Saturday marked the one-year anniversary of the start of the London Olympics, best known for the feats of Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, Mo Farah and others, but the Games got off to a rousing opening at Olympic Stadium.
Here’s a look back in pictures at July 27, 2012 (all images via Reuters, Getty Images):
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 27: Bradley Wiggins the first British winner of the Tour De France cycle race rings the largest harmonically tuned bell in the world to signal the start of the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
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Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins got the proceedings going by ringing the world’s largest harmonically tuned bell.
Mr. Bean, also known as Rowan Atkinson, had one of the funnier performances of the night, doing a spoof of “Chariots of Fire” and leading this orchestra.
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 27: David Beckham passes under Tower Bridge driving a speedboat named ‘Max Power’ which carries the Olympic Torch with its torchbearer on July 27, 2012 in London, England. Athletes, heads of state and dignitaries from around the world have gathered in the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony of the 30th Olympiad. London plays host to the 2012 Olympic Games which will see 26 sports contested by 10,500 athletes over 17 days of competition. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)
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David Beckham didn’t compete in the Olympics, but he played a role driving this speedboat down the river Thames.
Olympic champion fencer Mariel Zagunis led the U.S. delegation in the parade of nations.
Track cyclist Chris Hoy had the honor of carrying the British flag as the host nation entered the stadium last.
London Games chief and two-time Olympic champion Seb Coe said, “In the next two weeks we will show all that has made London one of the greatest cities in the world.”
The Queen made a spectacular royal entrance after an unforgettable scene of her with James Bond -- and her corgis.
The Queen then officially opened the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Seven final torchbearers prepare to light the Olympic Cauldron during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in this July 27, 2012 file photo. Seven teenagers, in keeping with the Games motto of ‘Inspire a generation’, lit 200-plus copper petals which then rose on stalks to form the single burning flower of a cauldron. To match OLY-END-MOMENTS-2012/ REUTERS/Mike Blake/Files (BRITAIN - Tags: SPORT OLYMPICS)
REUTERS
The Games’ motto was to inspire a generation, so it was only fitting that seven youths combined to light the Olympic cauldron.
The cauldron would move from the center of Olympic Stadium off to one side of the track during the Games.
Paul McCartney capped the night by performing “The End” and “Hey Jude.”
