summer olympics opening ceremony opening ceremony summer olympic games took place evening friday july olympic stadium london mandated olympic charter proceedings combined formal ceremonial opening international sporting event including welcoming speeches flags parade athletes artistic spectacle showcase host nation culture games formally opened queen elizabeth_ii spectacle entitled isles wonder directed british film director prior london considerable britain ability stage opening ceremony reach standard set beijing summer games ceremony noted scale expense hailed greatest cost london spent estimated ceremonies twice original budget ceremony immediately seen tremendous success widely praised masterpiece love letter britain ceremony began lasted hours watched estimated worldwide television audience million viewed olympic opening ceremony content largely kept secret performance despite involving thousands volunteers public rehearsals principal sections artistic display represented britain literary heritage popular music culture noted vibrant storytelling use music shorter sections drew particular comment involving filmed cameo appearance queen live performance joined comedian widely ascribed britain sense humour ceremony featured children young people segments reflecting inspire generation london original bid games bbc released footage entire opening ceremony october edited background extras seven hours sporting highlights complete closing ceremony preparations olympic paralympic games approached director ceremony june immediately accepted explained things job big olympics fan lived mile stadium felt invested area late father birthday ceremony date felt oscar enable push wanted said felt like civic national responsibility job acknowledged opening ceremony impossible act follow bigger beijing fact liberated team creatively said obviously going try build beijing wouldn want going beginning going try impression opening ceremonies escalated los_angeles tried time beijing beijing budget london final budget twice original provision london stadium number seats beijing half size intimacy scale meant felt achieve personal connecting different sections ceremony designed reflect aspects british history culture title isles wonder partly inspired shakespeare play particularly speech partly world shall lack wonders lack wonder july started ideas designer writer costume designer considered essentially british non british able offer view world thought britain meant given copy named capital hell paradise lost contemporary reports industrial revolution traditional opening ceremony produce olympic rings spectacular manner commented clear idea minutes great startling image world climax people god decided journey pastoral industrial ending olympic rings image distinct chapters team started work gradually compressed principal movements violent transition green pleasant land industrial revolution salute children literature celebration pop culture technology digital revolution returned work ceremony spring asked underworld worked film projects theatrical production musical director time team moved mills studio complex east london metre scale model stadium built security reasons single cgi assisted version ceremony kept editor needing come studio cast included professional performers volunteers considered volunteers valuable november auditioned mills rehearsals began earnest spring open air site abandoned ford plant foul weather key contributors sign non disclosure agreements elements placed immense trust volunteers asking simply save surprise leak information volunteers recruited help security support technical crew weeks ceremony taken leading pulled family replaced largest tuned bell world weighing tonnes cast brass direction netherlands hung stadium inscribed line speech isle noises gave significant emphasis london theme inspire generation devised programme relying heavily children young people built themes relate young schools original host recruit child volunteers performance sixth year olds speaking languages recruited colleges june press conference promised huge set rural britain include village cricket team farm animals model rain producing cloud intention represent rural urban landscape britain design include pit end set people celebrating rock festival night promised ceremony feel involved said hope reveal peculiar contrary hope warmth set designed real grass turf soil use animals sheep horses cows goats chickens ducks sheep dogs looked animal drew criticism advised assured animals cared press conference commentary negative attracted hundreds comments online completely supporting view opening ceremony disaster overwhelming majority music british team worked door office musical director closing ceremony hearing music scramble claim particular song worked millionaire hours composed song showcase indian influence according wishes indian music scheduled inclusion medley paul_mccartney ceremony closing act instrumental asking queen film sequence pitched idea loved asked british member thought told ask queen took friend queen deputy private secretary suggestions play queen world class actress filmed house double buckingham palace surprised hear queen happy play wanted speaking filming took place late march happy glorious opening film sequence journey thames produced bbc changes programme final days ceremony bike section dropped time constraints thanks tim sections edited recounted come pressure junior minister cut section saved threatening resign volunteers dress technical rehearsals took place olympic stadium july audience comprising volunteers cast members families competition winners connected games asked surprise watch friday night officials guests seated royal box queen duke edinburgh members accompanied archbishop_of_canterbury prime minister wife samantha prime ministers london mayor officials olympic movement included president chairman international guests included queen spain princess thailand lady united_states prime