Opening Ceremony Olympic Ceremonies

years ago. We are just seconds away from the sounding of the Great

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds

MUSIC: "Baba O'Reilly" by The Who by Captain Algernon Drummond

MUSIC: "God Save The Queen" MUSIC: "London Calling"

MUSIC: "Smile"by Lily Allen

MUSIC: "Map Of The Problematique"by Muse

CROWD COUNTS DOWN

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to London

and the Games of the 30th Olympiad with a very special guest...

Bradley

Bradley Wiggins!

HAZEL

HAZEL IRVINE:

HAZEL IRVINE: Congratulations,

HAZEL IRVINE: Congratulations, Bradley.

Bradley. A

Bradley. A yellow

Bradley. A yellow jersey

Bradley. A yellow jersey winner. The first man from his isles to do

so. Tour de France winner. In the best British tradition, Bradley,

HUW EDWARDS: Flying into the mid- # On England's

# Shine forth # But come ye back

# 'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow

# Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy I love you so... #

# O Flower of Scotland When will we see your like again

# That fought and died for your wee bit hill and glen

# And stood against him Proud Edward's Army

# And sent him homeward to think again... #

# Guide me, O thou great redeemer Pilgrim through this barren land

# I am weak, but thou art mighty Hold me with thy powerful hand

# Bread of heaven, bread of heaven Feed me till I want no more

# Feed me till I want no more... #

# Bring me my arrows of desire

# Bring me my spear! O clouds unfold

# Bring me my chariot of fire

# I will not cease from mental fight

# Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand

# Till we have built Jerusalem

# In England's green and pleasant land. #

Be not afeared.

Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises,

Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.

Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments

Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices

That, if I then had waked after long sleep,

Will make me sleep again: and then, in dreaming,

The clouds me thought would open and show riches

Ready to drop upon me that, when I waked, I cried to dream again.

MUSIC: "Nimrod"by Sir Edward Elgar

HUW

HUW EDWARDS:

HUW EDWARDS: Isambard

HUW EDWARDS: Isambard Kingdom Brunel, played by Kenneth Branagh.

The words from Shakespeare's The MUSIC: "Pandemonium"

His words heralding the chaos and the noise of the Industrial

Revolution. The brutal uprooting of MUSIC: "Pandemonium"

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds

A volunteer cast conveying the thrill and destruction of the fear

of the Industrial Revolution when Britain became the workshop of the

world. Dame Evelyn Glennie leading HAZEL IRVINE: Dame Evelyn Glennie

feels the music and it vibrates through her feet, she says. Here in

the stadium, 80,000 people can feel the pounding energy pulsating

through this stadium right now from MUSIC: "Pandemonium"

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds

Rising dramatically from the ground the smoking stacks and the chimneys

which produced a lot of wealth, but which disfigured many towns and

cities and transformed society. TREVOR NELSON: It is my kind of

history lesson, Huw. If you are at home watching on TV and you have a

remote control, turn it up a little bit and you will get a sense of

what we are feeling here in the This selection is called

The suffragettes. Some of their descendants, as we've already seen,

are in the Ceredigion tonight. -- In all of this fury and all of this

tumult, there will be a sudden pause to remember the fallen of two

world wars and all other conflicts. A moment of remembrance for all

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds

In stark contrast, a splash of vivid colour from the age of The

Beatles, representing the social and cultural change of the 1960s, a

theme we will return to later. The Windrush, the ship that brought the

first West Indian immigrants to The grand site offers Chelsea

Pensioners, another reminder of the debt owed to members of the armed

Brunel surveys the scene and takes in the ever growing signs of wealth

The pearly kings and queens of London, the other Royal Family, as

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds

Out of this seething tableau of people, the scale of it is

breathtaking, organised chaos and in the midst of the heat and the

effort and the smell, actual smell in the stadium, they are producing

something very special. Forging a moment and an image that will live

And against the backdrop of industrial turmoil, a cloud of

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds

sparks and steam, the Olympic rings Dazzling beauty, for five

interlocking rings presenting the Union of five continents and the

meeting of the world's athletes at Surely one of the most dynamic

opening sequences we have ever seen MUSIC: "Arrival Of The Queen

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds

Good evening, Mr Bond. Good evening, MUSIC: "Music For The Royal

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds

MUSIC: "The Dambusters March" MUSIC: "The Dambusters March"

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds

The film, happy and glorious, specially made by the BBC. It

suggests a royal arrival unlike any MUSIC: "James Bond Theme"

pour l'arrivee de sa Majeste la reine et le Duc d'Edimbourg

accompagne par le president du Comite International Olympique, Jacques Rogge.

Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for Her Majesty The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh

accompanied by the President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge.

