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London 2012 Olympic Games: Opening Ceremonies Britain greeted the world with an extravagant celebration that included Bond, the Bard and a Beatle — and the country’s jubilee queen.
July 27, 2012
Fireworks burst above the stadium during the Opening Ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
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Getty Images
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July 27, 2012
David Beckham passes under Tower Bridge driving a speedboat named “Max Power” with a torchbearer and the Olympic torch.
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July 27, 2012
A speedboat carrying the Olympic Flame leaves a trail in this slow-exposure photograph as fireworks explode above the iconic Tower Bridge over the River Thames, during the Opening Ceremonies of the Summer Olympics.
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July 27, 2012
The Olympic rings light up the stadium during the Opening Ceremonies in London.
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July 27, 2012
Performers play drums during the Opening Ceremonies.
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July 27, 2012
Actors dressed as Mary Poppins perform.
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July 27, 2012
Actors perform during the Opening Ceremonies.
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July 27, 2012
Britain's Prince William and his wife, Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, attend the Opening Ceremonies.
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July 27, 2012
Seventy-five Dove bikes replace the traditional doves during the Opening Ceremonies of the 2012 London Summer Games.
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July 27, 2012
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, center, is flanked by Britain's Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and IOC President Jacques Rogge at the Opening Ceremonies.
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July 27, 2012
Actors perform in a sequence meant to represent Britain's National Health Service during the Opening Ceremonies.
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July 27, 2012
Performers take part in the Opening Ceremonies.
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Reuters
July 27, 2012
Performers take part in the Opening Ceremonies.
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July 27, 2012
The Opening Ceremonies, featuring 15,000 volunteers, included a depiction of the Industrial Revolution. On The Washington Post’s live blog of the ceremony, Mike Wise wrote of the performance: “They’re literally carting off the plants and flowers from the infield. A huge smokestack is rising from the ground. Now three of them. It’s the most live performers I’ve ever seen on an infield. I didn’t make it to Beijing, but the sheer numbers in London trumps Atlanta, Athens and Sydney.”
Toni L. Sandys
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July 27, 2012
A British meadow scene during the Opening Ceremonies, which took a spectacular cascade through British history.
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July 27, 2012
Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle’s Opening Ceremonies spanned numerous media, performance styles and, as evident here, historical periods. Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls perform before start of the Opening Ceremony.
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July 27, 2012
Performers take part in the Opening Ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Mike Blake
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Reuters
July 27, 2012
Performers take part in the Opening Ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Toni L. Sandys
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The Washington Post
July 27, 2012
Great Britain’s athletes walk around the stadium during the Opening Ceremonies.
Toni L. Sandys
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The Washington Post
July 27, 2012
A member of the Great Britain team high fives fans during the Opening Ceremony.
Toni L. Sandys
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The Washington Post
July 27, 2012
Italy's athletes arrive during the Opening Ceremonies.
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AP
July 27, 2012
Members of the U.S. Olympic team enter the stadium during the Opening Ceremonies.
Cameron Spencer
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Getty Images
July 27, 2012
Paul McCartney, center, performs during the Opening Ceremonies.
Matt Dunham
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AP
July 27, 2012
Spanish team members wave to the crowd during the Opening Ceremony.
Toni L. Sandys
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The Washington Post
July 27, 2012
Argentina's athletes parade through the stadium during the Opening Ceremonies.
Jae C. Hong
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AP
July 27, 2012
Fireworks explode from behind the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremonies.
Toni L. Sandys
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The Washington Post
July 27, 2012
The Olympic Flame makes its way around the stadium during the Opening Ceremonies.
Toni L. Sandys
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July 27, 2012
Fireworks explode from behind the Olympic Stadium after the lighting of the torch.
Toni L. Sandys
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The Washington Post
July 27, 2012
Fireworks explode from behind the Olympic Stadium after the lighting of the torch during the Opening Ceremonies.
Toni L. Sandys
/
The Washington Post
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