minister russia president brazil princess netherlands prime minister jamaica prime minister australia julia president singapore prime minister turkey prime minister bangladesh president president italy irish kenny proceedings prologue exactly performed olympic stadium concert concert featured artists selected represent nations united_kingdom prologue celebrated britain maritime heritage accompanied extracts maritime images big screens audience held blue simulate sight sound ocean performed songs sailor boots boy believe model joined regular backing band sleeping souls track orchestra young musicians members performed countdown ceremony began minute countdown film shots numbers house doors street london buses market labels minute film journey thames directed produced bbc opened ceremony sound surf solar followed river thames source heart london images contemporary british life pastoral shots flashes scenes stadium characters mole wind briefly seen hand pointing london train passing olympic rings crop circles field pig flying towers clock sound song time heard passing big ben soundtrack included clips theme tune london calling clash sex pistols god save queen film followed route band infamous cruise river_thames silver jubilee lifting aerial view title sequence bbc soap opera sound drum beats closing theme film thames barrier surface london underground train station historic footage switched sequence filmed outside stadium shortly ceremony superimposed posters previous summer olympics paris berlin los_angeles atlanta recording map muse ended live shot cast members holding posters competition second countdown stadium children holding clusters balloons burst simultaneously audience shouting numbers won tour france days earlier opened ceremony ringing hung end stadium upper atmosphere balloons released expected carry set olympic rings camera mid green pleasant land beginning stadium contained rural scene including model model village water wheel live animals removed shortly ceremony began actors portraying working villagers football cricket players represented ancient mythical past youth began cappella performances informal anthems nations jerusalem england sung live choir stadium beginning solo year old giant causeway northern_ireland flower scotland scotland bread heaven wales sung english inter cut footage notable tries england winning drop goal rugby world cup final live shots stadium singing cast rural activities section performance billed reminder promise future better life choir performance concluded vintage entered carrying businessmen early victorian dress hats led men stepped carriages surveyed land walking delivered speech reflecting introduction ceremony programme signifying new industry new era britain anticipated section ceremony section british economic social development rural economy industrial revolution 1960s proceedings suddenly interrupted loud shout recorded volunteers rehearsals followed drumming pre recorded drumming cast members drumming inverted household underworld kiss led oak tree lifted industrial workers emerged brightly lit interior entrances stadium swell cast total volunteers began called biggest scene change theatre history advised attempting cast rolled away grass rural props seven smoking chimney accompanying rose ground industrial machinery beam engines water wheel items left rural scene said section celebrated tremendous potential afforded victorian era included minute silence remembrance loss life world wars featuring shots names shown stadium screens members audience stood respect segment volunteers stadium representing groups changed face britain woman suffrage movement caribbean immigrants arriving board 1970s float beatles appeared cover sgt included real life band group queens workers began casting iron ring noise level tension built driven relentless rhythm music drumming participants repetitive mechanical movements associated industrial processes weaving glowing orange rings gradually began carried high stadium centre overhead wires ring seemingly cast forged arena began lift rings glowing accompanied steam effects impression hot metal rings formed olympic symbol stadium ignited fire silver gold image olympic rings flame iconic image ceremony reproduced newspapers web stories world happy glorious short film directed produced bbc called happy glorious line national anthem featured character james_bond played current bond actor entering gate buckingham palace london black cab entrance accompanied arrangement arrival queen noticed brazilian children nod rio_de_janeiro summer games host city throne room bond escorted queen elizabeth_ii played acknowledging bond words good evening building waiting helicopter helicopter flew london cheers crowd mall past doubling animated winston_churchill statue parliament square thames past london eye financial district city london background passed tower bridge accompanied march film finished bond queen apparently jumping helicopter live stadium accompanied queen duke edinburgh introduced audience queen wearing dress film arrived james_bond scenes helicopter queen doubled actress parachute jump base wearing dress hat jewellery bond played helicopter flown stadium essex piloted raised members verses national anthem performed cappella deaf hearing children second right straight till morning sequence celebrated institution nation according programme founded year previous london games music dancers staff volunteers recruited british hospitals entered children hospital beds functioned started short routine watching specially invited hospital staff child patients blankets beds illuminated beds arranged depict child face smile tear logo acronym changed initials turning shape crescent moon children sleep read book nurse sequence moved celebrate british children literature began reading copyright given child catcher appeared children followed large puppet representations villains children literature queen hearts lord minutes later women playing