Her

Her Majesty

Her Majesty the

Her Majesty the Queen in the Diamond Jubilee year proving that

she certainly has a sense of humour and preparing to open these Games,

as her father did back in 1948 and des representants des corps d'armee

Ladies and gentlemen, the Union flag is raised by representatives

from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.

12

12 servicemen

12 servicemen and

12 servicemen and women representing all members of the

Armed Forces who are now making such an important contribution, of

course, to these Olympic Games, Servicemen and women led by

Squadron Leader Lambert of RAF Brize Norton. The Flag carried by

Gunner Bateman, King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, by Flight

Lieutenant Cadman, RAF Cranwell, Marine Edwards, Commando Logistic

Regiment, Colour Sergeant Hiscock of RM Poole, Corporal Robbins of

veuillez vous lever pour l'hymne chante en langage de signe

pour les enfants sourds et entendants.

Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the National Anthem of the United Kingdom,

performed by the Kaos Signing Choir for Deaf and Hearing Children.

# God save our gracious Queen

# Long live our noble Queen

# God save the Queen

# Send her victorious

# Happy and glorious

# Long to reign over us

# God save the Queen

# Thy choicest gifts in store

# On her be pleased to pour

# Long may she reign

# May she defend our laws

# And ever give us cause

# To sing with heart and voice

# God save the Queen. #

The

The National

The National Anthem

The National Anthem sung by the Kaos Signing Choir for Deaf and

MUSIC: "Tubular Bells" Mesdames et messieurs,

Mike Oldfiield, le personnel des services de sante britanniques

et nos invites honnores, les patients et le personnel de l'hopital de Great Ormond Street.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Mike Oldfield, the staff of the National Health Service

and our very special guests, the patients and staff of Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Hearing Children. A

Hearing Children. A big

Hearing Children. A big cheer

Hearing Children. A big cheer for the staff and some patients of the

Health Service, just founded after the Second World War, regarded with

great affection by so many British people. Mike Oldfield, whose first

album sold more than 17 million HAZEL IRVINE: The name of this

section Second to the right, and straight on till morning - they

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds

were the directions Peter Pan gave MUSIC: "Tubular Bells"

Quietly to the land of dreams and into the magic of children's

the Neverland is the snuggest with tedious distances

When you play at it by day with the but in the two minutes

MUSIC: "Tubular Bells"by Mike Oldfield

JK

JK Rowling,

JK Rowling, arguably

JK Rowling, arguably the most successful British writer in

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds

Here comes Voldemort, from the Harry Potter stories. That is one

baddy you don't want to introduce your kids to too early. This is

another, the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - surely

TREVOR NELSON: I like the use of children in the show so far. Going

to a hospital can be quite scary for kids. There is a quite a dark

side to the ceremony. But the light around the hospital beds is like a

big contradiction, you know. My cousin is in this scene somewhere.

Most of the dancers are health workers - doctors, nurses - from

the NHS. They have done very well to choreograph this with people who

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds

Here comes Mary Poppins to save the MUSIC: "In Dulci Jubilo"

The audience are part of this ceremony. If you look at the light

movement behind the performers, the audience are having a great time

waving their pixels in their hands and taking part in the whole

ceremony so far. There's been great vision. I wish I had one in my

You will see what Trevor was calling "the pixels" there -

everyone has a handset. They are controlled by a computer and they

are connected by 40 miles of cabling. And they are going to

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds

The crowd here loved that tribute to the NHS and to the stars, both

jovial and sinister, of children's literature. The 600 members of NHS

staff and 300 children, quite rightly, soaking up the applause.

It is worth saying that there are 7,500 volunteers in this cast. They

have all spent about 150 hours each ce soir en hommage

Ladies and gentleman, tonight, as a tribute to the British Film Industry,

please welcome the London Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Chariots Of Fire.

Ladies and gentlemen, Sir Simon Rattle.

MUSIC: "Chariots Of Fire"by Vangelis

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds

MUSIC: "Chariots Of Fire"by Vangelis

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds

Sir Simon Rattle

Sir Simon Rattle with

Sir Simon Rattle with the

Sir Simon Rattle with the London Symphony Orchestra with a little

help, if I can call it that, from Rowan Atkinson. Mr Bean has been

shown in just about every territory If anyone is having any difficulty

translating Danny Boyle's vision of British history, they will have no

difficulty understanding that and said she heard

Well, if you're watching, It is a soundtrack that spans four

decades and it is in effect the story of the digital age. The

digital messaging that connect people to each other. Right across

# You're gonna miss the freak MUSIC: "Enola Gay"

MUSIC: "Food, Glorious Food"by Lionel Bart

MUSIC: "When I Was A Youngster"by Rizzle Kicks

You

You are

You are going

You are going nowhere dressed like # I never thought today

# The second I got old enough to buy myself a cider can

# Yeah, I was a smart little kid That side's departed me since

I

I think

I think we

I think we expected music to feature heavily in this show. The

next four decades of music in a montage now. Try and name all of

the song's! It is known in mean MUSIC: "Going Underground"

