Olympic Torch Lighting 2012: Finishing Sequence Completes Stunning Opening

The opening ceremonies of the 2012 London Olympics were done with such expertise and precision that it was only fitting that the lighting of the torch would be spectacular.

When all was said and done, it was not one, but seven British athletes who lit the Olympic cauldron in London, and it finished off a dazzling $42 million display put on by Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle.

The torch made its final journey on a speedboat driven by British football star David Beckham with heptathlon athlete Jessica Ennis in front of the boat.

It was then passed on to Callum Airlie, Jordan Duckitt, Desiree Henry, Katie Kirk, Cameron MacRitchie, Aidan Reynolds and Adelle Tracey, who then proceeded to light a ring that morphed into a giant cauldron.

Fireworks then erupted inside the stadium to music from the indelible Pink Floyd before Paul McCartney finished it off with the Beatles classic "Hey Jude."

Everyone wondered which figure was going to light the cauldron at the opening ceremonies. It was only fitting that it was several figures—Boyle's masterpiece was simply too unique and too unpredictable to follow convention.

When it had all ended—nearly 45 minutes past the scheduled three hours—the world was left in wonderment. Boyle and London had not only competed with the remarkable opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, they did so convincingly.

Seven years of preparation and $4 billion later, London is standing tall in the eyes of the world.

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