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This morning’s London 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony in London marks the official beginning of the Games of the 30th Olympiad. Join us as we bring you all the highlights with our live blog.
Oscar-winning film director Danny Boyle, renowned for such films as Slumdog Millionaire and Trainspotting, is the producer of the ceremony, which begins at 6am AEST.
Much of the ceremony has been kept under wraps, but it is known to be a celebration of Britain’s past, present and future. It has the title Isles of Wonder, after Shakespeare’s The Tempest.
For sporting fans, however, the real excitement comes at the end of the ceremony with the lighting of the cauldron which will burn for the next 16 days.
Organisers have steadily thrown out hints over the last few days. It will only be one person who lights the cauldron, unlike in Vancouver, and the cauldron will only be seen from inside the stadium – a first for the Summer Olympics.
However, it is still unknown who will light the cauldron or how it will be lit. Bookmakers have Britain’s most prolific Olympian, rower Steve Redgrave, as favourite ahead of decathlete Daley Thompson, the first four minute miler Roger Bannister and young diver Tom Daley.
The lighting of the cauldron is expected around 9:45am AEST, but could be later depending on the timing of prior segments.
Interest also lies in the parade of nations, with the Australian flag bearer announced as champion basketballer Lauren Jackson as of Friday morning.
Flag bearers of note include tennis players Maria Sharapova (Russia), Novak Djokovic (Serbia) and Marcos Baghdatis (Cyprus), controversial athlete Caster Semenya (South Africa) and cyclist Chris Hoy (Great Britain).
There will be other tributes to sporting legends past and present (with Muhammad Ali and David Beckham among those expected to feature) and to Britain’s sporting heritage throughout the ceremony.