# A show of strength # And I'm so happy

# You want more money Of course I don't mind

# To buy nuclear textbooks for atomic crimes

# And the public gets what the public wants

# But I want nothing this society's got

# I'm going underground Going underground

# Well, the brass bands play and feet start to pound

# Going underground Going underground

# Going underground Going underground

# Well, let the boys all sing and the boys all shout

# Going underground Going underground

# Going underground Going underground

# For tomorrow. #

MUSIC: "Wonderful Tonight"by Eric Clapton

She's gorgeous. She's absolutely gorgeous!

MUSIC: "My Generation"by The Who

MUSIC: "Satisfaction"by The Rolling Stones

MUSIC: "My Boy Lollipop"by Millie

MUSIC: "All DayAnd All Of The Night" by The Kinks

MUSIC: "She Loves You"by The Beatles

Not

Not the

Not the first

Not the first time you will hear from The Beatles in the show

How you doing with naming every song? I have the advantage of

seeing the rehearsals. It is easier to work out what is missing!

can't please all of the people. Damned if you do, damned if you

MUSIC: "Trampled Underfoot" MUSIC: "A Message To You, Rudy"

MUSIC: "Starman"by David Bowie

MUSIC: "Bohemian Rhapsody"by Queen

MUSIC: "Pretty Vacant"by The Sex Pistols

MUSIC: "Bohemian Rhapsody"by Queen

MUSIC: "Pretty Vacant"by The Sex Pistols

# Oh, we're so pretty Oh so pretty, we're vacant

# Oh, we're so pretty Oh so pretty, we're vacant

# Oh, we're so pretty Oh so pretty, we're vacant

The

The punk

The punk era

MUSIC: "Blue Monday" The punk era represented by the Sex

Pistols there. There is a mosh pit. I don't see too much moshing going

on over there! Danny Boyle worked very closely with the boys from The

Underworld on the musical soundtrack on this show tonight. We

MUSIC: "Relax" MUSIC: "Back To Life"

MUSIC: "Step On"by The Happy Mondays

MUSIC: "Sweet Dreams(Are Made Of This)" by Eurythmics

They

They are

They are taking

They are taking us on a trip from MUSIC: "Firestarter"

MUSIC: "Born Slippy" The soundtrack to the film that

Danny Boyle is famously known for, by Jaan Kenbrovin

# They fly so high Nearly reach the sky

# Then like my dreams they fade and die

# Fortune's always hiding I've looked everywhere

# I'm forever blowing bubbles Pretty bubbles in the air... #

A

A famous

A famous West

in fact while he was still with MUSIC: "Song 2"

This is Danny Boyle's eight-time Oscar-winning feel good movie,

# I wake up every day # Everythin' in my life

# I act real shallow # And all I care about

# A heavy bass line is my kind of silence

# Everybody says that I gotta get a grip

# But I let sanity give me the slip

# Some people think I'm bonkers but I just think I'm free

# Man, I'm just livin' my life There's nothin' crazy about me

# Some people pay for thrills But I get mine for free

# Man, I'm just livin' my life There's nothin' crazy about me... #

MUSIC: "Nimma Nimma"by AR Rahman

# I wake up every day It's a daydream

# Everythin' in my life ain't what it seems

# I wake up just to go back to sleep

# I act real shallow but I'm in too deep

# And all I care about is sex and violence

# A heavy bass line is my kind of silence

# Everybody says that I gotta get a grip

# But I let sanity give me the slip

Dizzee

Dizzee Rascal,

Dizzee Rascal, a

Dizzee Rascal, a local boy. Arguably, the biggest moment of his

MUSIC: "Valerie" MUSIC: "Uprising"

MUSIC: "Random Antics"by Kano and Mikey J

MUSIC: "Pass Out"by Tinie Tempah

# Man, I'm just livin' my life There's nothin' crazy about me

# Some people pay for thrills but I get mine for free

# Man, I'm just livin' my life There's nothin' crazy about me. #

It

It is

It is important

It is important to note that grime music was born in East London. I

suppose that is why he has had such a big part in the musical montage

Here is the culmination of this sequence, the cast paying tribute

to this man. He's the one who changed the way we all communicate

today, Tim Berners-Lee, the British scientist who invented the

worldwide web and created the first website in the world in 1990. This

is for everyone. Danny Boyle was determined to give Tim Berners-Lee

It is like the soundtrack to many of our lives. The soundtrack is

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds

available to download from midnight # I hear you saying you'll wait

# I feel you lying next to me # I hear you whisper come and see

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds

# Here she comes again The Torch relay, 70 days, 8,000

miles. Here is a clue as to what is happening tonight. A very familiar

figure of David Beckham on the Thames. Joined by a young

footballer, tipped to become one of the sporting stars of the future.

