Jul 26, 2012

Athletes from around the world were welcomed and greeted by a colorful parade of performers ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games in Olympic Park. Like a sight out of Dorothy’s visit to the Emerald City, each country was honored at the Welcoming Ceremony. Dancing, waving, and celebrating the competitive sport of the Games, participants also had an opportunity to sign the Truce Wall.

: Members of the Somali (Below R) and Colombian delegations take part in a welcoming ceremony for athletes at the London 2012 Olympic Village at the Olympic Park in east London, on July 20, 2012. (Miguel Medina/AFP/Getty Images)

: Members of the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain pose for pictures during a Welcoming Ceremony for athletes and delegates at the London 2012 Olympic Village in the Olympic Park in east London, on July 20, 2012. (John Stillwell/AFP/Getty Images)

: Members of the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain perform during a Welcoming Ceremony for athletes and delegates at the London 2012 Olympic Village in the Olympic Park in east London, on July 20, 2012. (John Stillwell/AFP/Getty Images)

: Somali athletes and delegates take part in a Welcoming Ceremony at the London 2012 Olympic Village in the Olympic Park in east London, on July 20, 2012. (Miguel Medina/AFP/Getty Images)

: Members of the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain pose for pictures during a Welcoming Ceremony for athletes and delegates at the London 2012 Olympic Village in the Olympic Park in east London, on July 20, 2012. (Miguel Medina/AFP/Getty Images)

: Members of the Colombian delegation (C and R) are welcomed by members of the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain during a Welcoming Ceremony for athletes and delegates at the London 2012 Olympic Village in the Olympic Park in east London, on July 20, 2012.( Miguel Medina/AFP/Getty Images)

: Chef de Mission of Brazil Bernard Rajzman takes part in a Welcoming Ceremony in the Athletes Village during previews ahead of the London Olympic Games on July 23, 2012 in London, England. (Hannah Johnston/Getty Images)

: The flag of Brazil is released during a Welcoming Ceremony in the Athletes Village during previews ahead of the London Olympic Games on July 23, 2012 in London, England. (Hannah Johnston/Getty Images)

: A red carpet is rolled out for representatives of Oman and Swaziland during a Welcoming Ceremony in the Olympic Village in London July 24, 2012. (Neil Hall/Reuters)

: Representatives from Oman and Swaziland walk down a red carpet during a Welcoming Ceremony in the Olympic Village before the London 2012 Olympic Games July 24, 2012. (Neil Hall/Reuters)

: A crowd of VIP’s including Lord Coe, Mayor Boris Johnson, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Princess Anne and Dame Kelly Holmes attend a Welcoming Ceremony for Team GB in the Olympic Village in London July 24, 2012. (Neil Hall/Reuters)

: Performers sing during a Welcoming Ceremony for Team GB in the Olympic Village in London July 24, 2012. (Neil Hall/Reuters)

: Zara Phillips attends a Welcoming Ceremony for Team GB in the Olympic Village in London July 24, 2012. (Neil Hall/Reuters)

: Performers during a Welcoming Ceremony for Team GB in the Olympic Village in London July 24, 2012. (Neil Hall/Reuters)

: A member of the British armed forces holds the flag of Singapore during a Welcoming Ceremony in the Olympic Village in London July 24, 2012. (Neil Hall/Reuters)

: Olympic Medal winning British athletes, Top L-R: Tessa Sanderson, Adrian Moorhouse, Robin Cousins, Jayne Torvill; Bottom L-R: Kelly Holmes, Duncan Goodhew and Christopher Dean pose during a Welcoming Ceremony for Team GB in the Olympic Village in London July 24, 2012. (Neil Hall/Reuters)

: A member of the British Armed Forces holds a Union Flag by the Truce Wall during a Welcoming Ceremony for Team GB in the Olympic Village in London July 24, 2012. (Neil Hall/Reuters)

: The China Olympic team and delegates enter the athlete’s village during a Welcome Ceremony with a performance by the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain at Olympic Park on July 25, 2012 in London, England. (Feng Li/Getty Images)

: Novak Djokovic of Serbia is greeted by a performer during the official Serbian Team Welcome Ceremony to the Athletes’ Village at the Olympic Park on July 25, 2012 in London, England. (Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

: Dancers perform during a Welcoming Ceremony for athletes at the Olympic Village in London on July 25, 2012, two days before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Adek Berry/AFP/Getty Images)

: Dancers perform during a Welcome Ceremony for athletes at the Olympic Village in London on July 25, 2012, two days before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Adek Berry/AFP/Getty Images)

: The North Korean flag is raised during a Welcome Ceremony for athletes at the Olympic Village in London on July 25, 2012, two days before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Adek Berry/AFP/Getty Images)

: Dancers perform during a Welcome Ceremony for athletes at the Olympic Village in London on July 25, 2012, two days before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Adek Berry/AFP/Getty Images)

: Officials and athletes from Myanmar march during the Flag Raising Ceremony at the Olympic village in London on July 25, 2012, two days before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Adek Berry/AFP/Getty Images)

: Netherlands athletes watch a TV news report about themselves during the Flag Raising Ceremony at the Olympic village in London on July 25, 2012, two days before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games 2012. (Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images)

: Chef de Mission of Spain Cayetano Cornet Pamies signs the truce wall during a Welcoming Ceremony in the Olympic Village in London, July 25, 2012. (Mark Blinch/Reuters)

