2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony

The 2012 Olympic Games began with a bang.

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! - The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games kicked off to an explosive start Friday night at Olympic Stadium. A crowd of 80,000 attended the ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, which will also be the site some of the most iconic events in the Summer Games.(Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

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On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! - The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games kicked off to an explosive start Friday night at Olympic Stadium. A crowd of 80,000 attended the ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, which will also be the site some of the most iconic events in the Summer Games.(Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Epic Spectacle - Friday’s opening ceremony took place at the Olympic Stadium, part of London's Olympic Park and Village. A total of 46,000 people were involved in the building of the complex.(Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

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Epic Spectacle - Friday’s opening ceremony took place at the Olympic Stadium, part of London's Olympic Park and Village. A total of 46,000 people were involved in the building of the complex.(Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

The Price of Performance - The ceremony was staged by Academy Award-winning director Danny Boyle and cost a total of $42 million to produce and utilized the assistance of 15,000 volunteers. (Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

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The Price of Performance - The ceremony was staged by Academy Award-winning director Danny Boyle and cost a total of $42 million to produce and utilized the assistance of 15,000 volunteers. (Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Flying Colors - Britain's Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team (known as The Red Arrows) dazzled the crowd as they flew over Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony, streaming brilliant colors through the sky. (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)

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Flying Colors - Britain's Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team (known as The Red Arrows) dazzled the crowd as they flew over Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony, streaming brilliant colors through the sky. (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)

Living Legend - Legendary boxer and Olympic gold medalist Muhammad Ali attended the U.S. Olympic Committee Benefit Gala one day before the opening ceremony.(Photo: Joe Scarnici/Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)

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Living Legend - Legendary boxer and Olympic gold medalist Muhammad Ali attended the U.S. Olympic Committee Benefit Gala one day before the opening ceremony.(Photo: Joe Scarnici/Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)

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Schooled on the Game - Performers at the ceremony staged a game of rugby to show the origins of the U.K.-created sport.(Photo: Lars Baron/Getty Images)

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Schooled on the Game - Performers at the ceremony staged a game of rugby to show the origins of the U.K.-created sport.(Photo: Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Usain Bolt - It takes a lot of exercise to become the fastest man in the world and Usain Bolt is not afraid to put in that work. Bolt's dedication to training is only rivaled by his upbeat laid back personality. (Photo: Michael Steele/Getty Images)

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Bolting Toward a Win  - Three-time Olympic gold medalist, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, held court at a press conference ahead of the opening ceremony. After dominating in the 2008 Beijing Games, Bolt is one of the most watched sprinters ahead of the 2012 Olympics. (Photo: Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Picture Perfect - The glittering spectacle was produced by filmmaker and artistic director Danny Boyle and lasted for more than three hours. (Photo: Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

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Picture Perfect - The glittering spectacle was produced by filmmaker and artistic director Danny Boyle and lasted for more than three hours. (Photo: Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

All Hail the Queen  - Queen Elizabeth II declared the games open Friday. During the ceremony, a Queen Elizabeth lookalike parachuted into the stadium. (Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

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All Hail the Queen  - Queen Elizabeth II declared the games open Friday. During the ceremony, a Queen Elizabeth lookalike parachuted into the stadium. (Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

All Hail (the Other) Queen - U.S. boxer Queen Underwood is set to knock out the competition at this year's Summer Games.   (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)

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All Hail (the Other) Queen - U.S. boxer Queen Underwood is set to knock out the competition at this year's Summer Games.  (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)

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The World Is Watching - A total of 205 nations have sent more than 10,000 athletes to compete in the Summer Olympics.   (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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The World Is Watching - A total of 205 nations have sent more than 10,000 athletes to compete in the Summer Olympics.   (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

A New Day - The first Olympics held in London took place in 1908. Back then, only around 2,000 athletes competed for just 110 gold medals.   (Photo: Lars Baron/Getty Images)

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A New Day - The first Olympics held in London took place in 1908. Back then, only around 2,000 athletes competed for just 110 gold medals.   (Photo: Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Three-peat Cullen - U.S. Olympic gold medalist swimmer Cullen Jones hopes to bring home three medals at this year's games. (Photo: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Citi)

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Three-peat Cullen - U.S. Olympic gold medalist swimmer Cullen Jones hopes to bring home three medals at this year's games. (Photo: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Citi)

Move It! - U.S. Olympic athletes support the Let's Move campaign during a "Let's Move London" event before the games officially started.(Photo: Simon Burchell/Getty Images for Nickelodeon)

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Move It! - U.S. Olympic athletes support the Let's Move campaign during a "Let's Move London" event before the games officially started.(Photo: Simon Burchell/Getty Images for Nickelodeon)

Living Diorama - London's opening ceremony wasn't all just fun and games. Organizers took the opportunity to stage elaborate sets dating back to pivotal points in U.K. history. (Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

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Living Diorama - London's opening ceremony wasn't all just fun and games. Organizers took the opportunity to stage elaborate sets dating back to pivotal points in U.K. history. (Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

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A Walk Through the Countryside  - Performers at the opening ceremony acted out a countryside scene from England's ancient times. (Photo: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

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A Walk Through the Countryside  - Performers at the opening ceremony acted out a countryside scene from England's ancient times. (Photo: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Lord of the Rings - Bringing London's story full circle, rings representing both the Olympics and the Industrial Revolution are lit during the opening ceremony.  (Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

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Lord of the Rings - Bringing London's story full circle, rings representing both the Olympics and the Industrial Revolution are lit during the opening ceremony.  (Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Iron Age - The ceremony maintained its historical theme with a walk through London's Industrial Revolution.   (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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Iron Age - The ceremony maintained its historical theme with a walk through London's Industrial Revolution.  (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images