Britain fires up the world: London gets the 2012 Games under way with the Greatest Show On Earth
Sir Steve Redgrave carries the Olympic torch into the Stadium, after David Beckham accompanied it into Stratford on a speedboat
Seven young athletes then light the cauldron
Breathtaking firework display lights up the sky above east London
Sir Paul McCartney brings the show to a close, singing Beatles classic Hey Jude
Queen makes spectacular appearance in simulated helicopter arrival with James Bond star Daniel Craig
Monarch tells the world: 'I declare open the Games of London, celebrating the 30th Olympiad of the modern era'
Muhammad Ali is among flagbearers who carried the Olympic Flag into the Stadium
Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins started the Opening Ceremony by ringing the giant Olympic Bell
Rowan Atkinson joins the orchestra as Mr Bean for a comedy skit
Sir Kenneth Branagh reads from Shakespeare's The Tempest
Dizzee Rascal and Emeli Sande perform
The audience have been handed 3D glasses and every seat has a magic wand with it
Red Arrows fly past the stadium leaving trail of red, white and blue vapour at 20:12 exactly
Danny Boyle tweets 'Proud to be British'
We all wondered who would light the torch - and in the end the organisers sprang a surprise as seven teenage athletes lit copper petals - brought in by each of the 204 countries - which converged in spectacular fashion to form the cauldron in the middle of the Olympic Stadium.
Outside the fireworks were equally impressive and could be seen for miles.
Sir Steve Redgrave, five-time gold medallist was the champion chosen to conclude the torch's 8,000-mile journey round Britain, but there was no doubting the night's biggest star, local boy David Beckham, who transported the flame by speedboat under Tower Bridge to the stadium.
It was the coolest moment of an amazing show and an estimated television audience of one billion tuned in worldwide to witness what had been billed as the Greatest Show on Earth
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James Bond escorts The Queen to the London 2012 Olympic Games - BBC
The Olympic Cauldron burns, lit by seven young athletes, chosen for their promise by British sporting legends
The Cauldron was formed by 204 petals, one for each nation competing
The petals converged into one, after they were lit by the seven teenagers, rising high above the stadium
The audience watched open-mouthed as the burning petals raised
The sporting prospects lit the petals, after they were passed the flame by Sir Steve Redgrave
Young athletes carried the Olympic flame around the stadium, a symbol of the Games' legacy
Former British rower and five times Olympic gold medalist, Steve Redgrave, passes the Torch to seven children, nominated to light the flame
The flame is passed to five times gold medal winner Sir Steve Redgrave by David Beckham, who carried the flame into Stratford on a speedboat
David Beckham was a surprise appearance, accompanying the Flame as it made its final journey
THE YOUNG ATHLETES CHOSEN TO LIGHT THE OLYMPIC CAULDRON
Callum Airlie, 17, was nominated by gold medal-winning sailor Shirley Robertson. He has been sailing since the age of four, and is a two-time Optimist UK national champion who aims to be entered into the 2013 ISAF (International Sailing Association & Federation) Open.
Jordan Duckitt, 18, was chairman of the London 2012 Young Ambassador Steering Group for two years, and was nominated by Duncan Goodhew.
Athletics talent Desiree Henry was put forward by Daley Thomson.
The 16-year-old was the youngest member of the Great Britain youth team to gain a world 200m title at the IAAF World Youth Championships in 2011, and competes this year at the World Junior Championships in Barcelona.
Runner Katie Kirk was nominated by Dame Mary Peters, who won gold in the women`s Pentathlon at the 1972 Munich games.
Katie, 18, was selected to run at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, in the 400m and 4x400m relay.
She was also part of the gold medal-winning team in the 4x400m relay at the European Junior championships in Tallinn, Estonia.
Sir Steve nominated young rower Cameron MacRitchie, 19.
The teenager finished fifth with his partner James Edwards in the men`s pair at the 2012 GB rowing team under 23 trials in April.
He was selected in the men`s eight to race at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Lithuania.
Aidan Reynolds, 18, was put forward by Lynn Davies, who captained Team GB at Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984.
Aidan gave up a promising basketball career to focus on the javelin, winning three medals at national level at the English Schools, UK School Games and English Championships.
Adelle Tracey was nominated by Dame Kelly Holmes.
The 19-year-old has collected county, regional and national junior and senior titles in 400m and 800m, and has been in the top five UK rankings for the last six years.
She won 800m silver for Great Britain in the European Youth Olympic Festival in Finland.
Fireworks light up the entire Olympic Park as the ceremony closes and the Games begins
London is illuminated by a stunning firework display as the Opening Ceremony reaches a crescendo
Fireworks lit up the night sky as the Stadium anxiously awaited the arrival of the Olympic Flame
Fireworks created a spectacular display above east London
Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney raises his arms as he sings at the end of the opening ceremony, as he brings the show to a close with a performance of Hey Jude
Sir Paul McCartney brought the Olympic Opening Ceremony to a rousing an emotional finale tonight with a performance of Beatles legend Hey Jude.
Earlier, Sir Chris Hoy looked delighted as he led the British athletes into the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony of the 30th Games this evening.
