- 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
- Sir Paul McCartney brings the show to a close, singing Beatles classic Hey Jude
- 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’
- Muhammad Ali is among flagbearers who carried the Olympic Flag into the Stadium
- 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’
Callum Airlie, 17, was nominated by gold medal-winning sailor Shirley Robertson. He has been sailing since the age of four, and is a two-time Optimist UK national champion who aims to be entered into the 2013 ISAF (International Sailing Association & Federation) Open.
Jordan Duckitt, 18, was chairman of the London 2012 Young Ambassador Steering Group for two years, and was nominated by Duncan Goodhew.
Athletics talent Desiree Henry was put forward by Daley Thomson.
The 16-year-old was the youngest member of the Great Britain youth team to gain a world 200m title at the IAAF World Youth Championships in 2011, and competes this year at the World Junior Championships in Barcelona.
Runner Katie Kirk was nominated by Dame Mary Peters, who won gold in the women`s Pentathlon at the 1972 Munich games.
Katie, 18, was selected to run at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, in the 400m and 4x400m relay.
She was also part of the gold medal-winning team in the 4x400m relay at the European Junior championships in Tallinn, Estonia.
Sir Steve nominated young rower Cameron MacRitchie, 19.
The teenager finished fifth with his partner James Edwards in the men`s pair at the 2012 GB rowing team under 23 trials in April.
He was selected in the men`s eight to race at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Lithuania.
Aidan Reynolds, 18, was put forward by Lynn Davies, who captained Team GB at Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984.
Aidan gave up a promising basketball career to focus on the javelin, winning three medals at national level at the English Schools, UK School Games and English Championships.
Adelle Tracey was nominated by Dame Kelly Holmes.
The 19-year-old has collected county, regional and national junior and senior titles in 400m and 800m, and has been in the top five UK rankings for the last six years.
She won 800m silver for Great Britain in the European Youth Olympic Festival in Finland.
Sir Paul McCartney brought the Olympic Opening Ceremony to a rousing an emotional finale tonight with a performance of Beatles legend Hey Jude.
Earlier, Sir Chris Hoy looked delighted as he led the British athletes into the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony of the 30th Games this evening.
The triple cycling gold medallist had the honour of carrying the Union Flag in the parade of the 204 nations competing at the London Olympics.
The crowd gave the British team a rapturous reception as the long wait for the Olympics to start came to an end.
You must be logged in to post a comment.