Finally. The 2012 Olympic Games in London were opened with a grand show last night. Director Danny Boyle did an amazing job of bringing together Britain’s past, present and future, in, it must be said, a very long show. These are some cool pix of that ceremony. Let’s hope the sport in the coming 16 days is just as good if not even better.
The Red Arrows fly during opening ceremony of 2012 London Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London. POOL/REUTERS
The Red Arrows fly across the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games. OLIVIA HARRIS/REUTERS
Picture shows the general view of the Olympic Stadium before the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. PAWEL KOPCZYNSKI/REUTERS
An actress walks during a scene showing a pre industrial rural England during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. DYLAN MARTINEZ/REUTERS
Performers hold up umbrellas during the pre-show before the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium . MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS
Actors and geese stand in a pen set up for the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. DAVID GRAY/REUTERS
Members of the audience take photographs before the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. ADREES LATIF/REUTERS
Actors perform during a pre-show in the Olympic Stadium before the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. PAWEL KOPCZYNSKI/REUTERS
Great Britain's cyclist Wiggins greets spectators during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. DAVID GRAY/REUTERS
Picture shows a general view of a pre-show at the Olympic Stadium before the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. PAWEL KOPCZYNSKI/REUTERS
Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. DAVID GRAY/REUTERS
Picture shows a general view of a pre-show at the Olympic Stadium before the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. PAWEL KOPCZYNSKI/REUTERS
The Olympic Stadium is seen during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. MARKO DJURICA/REUTERS
Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. DAMIR SAGOLJ/REUTERS
The Olympic rings are seen during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. DAMIR SAGOLJ/REUTERS
Actors portraying the Queen and James Bond arrive via parachute after jumping from a helicopter during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. MURAD SEZER/REUTERS
A performer playing the role of Britain's Queen Elizabeth parachutes from a helicopter during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. FABRIZIO BENSCH/REUTERS
An actor performs during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. ADREES LATIF/REUTERS
Performers dressed as character Mary Poppins descend to ground during opening ceremony of London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium. MIKE BLAKE/REUTERS
A general view of the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. JORGE SILVA/REUTERS
Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS
A performer gestures before the start of the opening ceremony of London 2012 Olympic Games in the Olympic Stadium at the Olympic Park in London. Marcelo del Pozo/REUTERS
Britain's David Beckham drives a powerboat with the Olympic torch as fireworks are launched over Tower Bridge during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. EDDIE KEOGH/REUTERS
Actor Rowan Atkinson performs during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS
Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics Games at the Olympic Stadium. JORGE SILVA/REUTERS
A performer is seen before the start of the 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the Olympic Park in London. MARCELO DEL POZO/REUTERS
Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. DAVID GRAY/REUTERS
Britain's Queen Elizabeth arrives during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. DAMIR SAGOLJ/REUTERS
The Union flag is raised during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. MIKE BLAKE/REUTERS
Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. JORGE SILVA/REUTERS
Britain's Queen Elizabeth attends the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games . KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS
A man dressed as a goblin descends on the children during a performance at the London 2012 Olympic Games. MAX ROSSI/REUTERS
Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium . DAMIR SAGOLJ/REUTERS
Union Flags, commonly known as the Union Jack, are projected on the Palace of Westminster next to Big Ben on the bank of the River Thames, before the London 2012 Olympic Games. SERGIO PEREZ/REUTERS
The Olympic rings hang on London's Tower Bridge as a speedboat driven by Britain's David Beckham and carrying the Olympic torch prepares to mark the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games. PAUL HANNA/REUTERS
Fireworks explode off the Tower Bridge during the night of the opening ceremony of London 2012 Olympic Games in London. MARK BLINCH/REUTERS
A performer takes part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. ADREES LATIF/REUTERS
Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium . DAVID GRAY/REUTERS
The Olympic rings are projected on the Palace of Westminster and the Big Ben on the bank of the River Thames, before the London 2012 Olympic Games. SERGIO PEREZ/REUTERS
Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. DAVID GRAY/REUTERS
Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. DAMIR SAGOLJ/REUTERS
Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium . DAMIR SAGOLJ/REUTERS
Olympic rings are seen during opening ceremony of London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London. POOL/REUTERS
Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics Games at the Olympic Stadium in London. POOL/REUTERS
Picture shows a general view of the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. PAWEL KOPCZYNSKI/REUTERS
Olympic rings are seen during opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London. POOL/REUTERS
Athletes take their places in the Olympic Stadium during the athletes parade at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. FABRIZIO BENSCH/REUTERS
A performer waits before the start of the 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony next to the Olympic Stadium, at the Olympic Park in London. MARCELO DEL POZO/REUTERS
Fireworks explode over the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. DYLAN MARTINEZ/REUTERS
Britain's delegation takes part in the athlete's parade in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS
Fireworks are seen during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games . JORGE SILVA/REUTERS
Britain's flag bearer Chris Hoy holds the national flag during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. POOL/REUTERS
Members of Britain's contingent, with the Union flag painted on their face, wave as they take part in the athletes parade during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium . DAMIR SAGOLJ/REUTERS
Fireworks explode over the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. TIM WIMBORNE/REUTERS
Fireworks explode over the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. DYLAN MARTINEZ/REUTERS
Fireworks explode over the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. DYLAN MARTINEZ/REUTERS
The Olympic flag is carried as fireworks explode during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. JORGE SILVA/REUTERS
Fireworks are seen after the march of the athletes during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games . JORGE SILVA/REUTERS
The Olympic cauldron is seen alight as fireworks are set off during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. JORGE SILVA/REUTERS
Performers wearing wings cycle in the arena during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. MIKE BLAKE/REUTERS
The Olympic flag is carried during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. DAVID GRAY/REUTERS
Fireworks explode over the lit Olympic Cauldron during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. PAWEL KOPCZYNSKI/REUTERS
Britain's Steve Redgrave holds the Olympic Flame aloft during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. POOL/REUTERS
Final torchbearer carries the Olympic Flame into the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. MAX ROSSI/REUTERS
The final torchbearers light the Olympic Cauldron during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium . DAVID GRAY/REUTERS
The final seven torchbearers light the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS
The stems lit by seven young athletes raise to form the Olympic Cauldron during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. PAWEL KOPCZYNSKI/REUTERS
The Olympic Flame is lit during the opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium. DYLAN MARTINEZ/REUTERS
The Olympic Cauldron is seen alight during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS
The Olympic cauldron is seen alight during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. DAVID GRAY/REUTERS
Fireworks explode after the Olympic cauldron was lit during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium . KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS
Flames leap from the cauldron during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. TOBY MELVILLE/REUTERS
Fireworks explode over the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games in London. BRIAN SNYDER/REUTERS
Fireworks explode over the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games in London. BRIAN SNYDER/REUTERS
Sir Paul McCartney performs during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. MURAD SEZER/REUTERS
Fireworks explode over the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. MARKO DJURICA/REUTERS
The Great Britain team parade during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games . ADREES LATIF/REUTERS
Fireworks explode over the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. DYLAN MARTINEZ/REUTERS
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