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2012 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony: Umbrellas, Enlightenment and much, much more!
London makes way for the superhumans in a dazzling opening ceremony that features the London Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Britten, Stephen Hawking, colourful umbrellas and much, much more!
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1. The umbrellas take flight!
Colourful suits, colourful umbrellas as the 2012 Paralympic opening ceremony takes off!
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2. Lighting up East London!
A throng of colourful dancers light up the East London night.
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3. Professor Stephen Hawking
Performing a central role in the 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony, Stephen Hawking addresses the estimated 80,000 people at the stadium in Stratford, London.
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4. Newton's Apple
Newton's Apple, one of the recurring themes of the opening ceremony takes pride of place in the dazzling event.
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5. Newton's Apple surrounded by performers
The apple makes its way around the stadium in Stratford for the 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony.
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6. The umbrellas take centre stage
One of the other recurring themes of the 2012 Paralympic opening ceremony, umbrellas, congregate in the middle of the stadium.
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7. Colours, colours and more colours!
Neon-flecked performers bring a dazzling hue to the opening ceremony of the 2012 Paralympic opening ceremony.
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8. The Queen takes her seat
Sir Philip Craven MBE, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, look on during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics at the Olympic Stadium
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9. Stephen Hawking addresses the 2012 Paralympic opening ceremony
Professor Stephen Hawking speaks during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics at the Olympic Stadium
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10. No rain, but the umbrellas are out
Left over from the downpour earlier in the day? Possibly, but also a dazzling talking point of the 2012 Paralympic opening ceremony.
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11. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
Two of the ceremony's guests of honour have a chat as the 2012 Paralympic opening ceremony begins.
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12. Under the bright light of the opening ceremony
One of the performers looks on as the 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony unfolds around her.
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13. The Union Jack is raised!
The Union Jack gets passed to the flag pole ahead of the national anthem.
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14. The Union Jack is raised
As the Union Jack is raised, the rousing Britten arrangement of God Save The Queen is piped around the stadium. Stirring stuff.
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15. The umbrellas take off!
The multi-coloured umbrellas take an aerial trip around the Stratford stadium.
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16. And there's more umbrellas!
When they look this good, why not have a few more?
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17. The umbrellas take shape
An interesting formation takes shape as some of the performers bring the opening ceremony to life in Stratford, London.
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18. The Olympic Flame
A familiar scene over the past few days, the Olympic Flame - shaped as individual petals - await their lighting at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Ceremony.
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19. Orange umbrella, pink costume!
The clash of dazzling colours sums up the glorious evening at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Paralympic Games.
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20. Fireworks light up the Stratford sky
No stranger to fireworks over the past few weeks, more light up the night sky during the 2012 Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games.
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21. The Mexican team arrive!
In possibly the most colourful outfits of all the teams, the Mexian Paralympic team bring the party!
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22. Paralympics GB Arrive!
The response didn't get more rapturous than this! The home team arrive to huge support.
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23. America join the party
The enormous US team are lead out to a huge roar.
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24. Denise Leigh sings!
Soprano Denise Leigh welcomes the athletes to the opening ceremony with the Paralympic Games anthem.
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25. Denise Leigh sings to the world
Soprano Denise Leigh and actor Deepa Shastri perform during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics at the Olympic Stadium
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26. Oscar Pistorius arrives!
The South African star of both Olympic games and Paralympic Games leads out his team.
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27. The Paralympic flag is raised
The games are almost ready to get underway.
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28. Lord Coe addresses the crowd
Lord Coe, now very used to speaking to huge global audiences, addresses the stadium and the world during the opening ceremony of the 2012 Paralympic Games.
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29. The Queen opens the Paralympics
HRH Queen Elizabeth II officially declares the Paralympics open
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30. The opening ceremony starts to swing!
A performer hangs from a trapeze during the opening ceremony of the 2012 Paralympic Games.
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31. Is it a boat?
Or is it an upturned umbrella? The opening ceremony takes to the seas!
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32. Margaret Maughan lights the Olympic Cauldron
Paralympian Margaret Maughan carries the flame during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012.
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33. Marc Quinn's Alison Lapper
A large scale reproduction of Marc Quinn's celebrated sculpture Alison Lapper Pregnant emerges during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics.
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34. The Olympic Cauldron is lit
The Paralympic Games are officially underway!
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35. More fireworks!
Well, it does seem customary...
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36. Fireworks engulf the stadium
Fireworks end the arrival of the different Paralympic teams.
