Britain stages a spectacular welcome for the world

Britain greeted the world Friday with an extravagant celebration that included Bond, the Bard and a Beatle — and a formal welcome from its jubilee queen.

London's Olympic Stadium was lit and ready for Friday's opening ceremony.

Pawel Kopczynski/REUTERS

London's Olympic Stadium was lit and ready for Friday's opening ceremony.

The Olympic rings served as a centerpiece above the ceremony.

Morry Gash/Associated Press/Pool

The Olympic rings served as a centerpiece above the ceremony.

The Olympic rings were outfitted with special effects.

Morry Gash/Associated Press/Pool

The Olympic rings were outfitted with special effects.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth attended the opening ceremony.

Kai Pfaffenbach/REUTERS

Britain's Queen Elizabeth attended the opening ceremony.

A fan watched the opening ceremony.

Lucy Nicholson/REUTERS

A fan watched the opening ceremony.

Drummers waved their sticks during their performance.

Murad Sezer /REUTERS

Drummers waved their sticks during their performance.

The Union Flag was raised during the opening ceremony.

Mike Segar/REUTERS

The Union Flag was raised during the opening ceremony.

Many of the athletes from around the world will be posting both text and images on Twitter, Facebook and other forms of social media, documenting their time in competition and in around the Olympic Village in London.

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