2. The Red Arrows fly across the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London ahead of the opening
ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games July 27, 2012. REUTERS/Olivia Harris
3. Fireworks explode over Tower Bridge during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic
Games July 27, 2012. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh
4. The Union Flag, commonly known as the Union Jack, is projected on the Palace of Westminster
next to Big Ben on the bank of the River Thames, before the London 2012 Olympic Games July
27, 2012. REUTERS/Sergio Perez
5. A volunteer is seen during the 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony next to the Olympic
Stadium at the Olympic Park in London July 27, 2012. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo
6. The Olympic Stadium is seen during the opening ceremony of the London 2012
Olympic Games July 27, 2012. REUTERS/Marko Djurica
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The Union flag is raised during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the
Olympic Stadium July, 27, 2012. REUTERS/Mike Blake
8. Actors stand during a scene showing a pre industrial rural England during the opening
ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium July 27,
2012.REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
9. Performers are seen playing cricket on a village green before the opening ceremony of the
London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27. (Adrees Latif/Reuters) #
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15. The flag of Maldives is carried to it's place during the opening ceremony at the
2012 Summer Olympics. (Charlie Riedel/Associated Press) #
16. A performer gestures before the start of the opening ceremony of London 2012 Olympic Games
in the Olympic Stadium at the Olympic Park in London July 27, 2012.REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo
17. A performer scales a representation of a smoke stack during the opening
ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics. (Charlie Riedel/Associated Press) #
18. A scene of the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium
July 27, 2012. REUTERS/Max Rossi
19.
20. Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the
Olympic Stadium, July 27, 2012. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch
21. Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the
Olympic Stadium July 27, 2012. REUTERS/David Gray
22. Drummers wave their sticks during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
(Murad Sezer/Reuters) #
23.
24. A performer playing the role of Britain's Queen Elizabeth parachutes from a helicopter during
the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium July 27,
2012. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch
25. Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip attend the opening ceremony of the London 2012
Olympic Games with International Olympics Committee President Jacques Rogge (L), German
Olympic Sports Confederation (Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund, DOSB) President Thomas
Bach (2nd L) and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams (back C) at the Olympic Stadium July
27, 2012. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
26. Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the
Olympic Stadium July, 27, 2012. REUTERS/Mike Blake
27. Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the
Olympic Stadium July 27, 2012. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj
28. Actors perform in a sequence meant to represent Britain's National Health Service (NHS)
during the opening ceremony. (Jae C. Hong/Associated Press) #
29. Performers dressed as the character Mary Poppins descend to the ground during the opening
ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium July 27,
2012. REUTERS/Mike Blake
30. Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the
Olympic Stadium July 27, 2012. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
31. A man dressed as a goblin descends on the children during a performance in the opening
ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium July 27,
2012. REUTERS/Max Rossi
32. Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the
Olympic Stadium July 27, 2012. REUTERS/David Gray
33. Actor Rowan Atkinson, known for his role as Mr Bean, performs during the opening ceremony
of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium July 27, 2012.REUTERS/Kai
Pfaffenbach
34. Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics Games at the
Olympic Stadium July 27, 2012. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
35. Fireworks are seen during the opening
ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic
Games at the Olympic Stadium July 27,
2012. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
36. Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the
Olympic Stadium July 27, 2012. REUTERS/David Gray
37. Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the
Olympic Stadium July 27, 2012. REUTERS/Mike Segar
38. Rings representing both the Olympics and the Industrial Revolution are lit and
lifted during the opening ceremony. (Morry Gash/Getty Images) #
39. Performers clap as the Olympic rings are seen above, during the opening ceremony of the
London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium July 27, 2012.REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
40. Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the
Olympic Stadium. (Mike Segar/Reuters) #
41. Performers take part in the opening ceremonies for the 2012
