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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

2012 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony

More than 60,000 spectators and athletes watch as The 2012 Olympics opening ceremony begins in London.

The Red Arrows fly over London to herald in the Olympic Opening Ceremony Celebration Concert in Hyde Park, London, Friday, July 27, 2012. The concert is part of a series of events being organised by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic Games.

James McCauley Associated Press


A person dressed as Queen Elizabeth II parachutes into the Olympic stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Summer Games at the Olympic Stadium in London, Friday, July 27, 2012.

Ezra Shaw, Getty Associated Press


The Olympic rings light up the stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Morry Gash, Pool Associated Press


Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Morry Gash Associated Press


United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, center, gestures during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Jae C. Hong Associated Press


Actors perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Ivan Sekretarev Associated Press


uPerformers play drums during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Matt Dunham Associated Press


Actors perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Matt Slocum Associated Press


A giant figure stands out during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Paul Sancya Associated Press


Actors perform in a sequence meant to represent Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Jae C. Hong Associated Press


Actors dressed as Mary Poppins perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Mark Humphrey Associated Press


Actors enact scenes out of British literature during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Christophe Ena Associated Press


Canada’s athletes parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Matt Dunham Associated Press


Sweden’s athletes parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Matt Dunham Associated Press


Britain’s Chris Hoy carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Paul Sancya Associated Press


Athletes from the United States pose for photographs during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Matt Dunham Associated Press


Athletes from Malaysia march in a parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Mark Humphrey Associated Press


Nigerian athletes walk in a parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Mark Humphrey Associated Press


Athletes from Mali walk in a parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Mark Humphrey Associated Press


Athletes march in a parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Morry Gash Associated Pres


German athletes march in a parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Mark Humphrey Associated Press


A member of the Mexican team sports a shirt reading in Spanish ” I love you parents, grandparents, brothers and oly ” during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Paul Sancya Associated Press


Athletes from the Czech Republic parade in boots during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Matt Dunham) Associated Press


Spanish athletes parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

David Goldman Associated Press


South African athletes parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

David Goldman Associated Press


The United States flag is carried to it’s place during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

Charlie Riedel) Associated Press


Steve Redgrave enters the Olympic Stadium with the Olympic flame during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

Matt Dunham, Pool Associated Press


The Olympic cauldron is lit during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

Mark Baker Associated Press


The Olympic cauldron is lit during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

David Goldman Associated Press


Fireworks explode over the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

Dave Martin Associated Press


Fireworks explode during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

David Goldman Associated Press


Fireworks illuminate the sky over the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

Ben Curtis Associated Press

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