descended flying villains actors resumed dancing music sequence included partially rearranged sections giant set tubular bells rear stage villains driven away mary characters performance children jumped brightly lit beds creating memorable image amid darkness stadium sequence concluded pale gigantic baby head sheet body centre arena celebrating scottish pioneers imaging interlude introduced conduct performance fire tribute british film industry appeared like character actually according playing repeated note synthesizer filmed dream sequence joined runners film fire beating iconic run riding car rejoining race runner june thanks tim sequence celebrated british popular music culture paying homage decade 1960s accompaniment bbc theme girls grey theme song young mother son arrive mini cooper size replica modern british house don worry hurricane weather forecast shown big screens rain suddenly poured house followed push button centre arena sides house times larger screens clips british programmes music videos films including matter life death june named protagonist gregory girl man weddings funeral spanish large group dancers centred june year old year old night performed assortment british popular songs arranged broadly beginning going underground jam suggesting ride london underground track images underground projected house london mayor briefly seen sequence cast members seen placing social networking status updates internet june notice snippet wonderful tonight plays saw june dropped phone tube set return communicating number sister phone extended dance sequence followed songs including generation satisfaction rolling_stones boy sung day night loves beatles footage band performing song foot david_bowie bohemian queen sound tardis doctor heard pretty vacant sex pistols dancers power wearing large heads performed dance lyrics song spelled led lights stadium blue monday relax hollywood asked june replied revealing band shirts life want step happy born underworld ending cast singing forever blowing bubbles june walked sequence film weddings funeral projected kissed montage memorable kisses film real life shown including lesbian kiss countries including saudi_arabia lesbian kiss shown pre watershed television song played live performance followed sequence cast britain fame dancing duo signature attend party june house whilst muse uprising pass played close larger house raised reveal working computer like invented world wide web tweeted instantly spelled led lights stadium programme explained music connects important moments lives things makes connections possible world wide web wanted honour lee making world wide web free available making commercial profit filmed sequence showed extracts torch relay music cut live driving dramatically illuminated motor boat river_thames fireworks sound london air raid held torch boat section rehearsed july close shots pre recorded directed tribute friends family stadium tonight including victims london bombings day london awarded games photos people died displayed screens memorial accompanied excerpt ambient work ending ascent hymn sung group dancers choreographed including performed contemporary dance theme mortality welcome parade nations athletes drawn competing officials nations independent olympic athletes led according custom greek team followed competing countries order finally host nation great_britain teams entered stadium led accompanied child volunteer carrying copper later revealed young woman carrying sign country english wearing dress fabric printed photos people applied olympic volunteers parade accompanied mainly british popular songs including west end girls hindu times oasis rolling deep alive bee streets beautiful day irish band great_britain entering david_bowie song heroes soundtrack assembled producer high contrast music fast rhythm attempt teams walking quickly stadium reinforced stadium parade programme took hour minutes complete compared hour minutes estimated official media guide athletes inside stadium billion small pieces paper dropped helicopter piece representing person earth nation flag planted bike july athletes gathered centre stadium performed bet look good beatles come whilst stadium wings lit representing peace traditionally released olympic opening ceremonies real birds single dove painted yellow honour appeared fly stadium let games begin formal ceremony introduced speaking surrounded flags participating nations welcomed watching world london expressed pride british olympic movement said olympics brings people world celebrate best mankind continued speak truth drama sport thanked britain making possible responded london stating time london held games time short notice rome unable volcanic eruption secondly years end world war thanked thousands volunteers huge cheers announced time olympic history team female participants acknowledged important role played birthplace modern sport fair play sport building sport school curriculum athletes play fairly drug free according values baron reminding role models inspire generation expressing sentiments briefly french invited queen open games queen declared competition officially open immediately followed trumpet fanfare based theme fireworks display ceremony second time queen opened olympic games summer olympics montreal capacity queen canada carried people chosen world symbols olympic values general secretary courage chosen justice fight poverty great integrity bringing harmony place champion earth flag invited represent respect confidence conviction dedication spiritual strength held moments ali lit flame atlanta games accompanied wife appeared flag received colour guard majesty hoisted performed band olympic taken athlete behalf athletes british referee behalf officials behalf coaches light goes section named song driven arrived lit torch boat carried stadium honour guard construction workers built passed flame team seven young people nominated famous british convey games aim inspire generation team