London 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony - in pictures
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Bradley Wiggins, the first British winner of the Tour De France, rings the largest harmonically tuned bell in the world to signal the start of the ceremony
Photograph: Lars Baron/Getty Images
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Artists perform with geese in the British meadow scene
Photograph: Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images
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Performers in period costume walk with their umbrellas
Photograph: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images
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A maypole features in the opening segment of the performance
Photograph: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters
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Actor Kenneth Branagh as Isambard Kingdom Brunel, reading an excerpt from Shakespeare's Tempest
Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters
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Performers play drums during the ceremony
Photograph: Matt Dunham/AP
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During the age of industry scene, towers rose from the ground and the Olympic rings were forged
Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images
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Dame Evelyn Glennie was among several famous performers to appear during the event
Photograph: Lars Baron/Getty Images
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A scene from the portion of the show representing the industrial revolution
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian
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The Olympic rings are hoisted into the sky
Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins for The Guardian
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Spectators cover up as rain falls in the stadium during a pre-show performance
Photograph: Dennis M. Sabangan/EPA
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An actor dressed to resemble the Queen parachutes from a helicopter over the stadium
Photograph: Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images
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Performers dance in a scene paying tribute to Great Ormond Street hospital
Photograph: Lars Baron/Getty Images
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British actor Rowan Atkinson in his role as Mr Bean, taking part in a performance of Chariots of Fire
Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
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Actors perform in a sequence meant to represent Britain's National Health Service
Photograph: Jae C. Hong/AP
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Members of the audience during the opening ceremony
Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP
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Artists perform during the opening ceremony
Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images
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Performers in the Olympic Stadium
Photograph: Dennis M. Sabangan/EPA
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General view taken as actors perform during the opening ceremony
Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images
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The Queen, Princess Anne and David Cameron arrive for the ceremony
Photograph: John Stillwell/PA
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Performers in the role of Mary Poppins float inside the stadium
Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
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David Beckham passes under Tower Bridge driving a speedboat named 'Max Power' which carries the Olympic torch
Photograph: Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images
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Fireworks around the Olympic Stadium
Photograph: HANNIBAL/EPA
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Team GB's arrival was greeted with a shower of confetti
Photograph: Craig Hibbert/NOPP
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The Olympic cauldron rises into position during the opening ceremony
Photograph: Jae C. Hong/AP
