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| London Olympics kicks-off with Countdown, bells amid dazzling fireworks [PHOTO: London 2012/LOCOG] |
London: The much awaited and the much talked opening ceremony to the 2012 Olympic Games kicked off on Friday with a mass countdown and the chime of a giant bell.
Amid dazzling fireworks and lots of applause the ceremony begun and threw the ball rolling for medal tally battle.
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| [PHOTO: London 2012/LOCOG] |
As many as 80,000 spectators crowded into the state-of-the-art arena at the Olympic Park, built in a previously run-down area of the city's East End, and over a billion more people tuned in around the world for the three-hour extravaganza.
Another 15,000 volunteers, scores of celebrities and thousands of athletes from 204 nations are taking part in the four and a half hour long event.
"Slumdog Millionaire" director Danny Boyle has directed or can say masterminded the show, costing 27 million pounds ($42 million) to stage, less than half the estimated spending on the Beijing equivalent in 2008 and dramatically different in style.
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| [PHOTO: London 2012/LOCOG] |
The ceremony opened with a countdown followed by a chime of an especially cast, 23-tonne Olympic bell which was rung by Britain's Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins.
London Mayor Boris Johnson sought to sum up the mood of excitement sweeping the capital.
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| [PHOTO: London 2012/LOCOG] |
The final tickets for the opening ceremony sold out five hours before the show for the top price of 2012 or $A3040.
U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, Angelina Jolie and members of British royalty were amongst who joined the extravaganza with ordinary London people and many came from people across the globe.
The London Games will conclude in 16 days with the closing ceremony on Sunday, Aug 2012.
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| Colourful fireworks at the opening ceremony of London Olympics 2012 [PHOTO: London 2012/LOCOG] |
1 comments:
Write commentssuperb celebration.....may India bag some medels ....for the nation....
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