런던 2012년 개막식: London 2012: The Opening Ceremony

London 2012: The Opening Ceremony

Last night the 2012 Summer Olympics kicked off with a huge Opening Ceremony in London's new Olympic Stadium, an event watched on television by an estimated 1 billion viewers. Performances paid tribute to British heritage and culture, from agrarian beginnings through pop culture successes like the Beatles and J.K. Rowling. Contingents from more than 200 nations marched in the athletes parade, and the evening was capped off by the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron, a performance by Paul McCartney, and a huge fireworks display. Collected below is just a glimpse of last night's ceremony, as the 2012 Olympics are now underway. 

The Olympic cauldron is lit during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, on July 27, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) 

Sheeting is extended across the audience during the 2012 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony, on July 27, 2012, in London.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) 

Actors portraying the Queen of England and James Bond arrive via parachute after jumping from a helicopter during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, on July 27, 2012. (Reuters/Murad Sezer) 

Kenneth Branagh dressed as Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Britain's most revered engineer recites Caliban's speech from Shakespeare's The Tempest at London's Olympic Stadium, on July 27, 2012. (Reuters/David Gray) 

An actor scales a representation of a chimney during an enactment of the Industrial Revolution at the 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony, on July 27, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) 

Newly "forged" Olympic rings light up the stadium in London, on July 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) 

Britain's David Beckham (center) drives a powerboat with the Olympic torch as fireworks are launched over Tower Bridge during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, on July 27, 2012. (Reuters/Eddie Keogh) 

Young actors perform as children haunted by creatures from British storybooks in London's Olympic Stadium, on July 27, 2012.(AP Photo/Mike Groll) 

A giant marionette of Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter books makes an appearance in the Opening Ceremony, on July 27, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev) 

Actors perform in a sequence meant to represent Britain's National Health Service (NHS), on July 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) 

Performers dressed as the character Mary Poppins descend to the ground in the Olympic Stadium, on July 27, 2012.(Reuters/Mike Blake) 

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, on July 27, 2012. (Reuters/Sergio Perez) 

Actor Rowan Atkinson, known for his character Mr. Bean, performs in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, on July 27, 2012. (Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach) 

Artists dance during a medley of British pop songs through the years, in London, on July 27, 2012. (AP Photo/ Ezra Shaw) 

Artists wear jetpacks during the Opening Ceremony in London, on July 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) 

A live tweet from Sir Tim Berners-Lee, creator of the World Wide Web, appears in the crowd in Olympic Stadium, on July 27, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) 

Fireworks on display at Tower Bridge on July 27, 2012 in London, England. (Julian Finney/Getty Images) 

Dancers perform during a rendition of the Hymn "Abide With Me", a memorial performance for "loved ones who could not be with us", and a tribute to the victims of the 7/7 terror attacks in London in 2005, on July 27, 2012. (Paul Gilham/Getty Images) 

Britain's Queen Elizabeth (center), her husband Prince Philip (center right) and International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge (center left) applaud during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Reuters/Toby Melville) 

Britain's flag bearer Chris Hoy holds the national flag as he leads the contingent in the athletes parade in the Olympic Stadium, on July 27, 2012. (Reuters) 

People watch the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at a pub in London, on July 27, 2012.(Reuters/Sergio Moraes) 

China's flag bearer Yi Jianlian holds the national flag as he leads the contingent who carry both Chinese and British flags, in the athletes parade, on July 27, 2012. (Reuters/Mike Blake) 

Two members of the Montenegro delegation photograph themselves as they parade in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, on July 27, 2012. (Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images) 

Members of Canada's contingent in the athletes parade in the Olympic Stadium, on July 27, 2012. (Reuters/Jorge Silva) 

Members of Australia's contingent show off messages written on their hands during the athletes parade, on July 27, 2012.(Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach) 

Flag bearer Mariel Zagunis of the U.S. holds the national flag as she leads the contingent in the athletes parade, on July 27, 2012.(Reuters/Mike Blake) 

Sarah Attar and Wojdan Shahrkhani (background), the first female Saudis to ever compete in the Olympics, part of Saudi Arabia's contingent, take part in the athletes parade in the Olympic Stadium, on July 27, 2012. (Reuters/Suzanne Plunkett) 

Fireworks illuminate the sky over the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012.(Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images) 

Spectators are illuminated during the Opening Ceremony, on July 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Cameron Spencer) 

An actor performs during "Bike a.m", part of the Opening Ceremony in London, on July 27, 2012. (Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images)

A wide-angle view of the Olympic stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, on July 27, 2012.(Reuters/Pawel Kopczynski) 

Muhammad Ali (center) participates in the Opening Ceremony, on July 27, 2012 in London. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) 

The final torch bearers walk through the Olympic Stadium, on July 27, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) 

The final seven torchbearers light the Olympic cauldron during the Opening Ceremony, on July 27, 2012. (Reuters) 

Arms of the Olympic Cauldron rise after being lit, opening the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012.(Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) 

After the separate lit torches rose together, forming the cauldron, the 2012 Olympic Flame burns brightly, on July 27, 2012.(Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) 

Fireworks explode over the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) 

Fireworks light up the Olympic Stadium, on July 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) 

Fireworks illuminate the sky over the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics, on July 27, 2012.(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) 

A fisheye lens view of fireworks exploding after the Olympic cauldron was lit during the Opening Ceremony in London, on July 27, 2012.(Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach) 

Spectators wave Union Jacks in the Olympic Stadium, on July 27, 2012. (Reuters/Mike Segar) 

Sir Paul McCartney performs "Hey Jude" and "The End" in the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, on July 27, 2012.(Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) 

Participants gathered around the Olympic Cauldron in the Olympic Stadium, on July 27, 2012. (Reuters/Murad Sezer) 

A couple embraces after the Olympic Flame was lit during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, on July 27, 2012.(Reuters/Max Rossi) 

The Olympic Flame Arrive

Today marks the end of the 70-day Olympic Torch relay through the United Kingdom, leading to the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. Since arriving in Cornwall on May 18, the flame has been carried through villages and cities, across lakes and mountain ranges, on foot, by train, on horseback, and through the air, from Cornwall to central London. The torch has passed through the hands of more than 8,000 torchbearers on its 8,000 mile (12,800 km) journey. Be sure to also see first half of the journey. And stay tuned: as the Opening Ceremony takes place tonight, I'll be gathering photographs, which I will post tomorrow morning, Saturday, July 28. 

Amelia Hempleman-Adams poses with the Olympic Flame on top of a London Eye pod on the Torch Relay leg through London, on July 22, 2012.(AP Photo/LOCOG, Lewis Whyld) 

Torchbearer 001 Michael Liptrot holds the Olympic Flame in Kendal Castle on Day 35 of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.(AP Photo/Yui Mok/LOCOG) 

Aaron Bell lights the cauldron with the Olympic Flame at the historic estate of Temple Newsam in Leeds at the end of Day 37 of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. (AP Photo/Joe Giddens/LOCOG) 

Alan Ellinson holds the Torch before he abseils down the side of the Royal Dock Tower in Grimsby on June 27, 2012 in Grimsby, England.(LOCOG via Getty Images) 

Starr Halley holds the Olympic Flame on Skegness Beach during Day 40 of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay in Skegness, England.(LOCOG via Getty Images) 

Glenn Chambers carries the Olympic Flame between Edwinstowe and Mansfield, during a heavy downpour, on Day 41 of the Torch Relay.(AP Photo/Chris Radburn/LOCOG) 

A young girl squeezes between an honor guard of soldiers to get a glimpse of Johnson Beharry VC carrying the Olympic torch at the National War Memorial on Armed Forces Day on June 30, 2012 in Alrewas, Staffordshire. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) 

Johnson Beharry VC carries the Olympic torch on National Armed Forces Day at the National War Memorial on June 30, 2012 in Alrewas, Staffordshire. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) 

Torchbearer 071 Lauren Reeder holds the Olympic Flame surrounded by local children on the running track at Lynnsport and Leisure Park, on July 4, 2012 in King's Lynn, England. (LOCOG via Getty Images) 

Richard Game passes the Olympic Flame to Caroline Emeny in front of the beach huts at Southwold during Day 48 of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay on July 5, 2012 in Southwold, England. (LOCOG via Getty Images) 

