The best of the Opening Ceremony



Inspire a generation
Olympic Games 27 July - 12 August
Official London 2012 website





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
Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium
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

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium
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.

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium
A dazzling performance in the Olympic Stadium
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

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.

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

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'.

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

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.

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

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 are set off around the Olympic Stadium

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.

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

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.

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

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.

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

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

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

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. 

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

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. 

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

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.

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

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.

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

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.

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

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.

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

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.

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

The Union flag is raised in the stadium
The Union flag is raised by members of the armed forces during the Opening Ceremony.

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

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.

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

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.

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

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.

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

Towering chimneys represent the Industrial Revolution
England's Green and Pleasant Land is quickly transformed into a hub of industry activity, celebrating Britain's role as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. 

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

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.

Fireworks are set off around 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.

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

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.

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

Olympic Rings rise above the Olympic Stadium
Once formed, the Olympic Rings sparkle as they rise above the Age of Industry scene during the Opening Ceremony. 

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

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.

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

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

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

The Olympic Rings assemble above the Stadium
The giant rings create a spectacular sight as they join together above the Olympic Stadium.

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

The Olympic Bell is displayed on Opening Ceremony night
The Olympic Bell is rung at the end of the countdown to the Opening Ceremony.

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium

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.

Fireworks are set off around 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.

Fireworks are set off around the Olympic Stadium


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Olimpiadas 2012: Ceremonia de apertura

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