The triple cycling gold medallist had the honour of carrying the Union Flag in the parade of the 204 nations competing at the London Olympics.
The crowd gave the British team a rapturous reception as the long wait for the Olympics to start came to an end.
Proud moment: Sir Chris Hoy acts as flag bearer for Great Britain as the team enters the Olympic Stadium
British diver Tom Daley, left, parades with fellow team members during the Opening Ceremony
A group of flagbearers including Muhammad Ali bring the Olympic Flag into the stadium
The VIP group included Doreen Lawrence, Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general and Ethiopian athletics veteran Haile Gebrselassie
An extraordinary party of flagbearers brought the Olympic Flag into the stadium moments after the Queen declared the London Games open.
Muhammad Ali and Doreen Lawrence, mother of murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence, were among the nine who took part in the ceremony.
Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, Ethiopian athletics veteran Haile Gebrselassie and Shami Chakrabati, director of Liberty, were also flagbearers, along with Sally Becker, known as the Angel of Mostar who risked her life to deliver aid and evacuate children in the Balkan War, Marina Silva, who has fought against the destruction of the rainforest, Nobel Peace Prize winner Leymah Gbowee, who has worked to try and end Liberia's civil war, and musician Daniel Barenboim.
Flying the flag: Usain Bolt of Jamaica and Maria Sharapova of Russia carry their nations' flags into the Stadium
Argentina's flag bearer Luciana Aymar leads her team into the Olympic Stadium
Earlier the Queen made a seemingly spectacular entrance to the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony this evening by dropping in from a helicopter by parachute accompanied by James Bond.
The surreal sequence followed a short film featuring James Bond actor Daniel Craig soaring across the streets of London before the pair apparently took the plunge.
Stuntmen dressed in a tuxedo and a peach-coloured dress really made the leap using Union Jack parachutes, and the Queen accompanied by Prince Philip then emerged and took their seat in the Royal Box.
Australian competitors pass on messages to loved ones back home during their nation's parade
Norwegian canoe-kayaker Mira Veras Larsen carries her nation's flag into the stadium
The Portuguese team arrive with their flag, led by judo star Telma Monteiro
Some details of the Bond stunt had emerged in advance of tonight's £27 million opening ceremony - the brainchild of Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle.
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But the Queen's role - played to perfection - still left the audience awe-struck and delighted both in the stadium and around the world.
'The Queen made herself more accessible then ever before,' Boyle said earlier today.
It is the first time the Queen has 'acted' in a film and she allowed two of her own corgis to star - Monty, 13, who used to belong to the Queen Mother and
Holly, nine. 'she was delighted to be asked to be involved in something so exceptional,' a Buckingham Palace spokesman said.
The segment was filmed in April. 'It's been a hell of a job keeping it secret for so long,' said a source.
Performers in the Olympics opening ceremony tonight hailed the experience as 'magical'.
Spectacular entrance: A stuntman portraying the Queen tumbles out of a helicopter high above the Olympic Stadium before unfurling a Union Jack
In a pre-filmed sketche, Daniel Craig, in character as James Bond, prepares to leap with the Queen
After appearing in the stadium, looking disheveled, a disgruntled-looking Queen adjusts herself and then takes her seat in the VIP area
The Queen is applauded by other dignitaries after making her arrival in the Olympic Stadium
Around 7,500 volunteers from around the world took part in the spectacular show in front of a packed Olympic Stadium in east London and a television audience of billions.
Sarah Lane, 28, danced in the climactic 'frankie and june say... Thanks Tim' section to a medley of British pop hits.
Moments after coming off stage, the scriptwriting student from Kennington in south London, said: 'It felt like the whole world came together for a good old British knees-up.
'It was just incredible - the perfect evening. Even the sky was a perfect colour.'
Asked what the atmosphere was like with her fellow performers, she said: 'Everyone was so happy.
'The audience, the cast - it was a massive party and no-one wanted to get off the stage.'
David Beckham appears to drive the torch up the River Thames in a Speedboat, as fireworks are set off on Tower Bridge
... but he had a little help from a crew, who were cleverly hidden from shot
British rockers The Arctic Monkeys performed in the centre of the stadium
A spectacular firework display marked the band's performance
Performers pay silent tribute to war dead and the victims of the 7/7 terrorist attacks
The silent tribute added a sombre touch to the ceremony#
Miss Lane started rehearsals for the modern dance section in mid-April, and has practised for more than 120 hours.
She said: 'The whole experience has been great. Even when we were rehearsing in a car park for five hours in the rain, everyone's spirit was really high.
'Danny Boyle was really approachable, which made such a difference. He made everyone feel part of the team and he thanked us all personally during rehearsals.
'I think Danny really captured the spirit of Britain, and everyone was part of the show.
'It was truly magical."
Scottish singer Emeli Sande of performs a moving rendition of 'Abide With Me'
Rowan Atkinson in his role as Mr Bean takes part in an Opening Ceremony sketch
Atkinson cheated his way to victory in a mock up of the famous Chariots of Fire scene
AN ARMY OF YOUNG PATIENTS SALUTE THE NHS
A celebration of the Health Service – featuring more than 600 real NHS staff and patients – was one of the ceremony’s centrepieces.
