As for the opening of the 17-day extravaganza in sports, London Olympics 2012, everything went on, as planned. The opening ceremony was a marvel that had meticulous efforts from all involved. It was a 'celebration of the creativity, exuberance and, above all, the generosity of the British people.' The events started with the Olympic cauldron being lit by seven young athletes. The lighting was symbolic of the London Olympics 2012 motto to 'inspire a generation.' However the Oscar Winning Director Danny Boyle who headed the event had made his mark felt even before the lighting ceremony.

The  London Symphony Orchestra was playing the "Chariots of Fire" theme, when world famous Mr Bean a.k.a. Rowan Atkinson joined the Orchestra. However the Queen's stunning descending from an helicopter aided by the present James Bond, Daniel Craig topped it all. Hospital beds for a scene honoring the National Health Service were rolling onto the stage while a children's choir sang the British national anthem, "God Save the Queen."

Then the depiction of the industrial revolution with the farmers turning into labour forge a ring and four others floated in like UFOs, linking into the five Olympic rings and setting off a blaze of fireworks. The event was continued with rich tribute to the country's music legacy and British pop in particular. And a variety of events followed with Kenneth Branagh as Caliban in Shakespeare's "The Tempest," JK Rowling reading "Peter Pan," Lord Voldemort being conquered by a pack of Mary Poppinses, and an appearance by Tim Berners-Lee, the English scientist who invented the World Wide Web. The event also included two brief moments that solemnized for martyrs. However there was no mention of 11 Israeli athletes and coaches who were killed in Munich by Palestinian gunmen in the the 1972 Olympics.

Then the parades began of the global contingents. For the first time in Olympic history, every country represented at the Games included female athletes. The major landmark in, equality for women was achieved due to the magnanimous decision taken by Saudi Arabia to send two women to compete. They were  Wodjan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani in judo and 800m runner Sarah Attar. Qatar and Brunei have also followed the trait and send women athletes to the Olympics for the first time.  India's Sushil Kumar carried the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

The historic games were declared open by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as  Olympic Committee Vice President Thomas Bach watches on.  Paul McCartney led the crowd in a "Hey Jude" singalong. Just then Europes largest bell rang marking the opening of the London Olympics 2012. The 27-ton bell was the largest harmonically tuned bell in the world, forged at London's 442-year-old Whitechapel Bell Foundry, which made London's Big Ben and Philadelphia's Liberty Bell. The over four hour ceremony was awesome and no words to explain. A remarkable effort by the organizers. (With inputs from internet-AW AarKay)