July 27, 2012 (29 images)

Fireworks light up Tower Bridge as the London 2012 Summer Olympics gets underway on July 27, 2012 in London. UPI/Hugo Philpott

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, popularly known as the Red Arrows, fly over the Olympic Stadium to kick off the Opening Ceremony at the London 2012 Summer Olympics on July 27, 2012 in Stratford, London. UPI/Brian Kersey

Actors perform during a tribute to Mary Poppins during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Summer Olympics on July 27, 2012 in Stafford, London. The show, created by Academy Award winning director Danny Boyle, celebrates England's history through the use of pop-culture and history. UPI/Pat Benic

Women in period costume and holding umbrellas as they enter the stadium during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Summer Olympics, July 27, 2012, in London. The ceremony, welcoming more than 10,000 athletes from 204 nations, was a celebration of the hundreds of years of British history and culture. UPI/Mike Theiler