Olympic Games. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) #
43. Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic
Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27. (Mike Segar/Reuters) #
44. An actor performs during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the
Olympic Stadium July 27, 2012. REUTERS/Adrees Latif
45. A performer takes part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic
Games at the Olympic Stadium July 27, 2012. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
46. Spectators attend the opening ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics. (David
Goldman/Associated Press) #
47. A performer takes part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Adrees
Latif/Reuters) #
48. Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Dylan
Martinez/Reuters) #
49. Performers dance to the music of the rock band "Queen" during the opening
ceremony. (David Gray/Reuters) #
50. Picture shows a general view of a pre-show at the Olympic Stadium before the opening
ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, July 27, 2012. REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski
51. Actor Kenneth Branagh performs in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games
at the Olympic Stadium July 27, 2012. REUTERS/Phil Noble
52. Final torchbearer carries the Olympic Flame into the Olympic Stadium during the opening
ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games July 27, 2012. REUTERS/Max Rossi
53. Torchbearer Sir Steve Redgrave hands the Olympic flame over to seven young athletes who
present Britain's hopes for the next Olympics during the opening ceremony of the London 2012
Olympic Games. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) #
54. Young athletes carry the Olympic flame during the opening ceremony. (Fabrice
Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images) #
55. The Olympic flag is carried by Daniel Barenboim, Sally Becker, Shami Chakrabati CBE, Leymah
Gbowee, Haile Gebrselassie, Doreen Lawrence OBE, Ban Ki-moon and Marina Silva during the
opening ceremony. (Ezra Shaw/Associated Press) #
56. Britain's flagbearer Chris Hoy leads his team during their delegation parade in the opening
ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games in the Olympic Stadium. (Christophe
Simon/AFP/Getty Images) #
57. Saudi Arabia's contingent takes part in the
athletes parade during the opening ceremony
of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the
Olympic Stadium July 27, 2012. Saudi Arabia's
first female Olympic athletes made their
appearance at the opening ceremony to the
London Games on Friday, dressed in traditional
hijabs, or Islamic headscarfs.REUTERS/Suzanne
58. Members of the U.S. team takes part in the athlete's march during the opening ceremony of the
London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium July 27, 2012.REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett
59. Athletes from the Japan delegation wave as they parade during the opening ceremony of the
London 2012 Olympic Games. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) #
61. Hong Kong's contingent takes part in the athletes parade during the opening ceremony.
(Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters) #
62. Finland's contingent takes part in the athletes parade during the opening ceremony. (Mike
Segar/Reuters) #
63. Elena Gemo of Italy poses for
photographers during the
opening ceremony. (Matt
Dunham/Associated Press) #
64. • Once again in grand style the Olympics were opened
with flash and flair. The show was designed by Oscar
winner Danny Boyle with 15,000 volunteers helping
take the audience through British history. The event
culminated with the parade of athletes and the
lighting of the Olympic cauldron for the London
Games that run through Aug. 12. - Lloyd Young
65. The Olympic cauldron is lit during the opening ceremony. (Leon Neal/Associated Press) #
66. The Olympic cauldron is seen alight during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic
Games at the Olympic stadium July 27, 2012. REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski
67. The stems forming the Olympic Cauldron are lit by seven young athletes during the opening
ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium July 27,
2012. REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski
68. The stems lit by seven young athletes raise to form the Olympic Cauldron during the opening
ceremony. (Pawel Kopczynski/Reuters) #
69.
70. The Olympic cauldron is seen alight during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic
Games at the Olympic Stadium July 27, 2012. REUTERS/David Gray
71. The Olympic caulmdron is lit during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games
on July 27 at the Olympic stadium in London (Cameron Spencer/AFP/GettyImages)
72. Fireworks explode over the lit Olympic Cauldron during the opening ceremony of the London
2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium July 27, 2012. REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski
73. Fireworks explode over the stadium at the end of the opening ceremony of the
2012 Olympic Summer Games. (Ezra Shaw/Associated Press) #
74. Fireworks illuminate the sky during at the Olympic Stadium on July 27. (Laurence Griffiths/Getty
Images) #
75.
76. Fireworks illuminate the sky during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games
at the Olympic Stadium on July 27. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) #
77. Athletes of participating countries stand in the middle of the Olympic Stadium after the athletes
parade at the opening ceremony. (Pawel Kopczynski/Reuters) #