Edward Roberts carries the Olympic Flame on a punt on the River Cam on the Torch Relay leg through Cambridge on July 8, 2012 in Cambridge, England. (LOCOG via Getty Images) 

Torchbearer 024 Zachary Franklin carries the Olympic Flame on a raft down the Lee Valley Whitewater Center, north of London, on July 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Ben Birchall/LOCOG) 

Crowds gather around the "Long Walk" at Windsor Castle, as an Olympic Torch bearer runs with the torch west of London, on July 10, 2012. (Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images) 

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip view the Olympic Flame at Windsor Castle, Windsor, England, on July 10, 2012.(AP Photo/Steve Parsons) 

Sir Roger Bannister holds the Olympic Flame on the running track at Iffley Road Stadium in Oxford, England, on July 10, 2012. Bannister was the first person ever to run a sub-four-minute-mile, on May 6, 1954, at this track in Oxford. Bannister returned to the site of his greatest sporting achievement, to participate in this Olympic Torch relay. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) 

Torchbearer Charlotte James carries the Olympic Flame on the leg through Basingstoke on July 11, 2012.(AP Photo/Gareth Fuller/LOCOG) 

Schoolgirls from Leadenhall School hold the torch of Olympic gold medalist former sprinter Torchbearer 001 Michael Johnson at Salisbury Cathedral on July 12, 2012 in Salisbury, England. (LOCOG via Getty Images) 

Olympic gold medalist former sprinter Michael Johnson holds the Olympic Flame at Stonehenge at the beginning of Day 55 of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. (LOCOG via Getty Images) 

Alan Surtees carries the Olympic Flame up Gold Hill on day 55 of the Torch Relay, in Shaftesbury, England. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images) 

Torchbearer 045 Lisa Devine holds the Olympic Flame in front of Durdle Door, on July 13, 2012 in Dorset, England.(LOCOG via Getty Images) 

Kathy Gore runs with the Olympic Flame at Seaford Head, with a view of the Seven Sisters cliffs in East Sussex during day 60 leg of the Olympic Torch Relay in Seaford, England. (LOCOG via Getty Images) 

British Artist Tracey Emin holds the Olympic Flame inside the Turner Contemporary Gallery in Margate alongside "The Kiss" sculpture by Rodin, on July 19, 2012 in Margate, England. (LOCOG via Getty Images) 

Tall ship Stavros S Niarchos struggles into harbor past the white cliffs of Dover as bad weather prevented the Olympic torch handover between the tall ship and an RNLI lifeboat, which had to be completed in the harbor at Dover in southeast England, on July 18, 2012.(Reuters/Luke MacGregor) 

Royal Marine Martyn Williams carries the London 2012 Olympic torch as he abseils from a helicopter above the Tower of London, on July 20, 2012. (Reuters/Suzanne Plunkett) 

Torchbearer Paul Stanley-McKenzie carries the Olympic Flame on the Torch Relay leg through the London Borough Waltham Forest, on July 21, 2012. (AP Photo/LOCOG, Ben Birchall) 

Former English basketball player, John Amaechi, and former Romanian gymnast, Nadia Comaneci, pose for a photograph with the Olympic Flame on the roof of the North Greenwich Arena, on July 21, 2012. (Reuters/LOCOG) 

Indian Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan carries the Olympic Flame in London on July 26, 2012. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images) 

A torchbearer passes the Olympic Flame to another in front of Buckingham Palace in the presence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry on the Torch Relay leg through Westminster, on July 26, 2012. (AP Photo/LOCOG, Gareth Fuller) 

Paralympian Ade Adepitan waves to crowds below as he carries the Olympic Flame across the Millennium Bridge in front of St Paul's Cathedral ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games in London, on July 26, 2012. (Reuters/Luke MacGregor) 

"The Wanted" perform at the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Finale Concert in London's Hyde Park, on July 26, 2012.(Shirlaine Forrest/Getty Images) 

The last Olympic torchbearer Tyler Rix, from London, lights the flame on stage at the Olympic Torch Relay Concert in Hyde Park, before he gave a rousing speech, in central London, on July 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan)