28 July 2012 Last updated at 05:49

In pictures: Olympic opening ceremony

Fireworks at the Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, London

The Queen has declared the London Olympics open following a spectacular ceremony, featuring David Beckham, Bradley Wiggins and Daniel Craig as James Bond.

A group of seven young athletes light the Olympic Cauldron during the London Olympic Games 2012 Opening Ceremony

Seven young athletes were given the honour of lighting the ceremonial flame which is formed from 204 copper petals carried in by teams from across the world.

The Olympic Cauldron is lit during the London Olympic Games 2012

Games chief Seb Coe welcomed the world to London, saying the event celebrates "what is best about mankind".

The Olympic Stadium One sequence, which included a reading by author JK Rowling, entitled "Second to the right, and straight on till morning", honoured "two of Britain's greatest achievements: its amazing body of children's literature and the NHS".

The three-hour spectacle, a quirky take on UK life, was viewed by TV audiences around the globe.

Cyclist Bradley Wiggins, wearing a yellow jersey, rang the largest harmonically tuned bell in the world to start the show.

Flag-bearer Sir Chris Hoy led out Team GB, who were dressed in white and gold tracksuits, to loud applause.

Greece's Alexandros Nikolaidis carries his national flag during the Opening Ceremony

The athletes taking part in the Games - led, as tradition dictates, by the Olympics' spiritual home Greece - made laps of the stadium bearing their nations' flags.

There were huge cheers for the Irish team - and for Usain Bolt, who carried the flag for Jamaica.

David Beckham drives a powerboat with the Olympic torch as fireworks are launched over Tower Bridge during the opening ceremon

David Beckham took to the Thames with the Olympic Torch, making his way to the stadium by powerboat.

Olympic rings alight during the Olympic Games 2012 Opening Ceremony

All four countries of the UK were represented in song, as the show capturing the best of Britain began.

Performers depict a view of the English countryside

A classical orchestra sitting on the grass played Elgar's Nimrod. A turning waterwheel and a game of cricket completed the pastoral scene.

An actor dressed to resemble Britain's Queen Elizabeth II parachutes into the stadium

A video of James Bond - actor Daniel Craig - meeting the Queen at Buckingham Palace was broadcast to the audience. A helicopter then flew over the stadium to the sound of the Bond theme tune, as two figures parachuted out of the helicopter, one dressed as the monarch.

The Queen and IOC President Jacques Rogge arrive during the London Olympic Games 2012 opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, London.

As if by magic, the Queen appeared in the stands at the stadium - part of a crowd of about 80,000 - amid cheers.

general view taken just before the start of the opening ceremony

The artistic director, Danny Boyle, pledged a ceremony with a theme of "this is for everyone".

Performers depict the industrial revolution

The show took viewers through "great revolutions in British society", from an agricultural setting through to the Industrial Revolution.

A freshly "forged" Olympic Ring flies during The Age of Industry scene

Steelworkers began forging material that transformed into golden Olympic rings, which lifted into the air to be suspended above the performers.

The Oscar-winning film director added that it contains "a celebration of the creativity, exuberance and, above all, the generosity of the British people". He said there were to be "no spectators - everyone in the stadium will be part of the magic".

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling takes part in the opening ceremony

One sequence - during which author JK Rowling delivered a reading - entitled "Second to the right, and straight on till morning", honoured "two of Britain's greatest achievements: its amazing body of children's literature and the NHS".

Spectators lucky enough to get tickets to the Olympic Stadium event braved the rain despite forecasters predicting dry weather.

Planes leave coloured smoke trails as they fly over the Olympic Stadium before the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games

A Red Arrows fly-past marked the start of the pre-show at the symbolic time of 20:12 BST (19:12 GMT).

In Pictures

In pictures: Olympic opening ceremony

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