This was published 12 years ago
London 2012 opening ceremony
86 ImagesJames Bond, Mr Bean, and industrial revolution, a music spectacular ... and the Queen jumping out of a helicopter. Yes, it's Danny Boyle's opening ceremony spectacular for the London Olympics!
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Fireworks burst above the stadium during the opening ceremony.Credit:Lars Baron
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The Australian Olympic team enter the stadium lead by flag bearer Lauren Jackson.Credit:Brendan Esposito
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Fireworks over the Olympic stadium.Credit:Getty
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The cauldron is spectacularly lit by the Olympic flame.Credit:Brendan Esposito
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The cauldron is spectacularly lit by the Olympic flame.Credit:Brendan Esposito
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The Olympic cauldron is lit during the opening ceremony.Credit:Getty
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Steve Redgrave holds the Olympic flame aloft before he passes it to the seven final torchbearers.Credit:Reuters
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Night to remember ... young athletes light the flame.Credit:Brendan Esposito
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A group of young athletes run into the stadium carrying the Olympic flame. They then lit the cauldron.Credit:Brendan Esposito
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Fireworks over the Olympic stadium in London.Credit:Getty
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Fireworks illuminate the sky over the Olympic stadium.Credit:AP
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Actors portraying the Queen and James Bond arrive via parachute after jumping from a helicopter during the opening ceremony.Credit:Reuters
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Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, attend the opening ceremony.
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The Queen and Jacques Rogge, left, President of the International Olympic Committee, attend the opening ceremony.Credit:Getty Images
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Prince Harry and Winter Olympics gold medalist Amy Williams arrive at the opening ceremony.Credit:AFP PHoto
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Paul McCartney performs "Hey Jude" at the end of the opening ceremony.Credit:AP Photo
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The director of the opening ceremony, Danny Boyle, reacts during the ceremony.Credit:Reuters
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The London Olympics 2012 opening ceremony.Credit:Brendan Esposito
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Fireworks over the Olympic stadium.Credit:Getty
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Fireworks light up the stadium during the opening ceremony.Credit:AP Photo
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Athletes and the flags of the nations they represent during the opening ceremony.Credit:Getty
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Lauren Jackson leads the Australian team into the stadium.Credit:Pat Scala
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The Australian team parade around the stadium.Credit:Pat Scala
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Members of the Australian team walk around the stadium.Credit:Pat Scala
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The Australian Olympic team walk around the stadium.Credit:Pat Scala
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The Australian team walk around the stadium.Credit:Pat Scala
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Usain Bolt carries the flag for the Jamaican team.Credit:Getty
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Chris Hoy of the Great Britain Olympic cycling team carries his country's flag during the opening ceremony.Credit:Getty Images
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Indian athletes march during the opening ceremony.Credit:AP
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Germany's contingent takes part in the parade.Credit:Reuters
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The German team enjoy the opening ceremony.Credit:Reuters
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Mariel Zagunis of the United States fencing team carries her country's flag during the opening ceremony.Credit:Getty Images
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Kobe Bryant marches in with his US teammates.Credit:AP Photo
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Czech Republic's flag bearer Petr Koukal holds the national flag as he leads the contingent in the parade.Credit:Reuters
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Members of the Spanish team celebrate the start of the Games.Credit:Reuters
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Members of China's contingent wave flags as they take part in the athletes parade.Credit:Reuters
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Belgium's athletes march during the opening ceremony.Credit:Reuters
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Brazil's athletes carry the national and British flags.Credit:AP
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Members of the Italian team walk around the stadium.Credit:Getty
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Jasmin Farah Hassan of Djibouti walks with her team to the Olympic stadium for the opening ceremony.Credit:AP Photo
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Artists perform during the "Night Out" scene in the opening ceremony.Credit:AFP
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Fireworks explode off Tower Bridge during the night of the opening ceremony.Credit:Reuters
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The British flag is projected onto the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben during a light show to mark the start of the 2012 Olympic Games.Credit:Getty
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An image of Usain Bolt is projected onto the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben in a ceremony to mark the start of the 2012 Olympic Games.Credit:Getty
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David Beckham passes under Tower Bridge driving a speedboat named 'Max Power' which carries the Olympic Torch with its torchbearer .Credit:Getty Images
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Actor Rowan Atkinson, known for his role as Mr Bean, performs during the opening ceremony.Credit:Reuters
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A moving tribute performance.Credit:Brendan Esposito
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Musical performance during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.Credit:Brendan Esposito
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Musical performance during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.Credit:Pat Scala
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A general view of the opening ceremony.Credit:AP
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Musical performance during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.Credit:Brendan Esposito
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Musical performance during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.Credit:Brendan Esposito
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Musical performance during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.Credit:Pat Scala
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Musical performance during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.Credit:Brendan Esposito
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Performers portraying the character Mary Poppins take part in the opening ceremony.Credit:Reuters
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The crowd is lit up as part of the opening ceremony.Credit:Pat Scala
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Part of the industrial revolution scene at the stadium.Credit:Pat Scala
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The Olympic rings are seen during a pyrotechnics display at the pre-show before the opening ceremony.Credit:Reuters
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Part of the industrial revolution scene at the stadium.Credit:Brendan Esposito
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Dancers perform at the opening ceremony.Credit:AFP Photo
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Musicians perform during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.Credit:Pat Scala
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Part of the industrial revolution scene at the stadium.Credit:Brendan Esposito
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A royal audience ... Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince Harry during the opening ceremony.Credit:Getty
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Princess Charlene and Prince Albert of Monaco at the opening ceremony.Credit:Getty
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Sheeting is extended across the audience during the opening ceremony.Credit:Brendan Esposito
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Britain's first Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins acknowledges the public during the opening ceremony.Credit:AFP
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The Red Arrows fly over London ahead of the opening ceremony.Credit:Getty Images
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Musicians perform during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.Credit:Getty Images
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Spectators party in the Olympic stadium before the opening ceremony.Credit:Brendan Esposito
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A general view of the the set depicting the English countryside during the opening ceremony.Credit:Getty Images
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Spectators party in the Olympic stadium before the opening ceremony.Credit:Reuters
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Rain comes down on the spectators party in the Olympic stadium before the opening ceremony.Credit:Brendan Esposito
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Police officers place their hats on Cynthia Sison, left, and Mercy Mesina, both of the Philippines.Credit:AP
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People wait at the Olympic stadium before the start of the opening ceremony.Credit:AFP
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A rural scene at the stadium.Credit:Brendan Esposito
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Fans take photos as cows are taken across the stadium.Credit:Getty Images
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A rural scene at the stadium.Credit:Brendan Esposito
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A spectator poses with a hat showing Olympic rings after arriving for the opening ceremony.Credit:AFP
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A Great Britain fan has her photo taken prior to the opening ceremony.Credit:Getty Images
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A spectator wearing a pair of Union Jack glasses waits for the start of the opening ceremony.Credit:AFP
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Journalists take their place for the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.Credit:AFP
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A girl with a London 2012 Olympic Games logo transfer on her cheek queues to get into the Olympic Park.Credit:Reuters
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Michael Burn of Watford, England smiles outside the Olympic Park.Credit:AP
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A Great Britain fan cheers as she walks through a crowd outside the Olympic stadium.Credit:Getty Images
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A Great Britain fan wearing a Union Jack vest displaying the message 'Birthday Girl 27-7-2012' poses with the national flag outside the Olympic stadium.Credit:Getty Images
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Ethiopia fans enjoy the atmosphere outside the Olympic stadium.Credit:Getty Images
