The 2012 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony was held on 29 August 2012, starting at 20:30 BST and marking the official opening of the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, England. The show – named Enlightenment – had Jenny Sealey and Bradley Hemmings as its artistic directors. Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the Games.The ceremony was performed in front of a capacity audience of 80,000 people.

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2. A plane flies as part of the show during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at the
Olympic Stadium in east London on August 29, 2012.

3. LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 29: A sphere descends into the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the
London 2012 Paralympics at the Olympic Stadium on August 29, 2012 in London, England.

4. Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at the Olympic Park in east
London on August 29, 2012.

5. Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at the Olympic Park in east
London on August 29, 2012.

6. Performers with umbrellas are suspended in the air during the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Paralympics in London, Wednesday
Aug. 29, 2012.

7. Artists perform as a choir performs 'Principia' by Errollyn Wallen during the Opening Ceremony of the London
2012 Paralympics at the Olympic Stadium on August 29, 2012 in London, England.

8. Performers take part at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games in the Olympic Stadium August 29, 2012.

9. Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics at the Olympic Stadium on August
29, 2012 in London, England.

10. Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics at the Olympic Stadium on August
29, 2012 in London, England.

11. A general view shows artists performing during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at
the Olympic Stadium in east London on August 29, 2012.

12. Miranda performs during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics at the Olympic Stadium on
August 29, 2012 in London, England.

13. View of performers during the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Paralympics in London, Wednesday Aug. 29, 2012.

14. British scientist Stephen Hawking appears during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games
at the Olympic Stadium in east London on August 29, 2012.

15. Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, LOCOG chairman Lord Sebastian Coe and his
wife Carole Annett applaud Queen Elizabeth II during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics at
the Olympic Stadium on August 29, 2012 in London, England.

16. Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (L) and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (R), attend the opening
ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in east London on August 29, 2012.

17. A general view shows artists performing during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at
the Olympic Stadium in east London on August 29, 2012.

18. Athletes attend the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games in the Olympic Stadium August 29, 2012.

19. Performers with umbrellas during the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Paralympics in London, Wednesday Aug. 29, 2012.

20. Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at the Olympic Park in east
London on August 29, 2012.

21. Artists perform with umbrellas during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics at the Olympic
Stadium on August 29, 2012 in London, England.

22. Performers with umbrellas are seen during the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Paralympics in London, Wednesday Aug. 29, 2012.

23. LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 29: Ziya Azazi dances during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012
Paralympics at the Olympic Stadium on August 29, 2012 in London, England.

24. Members of the British armed forces carry the Union Flag during the opening ceremony of the London 2012
Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in east London on August 29, 2012

25. The Paralympic flag is carried by members of the Great Britain U22 Wheelchair basketball team during the Opening Ceremony of the
London 2012 Paralympics at the Olympic Stadium on August 29, 2012 in London, England.

26. A large scale reproduction of Marc Quinn's celebrated sculpture ‘ Alison Lapper Pregnant’ emerges during the
Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics at the Olympic Stadium on August 29, 2012 in London,
England.

27. Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics at the Olympic Stadium on August
29, 2012 in London, England.

28. Miranda performs during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics at the Olympic Stadium on
August 29, 2012 in London, England.

29. Denise Leigh performs during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics at the Olympic Stadium on
August 29, 2012 in London, England.

30. Wheelchair tennis player Peter Norfolk of Great Britain carries the flag and leads out Team GB during the Opening
Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics at the Olympic Stadium on August 29, 2012 in London, England.

31. Members of the British delegation parade during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at
the Olympic Stadium in east London on August 29, 2012.

32. Swimmer Daniela Schulte of Germany carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012
Paralympics at the Olympic Stadium on August 29, 2012 in London, England.

33. Members of France's delegation parade in wheelchairs during the opening ceremony of the London 2012
Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in east London on August 29, 2012.

34. Mexico's athletes enter the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games August 29, 2012.

35. Athletes from Portugal soak up the atmopshere during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics at
the Olympic Stadium on August 29, 2012 in London, England.

36. South Africa's flagbearer runner Oscar Pistorius leads his team during the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Paralympics in London,
Wednesday Aug. 29, 2012.

37. Athlete Alexey Ashapatov of Russia carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012
Paralympics at the Olympic Stadium on August 29, 2012 in London, England.

38. Members of Cameroon's delegation parade during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games
at the Olympic Stadium in east London on August 29, 2012.

39. Members of Germany's delegation parade during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games
at the Olympic Stadium in east London on August 29, 2012.

40. Members of Hong Kong's delegation parade during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games
at the Olympic Stadium in east London on August 29, 2012.

41. Members of Greece's delegation parade during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at
the Olympic Stadium in east London on August 29, 2012.

42. Members of China's delegation parade during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at
the Olympic Stadium in east London on August 29, 2012

43. Members of Japan's delegation parade during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at
the Olympic Stadium in east London on August 29, 2012.

44. Iraq's flagbearer waves his flag during his team's delegation parade during the opening ceremony of the London
2012 Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in east London on August 29, 2012.

45. Members of Afghanistan's delegation parade during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic
Games at the Olympic Stadium in east London on August 29, 2012.

46. Athletes of the U.S. enter the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic
Games August 29, 2012

47. The flame is carried by Royal Marine Joe Townsend past the Orbit during the Opening Ceremony of the London
2012 Paralympics at the Olympic Stadium on August 29, 2012 in London, England.

48. An injured soldier carries a torch in the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the London 2012
Paralympic Games August 29, 2012.

49. Former Paralympic archer, Margaret Maughan, lights the cauldron in the Olympic Stadium during the opening
ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games August 29, 2012.

50. Paralympian Margaret Maughan lights The Paralympic Cauldron during the Opening Ceremony of the London
2012 Paralympics at the Olympic Stadium on August 29, 2012 in London, England.

51. The Paralympic Cauldron burns during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics at the Olympic
Stadium on August 29, 2012 in London, England.

52. The cauldron burns in the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games
August 29, 2012.

53. Fireworks burst in the sky above the cauldron bearing the Paralympic Flame at the opening ceremony of the
London 2012 Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in east London on August 29, 2012.

54. Fireworks explode over the Olympic stadium during the opening ceremony for the 2012 Paralympics games,
Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012, in London.

55. Fireworks explode following the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Paralympics in London, Wednesday Aug. 29, 2012.

56. Fireworks light up the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics at the Olympic
Stadium on August 29, 2012 in London, England.

57. Fireworks light up the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics at the Olympic
Stadium on August 29, 2012 in London, England.

58. Fireworks explode over the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the London 2012
Paralympic Games August 29, 2012
Nikos
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