The London Olympics opened today in spectacular fashion-
The “Queen” Parachuted In–
Daily Mail Highlights:
- 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
- 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’
- 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’
UPDATE: Not everyone was impressed with the production tonight.
Aidan Burley, a lawmaker from Prime Minister David Cameron’s ruling Conservative party, tweeted:
The most leftie opening ceremony I have ever seen – more than Beijing, the capital of a communist state! Welfare tribute next?
— Aidan Burley MP (@AidanBurleyMP) July 27, 2012