athletes seventh volunteer young ambassador teenagers lap stadium taking turns carry torch lead singer door cinema club performed dream men aloud written especially ceremony underworld young athlete greeted presented torch lit olympic flame corridor formed assembled athletes centre stadium copper inscribed team accompanied parade seen circular formation attached long pipes accompany team home competition young athletes lit flame spread pipes rose slowly floor stadium form duncan henry designed described best kept secrets opening ceremony point design location light revealed section ceremony witnessed britain greatest including medal winners end spectacular fireworks accompanied song eclipse supported images memorable olympic victories big screens led running climax section live view balloons launched half hours earlier olympic rings kilometres earth stadium lit piercing smoke iconic london image fireworks orbit tower illuminated paul_mccartney band performed entirety end hey chorus sung audience close ceremony music eclectic range music chosen showcase exclusively british music pieces representing nations programme included classical works british composers performances focus mainly music 1960s onwards causing chinese journalist ask rock roll opening ceremony underworld composed pieces especially ceremony including kiss performed section dream heard lighting underworld original pieces favourably reviewed writing guardian said underworld bit triumph builds fades learned world dance music lent overwhelming visual spectacle sense structure musical motifs programme example theme heard minute silence embedded kiss returned frequently fury ring forged emerging triumphant rings came later main theme dream flame stadium young athletes bells theme opening day olympics starting artist work bells bells including strikes sound bells sound england told volunteers rehearsal music ceremony contained bell references linking large bell forged ceremony bells sound freedom peace modified sequences based traditional british bell kiss carried section large bell featured dream key points ceremony played close stadium emptied approached artists personally interested performing flew barbados hour long meeting turned including david_bowie known group named wanted artists performing ceremony paid nominal fee ensure contracts legally binding welsh drum bass mixed music athletes parade pre recorded soundtrack isles wonder released download itunes midnight july disc released august days download album topped itunes album charts britain france belgium spain reached united_states british album charts concluding comment cover notes isle noises soundtrack writes technical aspects main loading stadium started took place weeks summer years posing considerable challenges staging took hours infield staging area metres high accommodate elements revealed ceremony chimneys beam engines ensure remained secret installed tested night stadium rigged million sound system speakers square metres acres staging props square metres acres turf including crops inch panels placed stadium including seat panel connected central computer fitted colour led enabled audience participate broadcasting images performance 1960s dancer london underground train representation birth internet audience able wave create effect animations designed video animations produced chinese animation company crystal transformation mapping video content led panels performed media consoles technical director complex change rural industrial seven chimneys varied height metre metre metre high soft fabric outer layer printed brick pattern contained industrial fans base smoke machine near mouth hoisted air overhead life size beam engines constructed onstage teams stage hands members climax olympic ring scene amber lights lit sequence created illusion metre steel river smoke dry ice steam original grass floor surface removed reveal giant map london working alongside professional crew volunteers production arts students british drama schools volunteers working olympic paralympic ceremonies early rehearsal sites moving olympic stadium june thousands cast verbal directions received ear monitors adjustments performance example extra volunteers directed sure turf cleared arena time carried continuous electronic beat performers walking moving time music july revealed morning ceremony britain surveillance headquarters detected credible attack threat killed lighting system stadium counter measures taken afternoon plans discussed government ministers meeting briefing room attack ceremony key team coverage bbc coverage started continued bbc audience averaged million viewers peaked approximately million largest average audience broadcast watched television broadcasts time associated_press described coverage success far bbc ambitious technically tricky olympic plan worked flaw observer commented coverage olympics far near perfect james critical build programme commentators bbc criticised daily_mirror like dummy pumped low grade private talks held bbc commentators run ceremony unhappy imposed ceremony wanted viewers able enjoy commentary bbc offered options including commentary coverage online nearly million viewers watched nbc coverage event criticism decision tape delay broadcast live version available cable web users frequent commercial breaks viewers looked ways watch live bbc feed despite nbc crack streams significant criticism nbc cutting interview memorial wall tribute including commemoration victims london bombings seen nbc spokesman said network left segment programming tailored audience criticism commentators suggesting queen actually jumped helicopter admitted knowing inventor world wide web commented haven heard haven host told audience google picked twitter broadcast commentary criticised negative opinions countries political environments leaving information athletes seen american noted spoke countries outright ceremony recorded separate broadcasters bbc directed finnish state broadcaster