Don't feel bad: just scroll down if all you care about are the images. Hurry!
Fireworks burst over Tower Bridge and the River Thames in London during Opening Ceremonies at 2012 London Olympic games. Mandatory
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Did you miss any of the Opening Ceremony? No one could blame you. The London 2012 kick-off event was super long and this is 2012 so the best surprises were spoiled on the Internet before NBC even showed the event on tape-delay (presumably because they hate us … or to preserve TV ratings and ad dollars - whichever).
But oh, the spectacle! The Opening Ceremony was kind of tremendous in that it was REALLY British and super ridiculous and did all types of from-outer-space stuff that you could only get away with at an event so about itself.
Anyway look, you came here for the pictures. They're below and they're great. These are our favorite images, the ones you have to see.
But in the event you do want to know more about the event, here is what our writers had to say from on the scene in London:
*Christine Brennan: "They packed it in, that's for sure. They were going to outdo the Chinese one way or the other. The ceremony stretched for more than 3½ hours, well past its deadline, ensuring that the Games that were scheduled to begin July 27 actually officially opened July 28. Oh well. They've been waiting since July 2005, so what was another hour or so?"
*Mike Lopresti: "There were not the wow moments of Beijing, just many very cool ones. There was more humor than we usually see from an opening ceremony, with puns and pop culture among the pomp and circumstance."
*Mike Foss:"There is rain, 3D glasses, sheep, farms and LED lights. #London2012 is like a bilbo baggins acid trip."
You made it to the photos! Good for you. Each standalone image is part of a gallery so if you see something you like, go nuts (and click "caption" for more context).
1. YIKES! Seven photos of Voldemort vs. Mary Poppins Army guaranteed to will keep you up at night
Share this gallery: Voldemort vs. Mary Poppins
2. NEAT! Meet the Olympic athletes without a country
Share this gallery: Meet the athletes without a country
3. WIN! Saudi Arabia brings women to the Olympics for first time ever
Share this gallery: Saudi Arabian women walk at Opening Ceremony
4. LOL! You're favorite American athletes … IN BERETS!
Share this gallery: Your favorite American athletes in berets
5. RANDOM! The 17 most bizarrely British things about the Opening Ceremony
Share this gallery: The 17 mst weirdly British things about Opening Ceremony
6. FINALE! All of the fireworks at the Opening Ceremony
Share this gallery: ALL of the fireworks
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Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Fireworks burst over Tower Bridge and the River Thames in London during Opening Ceremonies at 2012 London Olympic games. Mandatory
Fireworks burst over Tower Bridge and the River Thames in London during Opening Ceremonies at 2012 London Olympic games. Mandatory
[h=2]Sponsored Links[/h]
Did you miss any of the Opening Ceremony? No one could blame you. The London 2012 kick-off event was super long and this is 2012 so the best surprises were spoiled on the Internet before NBC even showed the event on tape-delay (presumably because they hate us … or to preserve TV ratings and ad dollars - whichever).
But oh, the spectacle! The Opening Ceremony was kind of tremendous in that it was REALLY British and super ridiculous and did all types of from-outer-space stuff that you could only get away with at an event so about itself.
Anyway look, you came here for the pictures. They're below and they're great. These are our favorite images, the ones you have to see.
But in the event you do want to know more about the event, here is what our writers had to say from on the scene in London:
*Christine Brennan: "They packed it in, that's for sure. They were going to outdo the Chinese one way or the other. The ceremony stretched for more than 3½ hours, well past its deadline, ensuring that the Games that were scheduled to begin July 27 actually officially opened July 28. Oh well. They've been waiting since July 2005, so what was another hour or so?"
*Mike Lopresti: "There were not the wow moments of Beijing, just many very cool ones. There was more humor than we usually see from an opening ceremony, with puns and pop culture among the pomp and circumstance."
*Mike Foss:"There is rain, 3D glasses, sheep, farms and LED lights. #London2012 is like a bilbo baggins acid trip."
You made it to the photos! Good for you. Each standalone image is part of a gallery so if you see something you like, go nuts (and click "caption" for more context).
1. YIKES! Seven photos of Voldemort vs. Mary Poppins Army guaranteed to will keep you up at night
Share this gallery: Voldemort vs. Mary Poppins
2. NEAT! Meet the Olympic athletes without a country
Share this gallery: Meet the athletes without a country
3. WIN! Saudi Arabia brings women to the Olympics for first time ever
Share this gallery: Saudi Arabian women walk at Opening Ceremony
4. LOL! You're favorite American athletes … IN BERETS!
Share this gallery: Your favorite American athletes in berets
5. RANDOM! The 17 most bizarrely British things about the Opening Ceremony
Share this gallery: The 17 mst weirdly British things about Opening Ceremony
6. FINALE! All of the fireworks at the Opening Ceremony
Share this gallery: ALL of the fireworks
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