Olympic Opening Ceremony 2012: Sights and Sounds from London Gala

It won’t be much longer. The 2012 Summer Olympic Games will begin in London, and the world will come together as it has done for over a century to celebrate the biggest sporting event in the world.

And, BR was on hand to give you a taste of all the sights and sounds from outside the Olympic Stadium.

London certainly has their work cut out for them following Beijing’s breathtaking introduction in 2008. The Opening Ceremony artistic director Danny Boyle said that the ceremony is an attempt "to capture a picture of ourselves as a nation, where we have come from and where we want to be." 

In addition to all the sights and sounds that Mr. Boyle will orchestrate, the athletes representing their respective countries always remain a spectacle. Representing the United States as the flag bearer is fencer Mariel Zagunis, who is seeking her third consecutive Olympic gold.

Other noteworthy flag bearers include the indomitable Usain Bolt for Jamaica, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Pau Gasol for Spain, tennis star Novak Djokovic for Serbia, and basketball star Yi Jianlian for China.

The host nation flag bearer is cyclist Chris Hoy. He will look for another solid performance in front of his countrymen, following the three gold medals he earned in Beijing in 2008.

Like this video? Watch more of Bleacher Report's London coverage:

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Michael Jordan's Dream Team vs. Kobe Bryant's Dream Team

Crazy Ping Pong Trick Shots

Bleacher Report will be covering the 2012 London Olympics from every angle throughout the Olympiad, so stay tuned to BleacherReport.com and Bleacher Report's YouTube Channel for all of your coverage.