behalf independent production company hired working direction time independent production company olympic ceremony situation led tension wanted artistic control felt getting operation criticised coverage commentary bbc dvd addition bbc filmed pre recorded parts ceremony filming directed television described easily difficult job life bbc released footage entire ceremony october edited background extras filling disc dvd blu ray disc set contained seven hours sporting highlights complete closing ceremony bbc commentary free option opening ceremony available dvd commentary track contrast nbc dvd highlights opening ceremony reviews times described ceremony masterpiece daily_telegraph saying brilliant breathtaking utterly british bbc chief sports writer called eccentric tongue cheek saying expected charming pinch fun weeks ceremony guardian wrote spectacular beautifully executed conceived mind closing draws near stood apart predecessors thanks humour writing observer commented invented new kind opening ceremony concept ceremony big ideas technical stage said spectacular moving undoubtedly theatrical highlight praise came political spectrum british political right unhappy daily_mail columnist critical music portrayal mixed race families conservative denounced ceremony twitter comments dismissed fellow conservatives including foreign reaction overwhelmingly positive new_york_times said ceremony quirky wild celebratory conventional eccentric frankly wall forbes called love song britain sports_illustrated noted political aspects calling celebration protest dissent said unforgettable start subversive sublime times_of_india said london presented vibrant picture great_britain rich heritage culture chinese news agency described ceremony dazzling eccentric celebration british history art culture chinese artist praised ceremony human touch saying london turned ceremony party density information events stories literature music movies russian president said ceremony wonderful unforgettable said exceptional spectacle prepared rich succeeded creating british atmosphere managed find right language communicate greece net said like big musical rock opera olympics ceremony french sports newspaper wrote took classic events fun whilst said magnificent inventive drawing heavily roots british identity germany die hailed spectacular provoking moving chinese news said ceremony stunning feast eyes south_korea said turns dramatic imaginative humorous story country past present future singapore said grand noteworthy scale authenticity praised glorious devoted london thriving chaotic energy deliberately chaos britain free society popular culture france said reflected best contributions britain given world sense humour music course sport said rocking quiet brooding ceremony peninsula said london spectacular job making ceremony memorable event end year review british magazine said different london summer olympics approached tide heavy handed sponsorship security problems budget fear director description took hours night friday july turn country ceremony surprising moving spectacular cultural event country seen modern britain multi glory writer ceremony said people thought need defending told press morning completely surprised positive response lot people surprised don think surprised point feeling going amazing right awards accolades won theatre award november delight went audience announced creative team won award won theatre event year theatre awards february decided public vote accepted award volunteer performers won nme award music moment year february won prestigious judges award march ceremony described surprising dazzling original night television year won award design craft march went production team won best director multi camera award went april nominated ceremony nominations held london production team nominated ceremony nominated categories primetime emmy awards september los_angeles won outstanding art direction variety programming nominees production designer production designer art director nominated outstanding picture editing short form segments variety specials editor nominated happy glorious segment nominated outstanding lighting design lighting direction variety special nominees lighting designer lighting director director photography moving light programmer nominated outstanding special class programs nominated outstanding directing variety special nominees director overall director nbc coverage december culture critic guardian picked ceremony best art event year british public survey voted second inspiring television moment time second moon landing digital spy survey overwhelmingly voted ceremony entertainment highlight ceremony second mentioned entertainment event internet million mentions coming second grammy awards bbc reported requested item demand service million requests offered late turned saying proud equal citizen think actually legacy ceremony identified commentators new mood united_kingdom barely finished new approach british culture politicians soon referring new kind patriotism lament vanished britain loves country changed ceremony hailed sides providing nation grown mocking flaws new positive view lack people responded british irony detachment felt refreshing witness positive case country says important thing took away olympic experience important believe fool people believe stupid idiot believe carry people business leaders took inspiration event risk taking creative freedom trust placed loyalty inspired workers volunteers february bbc head told audience writers commissioners producers wanted seek inspiration opening ceremony london olympics said scale brilliance succeeded spite viewers world authentic stories spirit islands told felt like emperor new clothes reverse irony feel tired past sell date told changed idea possible reviewing winter olympics opening ceremony russia guardian observed complex intimate wish rewrote rule book opening ceremonies
2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony