Olympic Opening Ceremony 2012: Latest Updates and Rumors for London Gala

The opening ceremony at the Beijing Games was incredible. The flawless performance at the 2008 Olympics puts the pressure on the 2012 Games and London to wow the world once again, which will be called "Isles of Wonder."

Right now much of the ceremony itself is shrouded in mist, and is not to be revealed. However, these are the latest updates and rumors on the entire night of entertainment.

Vitals

Where: London, UK

When: July 27 through August 12, 2012

Gold medals in contention: 302

Number of sports: 26

Countries represented: 205

Athletes in competition: 10,500

*Courtesy chiff.com

Director: Danny Boyle

The Guardian has reported that this year's opening ceremony is under the direction of British filmmaker Danny Boyle, most well known for his directorial project of Slumdog Millionaire.

Great Britain has put its faith into the hands of one great director, and he will look to dazzle on Friday night.

What We Won't See

When 11 Israeli athletes were massacred 40 years ago in the 1972 Munich Games, the world saw a tragedy that many still remember today.

Now the International Olympic Committee is being asked for a minute of silence to remember those who were killed, and the idea has gained an incredible amount of traction.

However, the IOC continues to refuse to include the memorial in the opening ceremony (per the Chicago Tribune), so we know what we won't be seeing in London.

Unforgettable Music

The music from the 2012 Games is set to be unforgettable. So unforgettable that the soundtrack is set to go on sale at midnight on July 28 for the general public.

We know that wouldn't happen if there was just a collection songs that can already be downloaded, so the question is, what exactly will we hear that's so spectacular on Friday night?

Here is the entire playlist, via the Mirror:

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A leaked playlist of tracks under consideration for use during the opening ceremony includes The Sex Pistols' God Save The Queen, Relax by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, William Blake's hymn Jerusalem, the themes to EastEnders, Coronation Street and The Archers, plus tracks by Amy Winehouse and Dizzee Rascal.

The full playlist for part one: Captain Algernon Drummond, William Johnson Cory - Eton Boating Song; Elgar, AC Benson - Land of Hope and Glory; The Jam - Going Underground; Muse - Map of the Problematique; Big Ben Chimes; Sex Pistols - God Save the Queen; The Clash - London Calling; Simon May - EastEnders Theme; The Shipping Forecast; Sir Hubert Parry, William Blake - Jerusalem; Elgar - Nimrod; Handel - Arrival of the Queen of Sheba; Eric Coates - Dambusters March; Handel - Music for the Royal Fireworks; Monty Norman - James Bond Theme; Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells; Mike Oldfield - In Dulci Jubilo; Vangelis - Chariots of Fire; BBC News 1954; Arthur Wood - The Archers Theme; Winifred Atwell - Black and White Rag.

The full playlist for part two: Sugababes - Push the Button; OMD - Enola Gay; David Rose - The Stripper; Lionel Bart - Food Glorious Food; Irwin Kostal, Richard Sherman, Robert Sherman - Bedknobs and Broomsticks; Rizzle Kicks - When I Was a Youngster; Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight; Colin Tully - Gregory's Girl Theme; William Pitt - City Lights; The Who - My Generation; The Rolling Stones - Satisfaction; Millie Small - My Boy Lollipop; The Kinks - All Day and All of the Night; The Beatles - She Loves You; Mud - Tiger Feet; Led Zeppelin - Trampled Under Foot; The Specials - A Message to You Rudy; David Bowie - Starman; Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody; Sex Pistols - Pretty Vacant; Duran Duran - The Reflex; New Order - Blue Monday.

The full playlist for part three: Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Relax; Soul II Soul - Back To Life; Happy Mondays - Step On; Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This); The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony; Prodigy - Firestarter; Underworld - Born Slippy; Jaan Kenbrovin, John William Kellette - I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles; Blur - Song 2; Dizzee Rascal - Bonkers; Tigerstyle - Nacnha Onda Nei (contains Michael Jackson - Billie Jean, Queen & David Bowie - Under Pressure and Ilaiyaraaja - Naanthaan Ungappanda); Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor; Mark Ronson & Amy Winehouse - Valerie; Radiohead - Creep; Muse - Uprising; Kano & Mikey J - Random Antics; Tinie Tempah - Pass Out; MIA - Paper Planes; Coldplay - Viva La Vida; The Chemical Brothers - Galvanize.

The full playlist for part four: Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out; Kaiser Chiefs - I Predict a Riot; Roll Deep - Shake a Leg; Adele - Rolling in the Deep; Oasis - The Hindu Times; Oasis - Wonderwall; Emeli Sande - Heaven; William Monk/Henry Francis - Abide With Me; Pink Floyd - Eclipse; The Beatles - The End; The Beatles - Hey Jude; David Bowie - Heroes; Eric Spear - Coronation Street Theme; Ron Grainer - Doctor Who Theme; John Philip Sousa - Monty Python Theme/The Liberty Bell; David Bowie - Absolute Beginners.

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The show will then end with Paul McCartney, who the Mirror is reporting will have a sing-along to "Hey Jude" as his closer.

The Bell

The start of the ceremony will be the ringing of the world's largest harmonically tuned bell, according to the Mirror.

The bell is said to weigh 27 tons, and to have been cast at London's Whitechapel Foundry, which is where Big Ben was made.

Opening Scene

The opening scene of the ceremony is to be called Green and Pleasant and is to feature real farm animals.

From farmers with grazing herds, chimney will sprout from the ground to symbolize the start of the Industrial Revolution.

Then, according to Mirror:

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Volunteers representing the Jarrow marchers and West Indians who sailed to Britain in 1948 on the Windrush will march around the track before Boyle pays tribute to the NHS with real-life nurses and other health workers wheeling hospital trolleys through the arena.

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This will be the opening scene in London.

Receiving the Head of State

The Receiving of the Head of State is technically the beginning of the opening ceremony.

During this beginning, the head of the host country (Her Majesty the Queen) and the President of the IOC (Jacques Rogge) will greet each other.

This is when the ceremony begins to pick up.

Parade of Athletes Through Oaths

After the Receiving of the Head of State will come the Parade of Athletes. Approximately 10,500 athletes from 205 countries will enter the stadium. As always, they will be led by the Greeks, and the last will be the host country, Great Britain.

Next up are the speeches.

The speeches will be made by LOCOG Chair Sebastian Coe and IOC President Jacques Rogge (per London2012.com). The Queen will then declare the Games officially open.

After the speeches the Olympic anthem will be played and the flag hung. Then the competing countries will all hoist their flags, and the oaths will be made by each country.

Finally will come the lighting of the torch.

The Torch

According to The Royalist, James Bond will feature prominently in the lighting of the torch.

Mirror has reported that a short film called "The Arrival" will precede the lighting, during which James Bond, played by Daniel Craig, will be knighted, and the movie will take place at Buckingham Palace.

Then Craig or a stuntman will either parachute down or ride a rope ladder attached to a helicopter into the stadium, where he will finally light the torch, opening the 2012 Games.

This is all to be followed by a spectacular fireworks show.

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