Olympics 2012 opening ceremony

Pictures and commentary from the opening ceremony in London

Hello everyone and welcome to our live blog. After years of waiting the Opening Ceremony of the London Olympic Games 2012 is only half an hour away.

by Shaun Cronin 7/27/2012 7:31:18 PM
I will be joined by Colm O’Connor of the Irish Examiner who is in the Olympic Stadium to witness the spectacle that is the Opening Ceremony.

by Shaun Cronin 7/27/2012 7:32:50 PM
We hope you all can join in and give us your thoughts on tonight’s events and what you are looking forward to seeing at the Olympics as a whole.

by Shaun Cronin 7/27/2012 7:33:57 PM
And of course its raining in London but what else would you expect.

by Shaun Cronin 7/27/2012 7:34:36 PM
Pity about the rain there!

by e_hayes12 7/27/2012 7:34:39 PM
Gold medal boxing hope Katie Taylor arrives in London on Thursday. Pic: Sportsfile.

by Shaun Cronin 7/27/2012 7:37:11 PM
it won't last long the rain I mean....

by Yvonneb 7/27/2012 7:37:33 PM
The Olympic Stadium is looking brilliant :) brne.ws

by Fiona O'Donovan 7/27/2012 7:37:54 PM
Cmon Katie!!! Would be absolutely thrilled if she goes all the way - she really deserves it!

by e_hayes12 7/27/2012 7:38:52 PM
I have to say I am very dissappointed that all of GB team are not in this country for the live opening ceremony....

by Yvonneb 7/27/2012 7:39:03 PM
Makes sense not to have them there to be honest - from a performance point of view. Their events are not for 8 days, and the pressure and hype of being the home team can very much hinder their performance when it is their turn. A lot of athletes are not going due to their events being in the morning

by e_hayes12 7/27/2012 7:42:20 PM
@Yvonneb I have to agree, even though we are supporting team Ireland here, it’s as close as we will ever get to a home Olympics. I totally understand athletes who have events tomorrow but for some of the Team GB athletes to miss out when their events aren’t for eight days is senseless to me considering they will not have an Olympics in their own country in their lifetime again.

by Shaun Cronin 7/27/2012 7:42:58 PM
Hello from the Olympic Stadium in London. Apols for the delay as the rain caused a bit of a scare in the media section. But the jacket is on, the tea is poured, the fire is lit and we are ready for road. Hopefully you will be able to stay with us for an incredible night of music and pagentry. Oh and a couple of thousand of the world's finest athletes.

by Colm O'Connor 7/27/2012 7:45:09 PM
How is the atmosphere Colm? Excuse the pun but has the rain put a dampener on it?

by Shaun Cronin 7/27/2012 7:46:24 PM
Far from it Shaun. As we'd say back home it was only a light shower. The master of ceremonies for the evening Curtis Walker has done a great job in working up the 80,000 here in the stadium. It promises to be a really interactive affair.

by Colm O'Connor 7/27/2012 7:48:40 PM
Here come the stars of London 2012 @ Olympic Stadium instagr.am

by WillDowningComm via twitter 7/27/2012 7:50:44 PM
The centre of the stadium has been transformed into a series of little fields with cottages and a water mill. In one section a bunch of lads are playing football while some ladies are cheering them on. Strangely amusing.

by Colm O'Connor 7/27/2012 7:51:45 PM
@Colm OConnor Really strange but intriguing to see live animals involved.

by Shaun Cronin 7/27/2012 7:53:12 PM
A general view of the crowd of Great British and Irish fans at the BT London Live concert, which coincides with the opening of the Olympic Games, in Hyde Park, London. Pic: PA.

by Shaun Cronin 7/27/2012 7:53:50 PM
Great Enda Kenny picture coming up.

