London Olympics 2012 Opening Ceremonies

Fireworks mark the Opening Ceremonies of the 2012 Olympics at Olympic Stadium in London, England.

Wally Skalij | MCT
Fireworks illuminate the sky over the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

Gregory Bull | AP
The Olympic cauldron burns in Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England, Friday, July 27, 2012.

David Eulitt | MCT
The Olympic cauldron burns in Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England, Friday, July 27, 2012.

David Eulitt | MCT
The Olympic cauldron is lit during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

Morry Gash | AP
The Olympic cauldron takes shape in Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England, Friday, July 27, 2012.

David Eulitt | MCT
The Olympic cauldron is lit during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

Leon Neal | AP
Torch bearers carry the Olympic flame during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

Cameron Spencer | AP
The Olympic cauldron rises after being lit during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

Leon Neal | AP
Steve Redgrave holds the torch during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Paul Sancya | AP
Cyclists sporting wings perform in Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England, Friday, July 27, 2012.

David Eulitt | MCT
A cyclist sporting wings perform in Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England, Friday, July 27, 2012.

David Eulitt | MCT
Paul McCartney, center, performs during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

Matt Dunham | AP
Sir Paul McCartney performs during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

Mark Humphrey | AP
The British flag is raised up during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

David Goldman | AP
Great Britain's Olympic team circles the stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Charlie Riedel | AP
Great Britain's Chris Hoy carries the national flag as confetti surrounds the team during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Mark Humphrey | AP
Britain's Chris Hoy carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Paul Sancya | AP
United States's Mariel Zagunis carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

David Goldman | AP
Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Summer Games at the Olympic Stadium in London, Friday, July 27, 2012.

Ezra Shaw | AP
Seb Coe, Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee, delivers his speech during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Paul Sancya | AP
Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Paul Sancya | AP
Torchbearers run during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

David Goldman | AP
A general view of the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Summer Games at the Olympic Stadium in London, Friday, July 27, 2012.

Ezra Shaw | AP
The Olympic cauldron is lit during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

Mark Baker | AP
Lights illuminate the stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Paul Sancya | AP
Fireworks explode during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Paul Sancya | AP
Fireworks light up over the stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

David J. Phillip | AP
Fireworks light up over the stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

David J. Phillip | AP
Fireworks illuminate the sky over Olympic Stadium during Opening Ceremonies at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

Mark J. Terrill | AP
Fireworks fly over the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

Dave Martin | AP
Fireworks explode over the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

Dave Martin | AP
Lights illuminate the stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Paul Sancya | AP
Fireworks explode during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Paul Sancya | AP
Fireworks light up over the stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

David J. Phillip | AP
Fireworks light up over the stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

David J. Phillip | AP
Fireworks illuminate the sky over Olympic Stadium during Opening Ceremonies at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

Mark J. Terrill | AP
Fireworks fly over the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

Dave Martin | AP
Fireworks explode over the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

Dave Martin | AP
Fireworks explode above the iconic Tower Bridge over the River Thames in central London, decorated with Olympic rings, during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Lefteris Pitarakis | AP
The Olympic rings are illuminated with pyrotechnics as they are raised above the stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Jae C. Hong | AP
The Olympic rings light up the stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Morry Gash | AP
Performers gesture towards the Olympic rings as they are elevated from the stadium floor during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Jae C. Hong | AP
The Olympic rings are illuminated during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Matt Slocum | AP
The President of the International Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge, left, and Britain's Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, back right, applaud as Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, foreground right, arrives during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Matt Dunham | AP
Britain's Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Britain's Prince Harry, from left, attend the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Summer Games at the Olympic Stadium in London, Friday, July 27, 2012.

TOBY MELVILLE | AP
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, center, is flanked by Britain's Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and IOC President Jacques Rogge, left, as she attends the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Summer Games at the Olympic Stadium in London, Friday, July 27, 2012.

TOBY MELVILLE | AP
Performers gather during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Bruce Hanselman | AP
Actors perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Ivan Sekretarev | AP
Actors perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Ivan Sekretarev | AP
Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Ivan Sekretarev | AP
uPerformers play drums during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Matt Dunham | AP
Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

David Goldman | AP
Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

David Goldman | AP
Actors perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Matt Slocum | AP
Spectators attend the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

David Goldman | AP
A giant figure stands out during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Paul Sancya | AP
Actors perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Matt Dunham | AP
Actors enact scenes out of British literature during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Christophe Ena | AP
Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

David Goldman | AP
Actors enact a performance representing Britain's National Health Service (NHS) during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Christophe Ena | AP
Actors perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Charlie Riedel | AP
Actors perform in a sequence meant to represent Britain's National Health Service (NHS) perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Jae C. Hong | AP
Actors dressed as Mary Poppins perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Mark Humphrey | AP
Performers dance during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Matt Dunham | AP
Chimneys rise during the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Summer Games at the Olympic Stadium in London, Friday, July 27, 2012.

Ezra Shaw | AP
A spectator waves a flag of Great Britain, right, and Jamaica during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Markus Schreiber | AP
Rockets propelled artists perfrom during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Eric Gay | AP
A person dressed as Queen Elizabeth II parachutes into the Olympic stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Summer Games at the Olympic Stadium in London, Friday, July 27, 2012.

Ezra Shaw | AP
An actor takes flight during a performance at the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Christophe Ena | AP
Actors take flight during a performance at the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. (

Mark Humphrey | AP
Actor Rowan Atkinson performs during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Matt Dunham | AP
Performers dance during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Jae C. Hong | AP
Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

David Goldman | AP
Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Ivan Sekretarev | AP
Members of the audience watch a performance during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Christophe Ena | AP
Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Morry Gash | AP
The British flag is raised up during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Paul Sancya | AP
Actors perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Ivan Sekretarev | AP

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