2012 Olympic Games The best of the Opening Ceremony

The Red Arrows fly over the Olympic Stadium At 8.12pm exactly on 27 July the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force aerobatic team, fly over the Olympic Stadium.  Maypole dancing during the Opening Ceremony pre-show Children dance around the maypole during the pre-show ahead of the Opening Ceremony. There are four maypoles featured in the 'Green and Pleasant Land' section of the Ceremony.  A view of the set during the Opening Ceremony A view of the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July.  Rings raised to mark opening of the Games The Olympic rings form during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July 2012  The Olympic Rings assemble above the Stadium The giant rings create a spectacular sight as they join together above the Olympic Stadium.  Pandemonium' as the Industrial Revolution is celebrated Performers act out the British age of Industry during 'Pandemonium', a section of the the Opening Ceremony.  Pandemonium' as the Industrial Revolution is celebrated Performers act out the British age of Industry during 'Pandemonium', a section of the the Opening Ceremony.  Pearly Kings and Queens take in the atmosphere at the Opening Ceremony Performers playing Pearly Kings and Queens at the Opening Ceremony take it all in as the Olympic Rings are lifted into place. Over 34,500 buttons were used on the costumes.  Arriving at the Opening Cermony by parachute Performers playing the roles of HRH The Queen and James Bond parachute spectacularly out of a helicopter hovering above the stadium during the Opening Ceremony    Mary Poppins performers float inside the Olympic Stadium Performers in the role of  Britain’s best loved nanny, Mary Poppins float inside the stadium to banish away the villains from some of Britain's best loved children’s literature from earlier on in the performance during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.  HRH The Queen and IOC President Jacques Rogge enjoy the performance HRH The Queen and IOC President Jacques Rogge attend the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.  Dancers pay tribute to Great Ormond Street Hospital Dancers display the initials GOSH - Great Ormond Street Hospital, one of its most-loved hospitals to which author JM Barrie bequeathed all the royalties from his masterpiece, Peter Pan. This section of the Opening Ceremony honours Britain’s greatest achievements including its amazing body of children’s literature.  The Stadium comes to life Olympic Rings representing both the Olympic Games and the Industrial Revolution are lifted during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.   The Olympic Stadium is lit up during the Opening Ceremony A view of the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July. An incredible 500 speakers and 50 tonnes of sound equipment were used in the million-watt PA system – double the amount of speakers on the main stage at the Glastonbury Festival. The Olympic Cauldron is lit The Olympic Cauldron is lit during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Dubbed There is Light that Never Goes Out it was the creation of one of Britain's most creative thinkers Thomas Heatherwick. The designer's recent work includes London's new red double-decker bus. The torch lighting was accompanied by 'Caliban's Dream' a new musical work by Underworld.   An aerial view of the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony Things heat up inside the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony, as flames burn during a performance which celebrates four decades in British Music. There was a 1,427 volunteer cast – roughly 350 in each of four music sequences representing the 1960s, ’70s, ’90s and today.  Emeli Sande sings 'Abide With Me' British solo artist Emeli Sande sings 'Abide With Me' - the hymn was Mahatma Gandhi's favourite and was played by the band on the Titanic when it sank.  Incredible atmosphere on Opening Ceremony night Lighting and music come together to create an incredible atmosphere within the Olympic Stadium. The scene tells a love story as it unfolds through a series of clubs, brought to life with music of the 1960s, 70s, 90s and today.  Australian athletes parade during the Opening Ceremony Members of the Australia team parade into the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on 27 July. Australia has competed at every Olympic Games of the modern era, although in 1908 and 1912, they took part as Australasia alongside New Zealand. Each team is led into the Stadium by a placard bearer wearing a dress which includes a photograph of Londoners who auditioned for the Ceremony. The front of the dress shows their faces and the back their backs.  Atmospheric performance brings together Olympic cultures Shimmering dust creates a contemplative mood during a performance created by Akram Khan. The British choreographer's distinguished career has seen him work with a diverse range of people including Anish Kapoor and Kylie Minogue.   Volunteers dance the decades away in mass performance Volunteer performers wow Opening Ceremony spectators dancing to the best of British music, including The Who, the Sex Pistols, Queen, Sugababes, Tinie Tempah and Dizzee Rascal.   The Olympic Rings are displayed in the Olympic Stadium Rings representing both the Olympics and the Industrial Revolution are lit and lifted during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July 2012.  Performers with jet packs take part in the Opening Ceremony Performers with jet packs takes part in the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July  Fireworks light up Tower Bridge Fireworks light up at Tower Bridge as the bridge is raised to allow David Beckham piloting a speedboat carrying the Olympic flame through to make its way to the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony.  Sir Tim Berners-Lee applauds during the Opening Ceremony British scientist and Londoner Sir Tim Berners-Lee, who invented the World Wide Web applauds during the "frankie & june say... Thanks Tim" segment of the Opening Ceremony. His innovative thinking has changed the way we communicate forever.  A welcome message is displayed in the Olympic Stadium A welcome message is displayed while artists perform during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July 2012.  The family scene is played out during the Opening Ceremony Performers depict a scene of an ordinary family arriving home on a Saturday night during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. This scene is part of a love story where a lost phone leads to budding romance at a nightclub for one of the sisters.  HM The Queen standing for the national anthem HM The Queen standing with spectators for the national anthem during the Opening Ceremony.  Olympic Park during the Opening Ceremony The Olympic Stadium and the Aquatics Centre are lit up during the Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Park on 27 July.  The Brazilian team enters the Olympic Stadium The Brazilian team walks into the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July. Brazil competed for the first time at the Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games, where Guillermo Paraense won gold in shooting (rapid fire pistol). They have taken part in every Olympic Games since 1932.   Performers Dance during the Opening Ceremony Performers dance as British music spanning the decades is played during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on 27 July.  Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium Fireworks over the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27 2012  The Olympic Cauldron in all its glory The Olympic Cauldron burns brightly at the end of Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Designer Thomas Heatherwick's work was a highlight of the ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, watched by 80,000 spectators. Sir Steve Redgrave enters the stadium with the Olympic Flame Torchbearer Sir Steve Redgrave stands with the Olympic Flame during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. The rower won gold medals at five successive Olympic Games from 1988 to 2000. Sir Chris stands in front of Young Torchbearers, seven talented athletes nominated by former British Olympic legends.  Team GB enters Olympic Stadium Sir Chris Hoy of the Great Britain Olympic cycling team carries his country's flag as he leads Great Britain into the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Sir Chris is Scotland's most successful Olympian having won three gold medal at Beijing 2008. Great Britain's entrance was accompanied by the David Bowie song 'Heroes'.  The Olympic Bell is displayed on Opening Ceremony night The Olympic Bell is rung at the end of the countdown to the Opening Ceremony. The Union flag is raised in the stadium The Union flag is raised by members of the armed forces during the Opening Ceremony. Sky divers parachute into the stadium dressed as the Queen and James Bond Sky divers dressed as the Queen and James Bond parachute from a helicopter over the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony on 27 July.  Lord Voldemort features in the Opening Ceremony A giant puppet of Lord Voldermort and the Queen of Hearts depict villainous characters from British literature during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July. This segment honours two of Britains’s greatest achievements, one being its amazing body of children’s literature. Peter Pan and Captain Hook, Mary Poppins, Winnie-the-Pooh, Cruella de Vil, the Queen of Hearts and Harry Potter were all created by British writers. The Olympic Cauldron is lit The Olympic Cauldron is lit during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July 2012 copy write:http://www.london2012.com/photos/galleryid=1303910/index.html#queen-elizabeth-jacques-rogge-during-the-opening-ceremony