by Shaun Cronin 7/27/2012 7:56:13 PM
I'm not sure is it a Charlaois. And speaking of animals, the Artic Monkeys are on the playlist tonight. Just start to rain again. Apols in advance if my spelling goes awol as I am struggling to see the screen with a big sheet of plastic covering my laptop

by Colm O'Connor 7/27/2012 7:56:27 PM
Taoiseach Enda Kenny gets into the Olympic spirit with triathlete Aileen Morrison and race walker Olive Loughnane. Pic: Sportsfile.

by Shaun Cronin 7/27/2012 7:57:02 PM
Ummm... We're under a big blue silk... We can't see anything! #London2012 p.twimg.com

by SarahRobbOh via twitter 7/27/2012 7:58:54 PM
One minute to the start

by Colm O'Connor 7/27/2012 7:59:08 PM
They are playing the theme from CSI New York. Name the tune?

by Colm O'Connor 7/27/2012 7:59:55 PM
Danny Boyle has come a long way since Trainspotting

by Colm O'Connor 7/27/2012 8:01:39 PM
We'll excuse the spelling for tonight Colm! :D Baba O Reilly by the Who - do I win a prize???

by e_hayes12 7/27/2012 8:04:28 PM
Bradley Wiggins rings the giant Olympic bell. It is off to bed for the Tour de France winner who cycles in the road race tomorrow.

by Colm O'Connor 7/27/2012 8:05:13 PM
Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins rings the bell and we are underway!!

by Shaun Cronin 7/27/2012 8:06:29 PM
well that was interesting to see northern ireland wearing the green jerseys of southern ireland in the opening of the olympic games...

by Yvonneb 7/27/2012 8:09:25 PM
Well done to e_hayes12 for the correct answer. Mr Cronin is the man with all the goodies I hear. The rain has stopped. The Asian reporter next to me is asking if Kenneth Branagh is famous.

by Colm O'Connor 7/27/2012 8:09:57 PM
Taoiseach Enda Kenny meets Irish Chef De Mission Sonia O’Sullivan today. Pic: Sportsfile.

by Shaun Cronin 7/27/2012 8:10:01 PM
The Taoiseach really enjoyed the visit as he is a serious fan of athletics. And Mayo football.

by Colm O'Connor 7/27/2012 8:10:43 PM
US First Lady Michelle Obama addresses American athletes at their Olympic base in London today. Pic: PA.

by Shaun Cronin 7/27/2012 8:11:09 PM
All the camera crews and photographers covering this at ground level were made dress all in black so they didn't stand out from the actors

by Colm O'Connor 7/27/2012 8:13:22 PM
This sequence represents the rapid industrialisation of the UK in the 19th century. It features 7 chimneys, 5 beam engines, 6 looms and I water wheel

by Colm O'Connor 7/27/2012 8:16:14 PM
Now we remember the fallen in two world wars and other conflcits

by Colm O'Connor 7/27/2012 8:17:31 PM
The ground is vibrating. What do you expect with 965 drummers and a sound system with 1,000,000 watts of power

by Colm O'Connor 7/27/2012 8:19:08 PM
Massive Olympic rings fill the sky over the stadium. It feels like we are under attack from aliens in orange UFOs

by Colm O'Connor 7/27/2012 8:22:29 PM
would love to be there - atmosphere must be unreal!

by e_hayes12 7/27/2012 8:23:53 PM
Great touch to remember those who have fought in the world wars...

by Yvonneb 7/27/2012 8:23:54 PM
Fans shelter from the rain during the London Olympic Games 2012 Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, London. PA.

by Shaun Cronin 7/27/2012 8:24:46 PM
According to Gary Linekar on twitter, Redgrave has disappeared from the BBC studio - wonder where???

by e_hayes12 7/27/2012 8:25:58 PM
Cool video on the screens now featuring Mr James Bond and a very special guest star

by Colm O'Connor 7/27/2012 8:26:08 PM
The scenes were shot in the palace. Now fasten your seatbelts

by Colm O'Connor 7/27/2012 8:27:09 PM