Slideshow

London 2012

Britain opened its Olympics with a royal entrance like no other. London greeted the world in a celebration of Old England that was stunning, imaginative, whimsical and dramatic — and cheeky, even featuring a stand-in for Queen Elizabeth II parachuting with James Bond into Olympic Stadium.

The Olympic rings light up the stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. 1 width:500px;height:378px Triathlete Simon Whitfield carries the flag for Team Canada as they enter the stadium during the opening ceremonies for the 2012 Olympic Games in London on Friday, July 27, 2012. 2 width:500px;height:373px Performers pay tribute to the Beatles Sgt Pepper album during the opening ceremonies for the 2012 Summer Olympics Friday, July 27, 2012 in London. 3 width:500px;height:419px Performers pay tribute to Mary Poppins during the opening ceremonies for the 2012 Olympics Games in London on Friday, July 27, 2012. 4 width:500px;height:355px Actors perfrom during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. 5 width:500px;height:335px
Actor Rowan Atkinson performs during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. 6 height:500px;width:374px Britain's Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Britain's Prince Harry, from left, attend the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Summer Games at the Olympic Stadium in London, Friday, July 27, 2012. 7 width:500px;height:315px The British flag is raised up during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. 8 width:500px;height:346px Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, center, the President of the International Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge, left, and Britain's Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, right, watch the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. 9 width:500px;height:373px Canadian fans pose for a photo before the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games on Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. 10 width:500px;height:323px
A young woman wears a London Olympics logo on her cheek outside the Olympic Park ahead of the 2012 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony, Friday. 11 width:500px;height:333px Fireworks illuminate the sky over the Tower Bridge and River Thames in London during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. 12 width:500px;height:329px
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Published on July 27, 2012

The Olympic rings light up the stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

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