2012년 런던 올림픽 개막식

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London Olympic 2012 Highlight Photos

 

The London 2012 Olympic Games began with a bang last night as billions tuned into the spectacular Opening Ceremony.

Her Majesty the Queen, Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Kenneth Branagh, JK Rowling, the Arctic Monkeys, Mr Bean and David Beckham all played a part in the event, which has been dubbed the Greatest Show on Earth.

There was much debate over who would light the Olympic torch, but in the end the honour was given to seven young British athletes, who were chosen by Olympic legends.

Here Mail Online brings you a selection of the best pictures from British director Danny Boyle's Olympic Opening Ceremony, as well as the proceedings leading up to it...

 

Her Majesty the parachute jumper: A performer dressed as The Queen drops into the Olympic stadium

 

Three cheers for Great Britain! Chris Hoy waves the flag for Britain as he leads out our athletes to a rapturous Olympic Stadium crowd

 

Explosive scenes: Fireworks light the sky over Tower Bridge in London during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games

 

 

Line of fire: The spectacular fireworks finale lights up the sky above and around the Olympic Stadium

We all live in a yellow submarine! An inflatable watercraft floats above performers in one of the many highlights from the ceremony

 

 

Health-conscious: A large part of the ceremony was dedicated to the work of the National Health Service and institutions such as Great Ormond Street Hospital, for their tireless work for children

 

Good triumphs over evil: The towering spectre of Lord Voldemort, from the Harry Potter books,  was repelled by a squadron of floating Mary Poppinses 

 

Coming together: Red-hot rings - one rising from the centre of the stadium after being 'forged' by industrial revolution workers - hover above the action as they converge

Familiar logo: The assembled crowd cheered as the glowing circles came together to form the classic interlocking Olympic rings

 

Forging ahead: The Olympic rings are seen during a pyrotechnics display using molten metal to symbolise the Industrial Revolution

Living in a bubble: A gymnast performs inside a large yellow ball

 

Lighting up the world: Sir Steve Redgrave carries the Olympic flame into the stadium as the ceremony draws to a close

 

Jetting in: Men in jetpacks fly around the stadium showering glitter

Why does it always rain on me? Spectators at the Olympic Stadium shelter from the rain with newspapers shortly before the ceremony

 

No need for fakes: Opening ceremony director Danny Boyle doffed his hat to English weather with a few bruising clouds... but he needn't have bothered

 

Stylish entrance: David Beckham rides on a speedboat named 'Max Power' which carries the Olympic Torch and its torchbearer

 

Bringing the flames: As Beckham tore up the Thames in his speedboat, fireworks exploded along his route at the audience waited in the stadium expectantly

 

Smoking hot: Thousands of spectators look on as the Olympic Cauldron is lit

 

 

Ride of a lifetime: A performer on a bike wearing illuminated wings flies through the air

 

 

The Red Arrows fly past the stadium as a giant clock countdowns to the start of the Opening Ceremony

 

 

Dark horses: Performers dressed up as horses take to the stage

 

 

Bohemian Rhapsody: A hologram of British band Queen appears as performer celebrate five decades of British music

 

 

Dancing delight: A montage of songs is played as brightly-coloured dancers take to the stage

 

Not all futuristic: While the show might have ended up with technical wizardry, the rural idyll of a long-lost England took centre stage at the beginning of the ceremony

Old country welcome: Lord Coe addresses the stadium audience, and millions watching worldwide, in front of a tree-topped hill adorned with world flags

 

Giving way to industry: Soon the peaceful rural setting gave way to the trappings of the industrial revolution as England's rich history was played out

Ding dong! British cyclist Bradley Wiggins rings the Olympic Bell

 

Children perform during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games

 

Dance into the light: Performers pay silent tribute to war dead and the victims of the 7/7 terrorist attacks

 

Finale: Beatle Paul McCartney rounds off the proceedings with a rendition of Hey Jude

 

Waterworks: Rain falls in the Olympic Stadium before the ceremony begins

 

Lights show: Fireworks explode above the stadium

 

Moment of glory: Seven young athletes carry the Olympic flame around the stadium, a symbol of the Games' legacy

 

Viva Espana: Brightly-dressed Spanish athletes blow kisses as they join the athletes parade at the Opening Ceremony

 

Seeing red: Another highlight from the spectacular Opening Ceremony