: Athletes from Gambia attend a Flag Raising Ceremony at the Olympic village in London on July 25, 2012, two days before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.2012. (Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images)

: A member of the Chinese Olympic delegation joins performers during a Welcoming Ceremony for the team in the Athletes Village at the Olympic Park in London July 25, 2012. (Luke MacGregor/Reuters)

: Members of the Chinese delegation wave flags during a Welcoming Ceremony for the Chinese Olympic team in the Athletes Village at the Olympic Park in London July 25, 2012. (Luke MacGregor/Reuters)

: Swimmer Blake Worsley of Canada greets a performer during a Welcome Ceremony at the Olympic Park in London July 25, 2012. (Mark Blinch/Reuters)

: Olympic delegates from Switzerland (R), Spain (C) and Senegal (L) parade during the Flag Raising Ceremony at the Olympic village in London on July 25, 2012, two days before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images)

: Dancers perform during a Welcoming Ceremony for athletes at the Olympic Village in London on July 25, 2012, two days before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Adek Berry/AFP/Getty Images)

: Brunei officials and athletes listen to the Olympic anthem during a Flag Raising Ceremony at The Olympic Village in London on July 25, 2012, two days before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.2012. (Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images)

: The Italian flag is raised during a Welcoming Ceremony for athletes at the Olympic Village in London on July 25, 2012, two days before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Adek Berry/AFP/Getty Images)

: Team Italy athletes are cheered by dancers during a Welcoming Ceremony for the team in the Athletes Village at the Olympic Park ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games July 25, 2012. (Luke MacGregor/Reuters)

: Dancers perform during a Welcoming Ceremony for teams from Italy, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Slovakia in the Athletes Village at the Olympic Park ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games July 25, 2012. (Luke MacGregor/Reuters)

: A member of the North Korean delegation wears a badge showing the pictures of former leaders Kim Il-sung (L) and Kim Jong-il during a Welcoming Ceremony in the Athletes Village at the Olympic Park ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games July 25, 2012. (Luke MacGregor/Reuters)

: Italian Olympic Committee Secretary General Raffaele Pagnozzi signs the Truce Wall during a Welcoming Ceremony for the Italian team in the Athletes Village at the Olympic Park in London July 25, 2012. (Luke MacGregor/Reuters)

: An athlete gestures as she arrives carrying the Syrian flag at a Welcoming Ceremony in the Athletes Village at the Olympic Park ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games July 25, 2012. (Luke MacGregor/Reuters)

: An artist performs during a Welcoming Ceremony for athletes at the Olympic Village in London on July 25, 2012, two days before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Adek Berry/AFP/Getty Images)

: An artist performs on jumping stilts during a Welcoming Ceremony for athletes at the Olympic Village in London on July 25, 2012, two days before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Adek Berry/AFP/Getty Images)

: Pakistani athletes listen to the Olympic anthem during the Flag Raising Ceremony held at the Olympic village in London on July 25, 2012, two days before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.2012. (Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images)

: Team Syria’s Chef-de-Mission Maher Kyhhata signs the Truce Wall during a Welcoming Ceremony for the team from Syria in the Athletes Village at the Olympic Park ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games July 25, 2012. (Luke MacGregor/Reuters)

: Dancers perform during a Welcoming Ceremony for athletes at the Olympic Village in London on July 25, 2012, two days before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Adek Berry/AFP/Getty Images)

: Children pose with the Olympic mascot Wenlock on July 25, 2012 in London, two days before the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images)

: Visitors walk past the Olympic Stadium in the Olympic Park before the last rehearsal of the Opening ceremony in east London on July 25, 2012, two days before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images)

: Drivers pass the Olympic markings as the reserved road lanes came into operation in London on July 25, 2012, two days ahead of the opening of the London 2012 Olympic Games. The Games lanes dubbed “Zil lanes” after the limousines that whisked VIPs past the traffic in Soviet times, are designed to ensure Olympic athletes and officials get through congested London and to their events in time. The introduction of the full 30-mile (50-kilometre) network for the first time caused long queues in the morning rush hour. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)

: The writing on the Truce Wall left by Chef De Mission of Canada Mark Tewksbury is seen during a Welcome Ceremony at the Olympic Park in London July 25, 2012. (Mark Blinch/Reuters)

: Tower Bridge adorned with the Olympic Rings is seen on late July 25, 2012 two days before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images)

: A performer is seen through the transparent Truce Wall which was signed by the Chef-de-Missions of countries taking part in the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Athletes Village in the Olympic Park on July 26, 2012. (Adrees Latif/Reuters)

World braces for eccentric and exuberant London ceremony
Mike Collett-White and Paul Casciato
Reuters
11:38 a.m. EDT, July 27, 2012

LONDON (Reuters) – The world’s spotlight turned to London’s Olympic Stadium on Friday where the opening ceremony kick starts the 2012 Games with an eccentric and exuberant celebration of British history, art and culture.

Huge crowds flocked to the state-of-the-art arena in the Olympic Park, a sprawling network of sporting venues, athletes’ accommodation, media centers and restaurants built in a previously run-down area of London’s East End.

“The atmosphere is amazing,” said Rebecca Simpson, a 21-year-old dancer due to take part in the ceremony. “The crowd is buzzing and it’s amazing to be a part of something so big. I’m really nervous but nervous-excited.”

Olympians welcomed to London with colorful song and dance

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