Last night the 2012 Summer Olympics kicked off with a huge Opening Ceremony in London's new Olympic Stadium, an event watched on television by an estimated 1 billion viewers. Performances paid tribute to British heritage and culture, from agrarian beginnings through pop culture successes like the Beatles and J.K. Rowling. Contingents from more than 200 nations marched in the athletes parade, and the evening was capped off by the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron, a performance by Paul McCartney, and a huge fireworks display. Collected below is just a glimpse of last night's ceremony, as the 2012 Olympics are now underway.
London 2012: The Opening Ceremony
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Actors portraying the Queen of England and James Bond arrive via parachute after jumping from a helicopter during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, on July 27, 2012. #
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Kenneth Branagh dressed as Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Britain's most revered engineer recites Caliban's speech from Shakespeare's The Tempest at London's Olympic Stadium, on July 27, 2012. #
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Britain's David Beckham (center) drives a powerboat with the Olympic torch as fireworks are launched over Tower Bridge during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, on July 27, 2012. #
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Dancers perform during a rendition of the Hymn "Abide With Me", a memorial performance for "loved ones who could not be with us", and a tribute to the victims of the 7/7 terror attacks in London in 2005, on July 27, 2012. #
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Britain's Queen Elizabeth (center), her husband Prince Philip (center right) and International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge (center left) applaud during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. #
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China's flag bearer Yi Jianlian holds the national flag as he leads the contingent who carry both Chinese and British flags, in the athletes parade, on July 27, 2012. #
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Sarah Attar and Wojdan Shahrkhani (background), the first female Saudis to ever compete in the Olympics, part of Saudi Arabia's contingent, take part in the athletes parade in the Olympic Stadium, on July 27, 2012. #
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