London Paralympic Opening Ceremony 2012

Video in CC (english transcilbed) Highlights from the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.



It was billed as an 'exquisite journey of discovery' and last night's Paralympic Opening Ceremony called Enlightenment, certainly lived up to its hype.



The show may have only had a fraction of the funding given to the Opening Ceremony of the Games a few weeks earlier, but the message behind the title was clear as a host of deaf and disabled artists, local children and performers all featured in the show-stopping event.



The roars of the crowd as paralympic athletes from across the world graced the stadium showed the nation's pleasure that the competition has returned to its 1948 birthplace. Video source Channel4News

Video source by FirstRaceTv

Opening Ceremony

The Olympic Cauldron designed by Thomas Heatherwick
photo credits: BBC News

The London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony took place yesterday and was one of the most emotioning moments I have ever experienced. Titled 'Isles of Wonder', the Ceremony welcomed the finest athletes from more than 200 nations for the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games, marking an historic third time the capital has hosted the world’s biggest and most important sporting event.

The Opening Ceremony reflected the key themes and priorities of the London 2012 Games, based on sport, inspiration, youth and urban transformation. It was a Ceremony for everyone and celebrated contributions the UK has made to the world through innovation and revolution, as well as the creativity and exuberance of British people, from rural Britain to the Industrial Revolution, over to contemporary music and cinema. The comedic, quintessentially British moment complemented a show that film director Danny Boyle, an Oscar winner for "Slumdog Millionaire", turned into an unabashed celebration of the host Nation's history, culture and eccentricity.

The highest moment in the first part of the Ceremony was when Daniel Craig, wearing his trademark tuxedo, enters Buckingham Palace to meet Her Majesty, The Queen, with her two corgis at her feet and in a dramatic cinematic debut She turns from a writing desk and says simply: "Good evening, Mr. Bond." The moment drew a huge cheer from the audience, not used to seeing Her Majesty play such an informal part in proceedings and coincides with a resurgence in the Royal Family's popularity.

James Bond escorting Her Majesty The Queen to the Games
photo credits: Barbican Centre FB page

The spectacular finale of the event saw the Olympic Cauldron, formed of 205 copper petals representing the competing nations coming together in London for the Games, ignited by seven young Torchbearers nominated by Britain’s past and present Olympic and sporting greats. For exclusive behind-the-scenes access go to Ceremonies Explorer.

Deaf Children Performance At London Olympics Opening Ceremony

Video: Deaf children performance at London Olympics opening ceremony.



London - IT is a celebration of all that is best about Great Britain.



Thousands of people began to file into the state-of-the-art arena in the Olympic Park, a sprawling network of sporting venues, athletes’ accommodation, media centres and restaurants built in a previously run-down area of London’s East End.



With £27million spent, 10,000 people taking part, scenes from rolling countryside to the industrial revolution, not to mention the biggest names from stage and screen, with sheep, chickens and geese, the Olympics Opening Ceremony promises to be a spectacle on an epic scale.



Almost four billion people are expected to be watching on TV around the world, as well as more than 60,000 inside the stadium, the official start to 17 days of drama when more than 16,000 athletes from 204 countries will contest sport’s ultimate prize – Olympic Gold.

Video by hipas8



A DEAF children's choir evocatively sang the British national anthem in their pyjamas and 600 real-life health workers took part in dance routines celebrating the free British health service. A choir of Deaf children are singing God Save The Queen (not the Pistols' version)



The Kaos Signing Choir For Deaf and Hearing Children singing the national anthem, led by Deaf percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie.