Opening ceremony reaction: Pomp, patriotism and political gaffes

Kevin Voigt, CNN
Updated 6:01 AM EDT, Mon July 30, 2012
The countdown to the start of the opening ceremony is projected across the stands while the Royal Air Force aerobatic team, the Red Arrows, flies over the Olympic Stadium. The opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games was held on Friday, July 27. Check out photos from the<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/12/world/gallery/olympic-closing-ceremony/index.html" target="_blank"> closing ceremony.</a>
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
The countdown to the start of the opening ceremony is projected across the stands while the Royal Air Force aerobatic team, the Red Arrows, flies over the Olympic Stadium. The opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games was held on Friday, July 27. Check out photos from the closing ceremony.
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Spectators take shelter under umbrellas prior to the start of the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Spectators take shelter under umbrellas prior to the start of the opening ceremony.
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A man wearing glasses waits for the start of the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
A man wearing glasses waits for the start of the opening ceremony.
AFP/Getty Images
A balloon flies over spectators prior to the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
A balloon flies over spectators prior to the opening ceremony.
AFP/Getty Images
Spectators wait under the rain before the ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Spectators wait under the rain before the ceremony.
AFP/Getty Images
The Red Arrows fly over Olympic Stadium before the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
The Red Arrows fly over Olympic Stadium before the opening ceremony.
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A robotic camera captures an overview of the Olympic Stadium at the start of the London 2012 Opening Ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
A robotic camera captures an overview of the Olympic Stadium at the start of the London 2012 Opening Ceremony.
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Performers prepare for the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Performers prepare for the opening ceremony.
AFP/Getty Images
The Red Arrows fly over the Olympic Stadium and the ArcelorMittal Orbit Tower.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
The Red Arrows fly over the Olympic Stadium and the ArcelorMittal Orbit Tower.
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Danny Boyle, the London 2012 artistic director, addresses the audience.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Danny Boyle, the London 2012 artistic director, addresses the audience.
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The Red Arrows disappear over London ahead of the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
The Red Arrows disappear over London ahead of the opening ceremony.
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Bradley Wiggins, the first British winner of the Tour De France cycle race, waves to the audience.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Bradley Wiggins, the first British winner of the Tour De France cycle race, waves to the audience.
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A young performer holds a balloon bearing the Olympic rings.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
A young performer holds a balloon bearing the Olympic rings.
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A young performer holds a balloon.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
A young performer holds a balloon.
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Artists take the field for the meadow scene.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Artists take the field for the meadow scene.
AFP/Getty Images
Artists arrive before the start of the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Artists arrive before the start of the opening ceremony.
AFP/Getty Images
Fans take photos as cows are lead across the stadium floor.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Fans take photos as cows are lead across the stadium floor.
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Artists arrive in a horse and carriage.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Artists arrive in a horse and carriage.
AFP/Getty Images
Actors perform during the British meadow scene.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Actors perform during the British meadow scene.
AFP/Getty Images
Performers depict a view of the English countryside.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Performers depict a view of the English countryside.
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Performers depict a view of the English countryside.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Performers depict a view of the English countryside.
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Cricketers play on the pitch during the preshow.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Cricketers play on the pitch during the preshow.
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Actors perform during the British meadow scene.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Actors perform during the British meadow scene.
AFP/Getty Images
The London Symphony Orchestra performs during the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
The London Symphony Orchestra performs during the opening ceremony.
AFP/Getty Images
Artists perform during the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Artists perform during the opening ceremony.
AFP/Getty Images
Artists perform during the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Artists perform during the opening ceremony.
AFP/Getty Images
A general view of the inside of the stadium during the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
A general view of the inside of the stadium during the opening ceremony.
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Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, at the start of the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, at the start of the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony.
AFP/Getty Images
General view taken during a scene of The Age of Industry.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
General view taken during a scene of The Age of Industry.
AFP/Getty Images
Huge chimneys emerge from the ground to symbolize the industrial revolution.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Huge chimneys emerge from the ground to symbolize the industrial revolution.
AFP/Getty Images
An inflatable yellow submarine floats above artists.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
An inflatable yellow submarine floats above artists.
AFP/Getty Images
Inflatable yellow submarines float above artists during The Age of Industry scene.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Inflatable yellow submarines float above artists during The Age of Industry scene.
AFP/Getty Images
Spectators watch the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Spectators watch the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, attends the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on Friday.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, attends the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on Friday.
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A general view of Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
A general view of Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony.
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Actors perform during the British meadow scene during the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Actors perform during the British meadow scene during the opening ceremony.
AFP/Getty Images
Kenneth Branagh performs as Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Kenneth Branagh performs as Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
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Artists perform as the sun sets in the background.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Artists perform as the sun sets in the background.
AFP/Getty Images
The sun sets behind performers.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
The sun sets behind performers.
AFP/Getty Images
Drummers dressed in period garb perform during the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Drummers dressed in period garb perform during the opening ceremony.
Kansas City Star/MCT
Performers drum during the Opening Ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Performers drum during the Opening Ceremony.
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Artists perform during the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Artists perform during the opening ceremony.
AFP/Getty Images
Drummers during the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Drummers during the opening ceremony.
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Actors perform during the industrial revolution scene.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Actors perform during the industrial revolution scene.
AFP/Getty Images
A general view of the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
A general view of the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
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The Olympic rings form.
opening ceremonies 28 —
The Olympic rings form.
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Artists perform during the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Artists perform during the opening ceremony.
AFP/Getty Images
The Olympic rings are assembled above the stadium in a scene depicting the Industrial Revolution.
Olympics: Opening ceremonyv —
The Olympic rings are assembled above the stadium in a scene depicting the Industrial Revolution.
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Freshly "forged" Olympic Rings fly above the chimneys during The Age of Industry scene.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Freshly "forged" Olympic Rings fly above the chimneys during The Age of Industry scene.
AFP/Getty Images
Olympic rings are assembled.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Olympic rings are assembled.
AFP/Getty Images
An actor dressed to resemble Britain's Queen Elizabeth II parachutes into the stadium.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
An actor dressed to resemble Britain's Queen Elizabeth II parachutes into the stadium.
AFP/Getty Images
People wave Union flags during the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
People wave Union flags during the opening ceremony.
AFP/Getty Images
Artists dressed in costumes perform.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Artists dressed in costumes perform.
AFP/Getty Images
Performers with jetpacks take part in the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Performers with jetpacks take part in the opening ceremony.
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An actor dressed to resemble Britain's Queen Elizabeth II parachutes into the stadium during the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
An actor dressed to resemble Britain's Queen Elizabeth II parachutes into the stadium during the opening ceremony.
AFP/Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth II, right, and Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, attend the ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Queen Elizabeth II, right, and Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, attend the ceremony.
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Actors and dancers play Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital staff and patients.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Actors and dancers play Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital staff and patients.
AFP/Getty Images
Performers from the GOSH, Great Ormond Street Hospital, perform during the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Performers from the GOSH, Great Ormond Street Hospital, perform during the opening ceremony.
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An artist flies over children and nurses during the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital scene.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
An artist flies over children and nurses during the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital scene.
AFP/Getty Images
Actors perform during the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Actors perform during the opening ceremony.
AFP/Getty Images
Dancers perform in the GOSH and NHS scene.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Dancers perform in the GOSH and NHS scene.
AFP/Getty Images
Children perform a song.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Children perform a song.
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Giant puppets depicting Lord Voldemort, center, from the Harry Potter books and the Child Catcher from "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" swirl around the stage in the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Giant puppets depicting Lord Voldemort, center, from the Harry Potter books and the Child Catcher from "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" swirl around the stage in the opening ceremony.
AFP/Getty Images
Lord Voldemort looms over the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Lord Voldemort looms over the opening ceremony.
AFP/Getty Images
Spectators wearing 3-D glasses during the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Spectators wearing 3-D glasses during the opening ceremony.
AFP/Getty Images
An artist performs during the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
An artist performs during the opening ceremony.
AFP/Getty Images
General view taken as actors perform during the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
General view taken as actors perform during the opening ceremony.
AFP/Getty Images
Giant pictures depicting villains of British literature, including Captain Hook from "Peter Pan," are displayed during the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Giant pictures depicting villains of British literature, including Captain Hook from "Peter Pan," are displayed during the opening ceremony.
AFP/Getty Images
An actor dressed as Mary Poppins performs in the GOSH and NHS scene.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
An actor dressed as Mary Poppins performs in the GOSH and NHS scene.
AFP/Getty Images
Performers float with umbrellas as they play the role of Mary Poppins.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Performers float with umbrellas as they play the role of Mary Poppins.
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General view taken as actors perform during the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
General view taken as actors perform during the opening ceremony.
AFP/Getty Images
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony.
AFP/Getty Images
British actor Rowan Atkinson in his role as Mr. Bean plays in the orchestra.
Olympics: Opening ceremony —
British actor Rowan Atkinson in his role as Mr. Bean plays in the orchestra.
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