Director Danny Boyle had said he wanted to celebrate the NHS as a proud British establishment as part of the show.
During the set, happy pyjama-clad patients – played by children – leaped up and down on 320 giant hospital beds, which doubled as trampolines, while nurses danced around them.
Dancers perform in the Gosh and NHS scene during the opening ceremony
Dressed in 1950s uniforms, the nurses used luminous hospital beds to spell out the words ‘NHS’ and ‘GOSH’, standing for Great Ormond Street Hospital.
The patients, who later left their beds to join a dance routine, included real patients from the London children’s hospital.
Among them was Lottie Pink, ten, from South West London, who was treated for a brain tumour two years ago and returns to the hospital every few months for check-ups.
She said: ‘I am proud to represent all the great work the hospital does. Without them, I would not be here. This is a once-in-a-lifetime.’
The NHS section of the show also paid tribute to Britain’s contribution to children’s literature, with several villains recreated as spectacular nightmares suffered by the children. They included the Queen of Hearts from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland and Captain Hook from JM Barrie’s Peter Pan.
Mr Boyle said of the NHS section: ‘One of the reasons we put the NHS in the show is that everyone is aware of how important the NHS is to everybody in this country.
‘We believe, as a nation, in universal healthcare. It doesn’t matter how poor you are, how rich you are, you will get treated.’
However, some observers on Twitter remarked that it was a somewhat ‘socialist’ vision of Britain and an obvious ‘protest’ against NHS cuts.
Actresses dressed as Mary Poppins float above the stadium, clinging onto umbrellas
Earlier, Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins rang the giant bell which marked the start of the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Wearing a yellow jersey Wiggins, fresh from his victory as the first British man to win the tour, was greeted with cheers at the Olympic Park.
It was the dramatic start of a breathtaking spectacular capturing the best of Britain to launch the long-awaited games as the eyes of the world turned on London.
Children perform on trampolines as dancers play Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital staff
Rapper Dizzee Rascal performs live inside the stadium
The lights dimmed inside the stadium, while a tribute to Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital glowed blue
The stadium is filled with dancers on giant beds
The £27 million opening ceremony started simply with the Olympic Stadium turned into a meadow, a green and pleasant land.
On the real grass covering the bowl of the stadium there were hills, a cottage and people enjoying an idyllic version of British life.
The world's largest harmonically-tuned bell, weighing 23 tonnes and measuring two metres tall and three metres wide, rang inside the stadium to start a
Shakespeare-inspired spectacle featuring 900 children from the six east London host boroughs.
The bell, produced by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, is inscribed with a quote from The Tempest's Caliban: 'Be not afeard, the isle is full of noises'.
Inflatable yellow submarines float above artists during The Age of Industry scene
The Olympic rings are illuminated with pyrotechnics as they are raised above the stadium during the Opening Ceremony
Sparks fly as the five rings are then joined to form the famous Olympic symbol
Forged in steel mills in the centre of the stadium, the Olympic Rings rise above the crowd
The bell stood at one end of the stadium in Stratford, east London, while at the opposite end a version of Glastonbury Tor - a holy hill in south west England - was topped off with a giant oak.
A huge waterwheel stood parallel with the 100 metre finish line where, in just a week's time, the fastest men in the world will race to be named Olympic champion.
Industrial workers forge the Olympic rings in a mocked up steel mil
A spectacular aerial view of the 'Satanic Mills' in Danny Boyle's take on the Industrial Revolution
Giant smoke stacks appeared out of the centre of the stadium, as the Green and Pleasant Land was replaced with a stark industrial landscape
Actors dressed as the Beatles' from their Sergeant Pepper album marched around the stadium
Oscar winner Boyle, the man responsible for the the remarkable transformation of the stadium where the athletics will take place, said: 'Tonight's a warm-up act for the Games.
'That's one of the things you have to keep remembering.
'You big it up for different reasons, and you hear it bigged up or slammed or whatever it is and you've got to keep remembering we're the warm-up act.'
As warm up acts go, it was hot.
A digital 10-second countdown flashed on to the crowd, with balloons popping on each number, and the ceremony began.
They were joined by real Chelsea Pensioners
Actor Kenneth Branagh performs a speech from Shakespeare's The Tempest in character as Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins opens the Olympic Opening Ceremony by ringing a giant bell
The cycling ace worse a replica of his famous Tour de France yellow jersey as he was introduced to the 70,000 strong crowd in the Olympic Stadium
The five Olympic rings, attached to four balloons, were released and floated up into the sky, set to reach the stratosphere by the end of the ceremony.
In the stadium, all was still in the idyllic countryside setting.
Children played on the meadow and sports took place on the village green, before a single child's voice sang out the words to Danny Boy.
The Red Arrows aerobatic display team fly over the Olympic Stadium at 8:12pm prior to the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games
The Red Arrows fly past as a giant clock countdowns to the start of the Opening Ceremony
Worldwide audience: More than a billion people around the world are expected to watch the historic event
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