olympic Truce.

Bangladesh's high commissioner to Britain also attended the event.

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