Olympics 2012: Opening ceremonies

Once again in grand style the Olympics were opened with flash and flair. The show was designed by Oscar winner Danny Boyle with 15,000 volunteers helping take the audience through British history. The event culminated with the parade of athletes and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron for the London Games that run through Aug. 12. -- Lloyd Young (36 photos total)

The Olympic caulmdron is lit during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27 at the Olympic stadium in London (Cameron Spencer/AFP/GettyImages)

The stems lit by seven young athletes raise to form the Olympic Cauldron during the opening ceremony. (Pawel Kopczynski/Reuters) 

Young athletes carry the Olympic flame during the opening ceremony. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images)

Torchbearer Sir Steve Redgrave hands the Olympic flame over to seven young athletes who present Britain's hopes for the next Olympics during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) 

Rings representing both the Olympics and the Industrial Revolution are lit and lifted during the opening ceremony. (Morry Gash/Getty Images) 

Fireworks illuminate the sky during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) 

Athletes of participating countries stand in the middle of the Olympic Stadium after the athletes parade at the opening ceremony. (Pawel Kopczynski/Reuters) 

Fireworks illuminate the sky during at the Olympic Stadium on July 27. (Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) 

Fireworks explode over the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Pawel Kopczynski/Reuters) 

The Olympic flag is carried by Daniel Barenboim, Sally Becker, Shami Chakrabati CBE, Leymah Gbowee, Haile Gebrselassie, Doreen Lawrence OBE, Ban Ki-moon and Marina Silva during the opening ceremony. (Ezra Shaw/Associated Press) 

The Union flag is raised during the opening ceremony. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images) 

The flag of Maldives is carried to it's place during the opening ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics. (Charlie Riedel/Associated Press) 

Performers are seen playing cricket on a village green before the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27. (Adrees Latif/Reuters) 

A performer playing the role of Britain's Queen Elizabeth parachutes from a helicopter during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters) 

Actors dressed as Mary Poppins perform during the opening ceremony. (Mark Humphrey/Associated Press) 

Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. (Mike Segar/Reuters) 

Performers take part in the opening ceremonies for the 2012 Olympic Games. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) 

Actors perform during the opening ceremony. (Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images) 

An artist flies above children and nurses performing the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital scene during the opening ceremony. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images) 

Spectators attend the opening ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics. (David Goldman/Associated Press)

Actors perform in a sequence meant to represent Britain's National Health Service (NHS) during the opening ceremony. (Jae C. Hong/Associated Press) 

A performer takes part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Adrees Latif/Reuters) 

A performer scales a representation of a smoke stack during the opening ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics. (Charlie Riedel/Associated Press) 

Drummers wave their sticks during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Murad Sezer/Reuters) 

Performers dance to the music of the rock band "Queen" during the opening ceremony. (David Gray/Reuters) 

Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Dylan Martinez/Reuters) 

Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27. (Mike Segar/Reuters) 

Performers clap as the Olympic rings are seen above. (Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters) 

Athletes from the Japan delegation wave as they parade during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) 

Germany's contingent takes part in the athletes parade. (Murad Sezer/Reuters) 

Hong Kong's contingent takes part in the athletes parade during the opening ceremony. (Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters) 

Finland's contingent takes part in the athletes parade during the opening ceremony. (Mike Segar/Reuters) 

Elena Gemo of Italy poses for photographers during the opening ceremony. (Matt Dunham/Associated Press) 

Britain's flagbearer Chris Hoy leads his team during their delegation parade in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games in the Olympic Stadium. (Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images) 

The Olympic cauldron is lit during the opening ceremony. (Leon Neal/Associated Press) 

Fireworks explode over the stadium at the end of the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Summer Games. (Ezra Shaw/Associated Press)