How would the Flame make its way from City Hall to the Olympic

Stadium? This answers that. David played a major part in the bid to

Very few people as well qualified to perform this task. Not just one

of the world's most famous sportsmen, but the former England

football captain and EastEnder, born just a few miles from the

stadium in Stratford. He also played his part at the handover

ceremony in Beijing, aboard the Big Ladies and gentlemen, please pause

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds

for friends and family The excitement of that moment and

Singapore seven years ago when England won against was tempered

the next day from the offensive July 7th that year. A war if

remembrance for those no longer here to share in this event. -- a

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds

# The darkness deepens # When other helpers fail

# Help of the helpless O abide with me

# Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day

# Earth's joys grow dim Its glories pass away

# Change and decay in all around I see

# O thou who changest not Abide with me

# I need thy presence every passing hour

# What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?

# Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds

# Abide With

# Abide With Me.

#

# Hold

# Hold Thou

# Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes; Shine through the

gloom and point me to the skies. # Heaven's morning breaks, and

earth's vain shadows flee; In life, A wonderful rendition of abide With

Me by Scotland's Emili Sande. A hint that has been sung at every FA

Cup final since 1927. And every rugby league Challenge Cup final

nous acceuillons les athletes please welcome the athletes

MUSIC: "Galvanize"by The Chemical Brothers

A

A resounding

A resounding cheer

A resounding cheer because this brings us to the prime purpose of

this grand Opening Ceremony, to welcome the athletes representing

more than 10,000 competitors in London 2012. 200 four-nations, more

than the UN, will compete in 26 sports and the place where it all

began, Greece, this sporting extravaganza came to be in 776 BC.

It is only fitting that they get a much first. 106 members of the

Greek team and there we have one of the first sightings of what we call

a petal, a copper petal. I'm not going to spoil the surprise because

we will see a lot of these in this parade and they will play a very

important part later on. A great Games in Athens in 2004. They won

six, a best ever. No gold medals in Beijing. Afghanistan. For flag-

bearer won Afghanistan's first ever The squad has been based in Welwyn

The flag-bearer is a weightlifter. European silver medallist. Just

wondering whether she will become an Olympic medallist. Albania, the

land of the Eagle, marking their 40th anniversary of their first

appearance at the Games. 11 athletes equals the largest team

they have ever sent to the Olympics. 39 members of the Algerian team.

Both have their medals back in Beijing came in judo. They won four

gold medals since their first appearance in 1964. They won the

Five main islands and American You'll notice that the music is

thumping through this stadium. They tried to speed up this parade of

Nations and the music will help keep up the pace. Tiny, but

attracting 10 million visitors every year. They first appeared at

the Olympics, and Dora, in 1976. And the Angola, one of the major

oil producers of Africa. But it also suffers terrible poverty.

Never won a medal, this is the 8th attempt. A few years ago in 1992,

their men's basketball team came against the Dream Team of America.

Play was held up as they took One of the Caribbean's most

prosperous nations. Most famous sportsman ever is probably Sir

One of the biggest economies in South America. The flag-bearer is a

hockey player. No ordinary hockey player, she is the magician. Seven-

times world player of the year and she is hoping to win gold on her

35th birthday, the day of the women's final. She leads up the

Lionesses. A good view of the copper petals I was talking about.

They will be collected in a certain fashion when this parade is over

and used in a certain fashion. Lionel Messi and company were gold-

medallist four years ago, but they have not qualified this time.

bronze medals from Beijing, it was announced on Monday there would be

cash incentives for upgrades. The Olympic chiefs over Armenia, who is

either very wealthy on not very confident, said he would pay

$700,000 to every Armenian gold Quiz question. Capital of a rude?

You can't find a friend. Around Caribbean island north of Venezuela.

What do you guys think about athletes that are not here for this

parade? It is pretty late. You'll see when the British team comes in

that about half of the team will be marching. The lateness of the hour

here is unprecedented in an Olympic Opening Ceremony. Many people have

an excuse, but I bet everyone is watching! 410 members of the

Australian team. Faye had 632 in Sydney in 2000. Australia can boast

at least one of only six countries to have hosted the Olympics more

than once. They were stung by British success in Beijing, they

would love to put a spanner in hour works here. Another bet between the

nation's sports ministers about who will finish higher in the medals

table. So many chances throughout this of the team. Sally Pearson,

their tracks start at the hurdles. Anna Meares in Track Cycling could

be a thorn in Victoria Pendleton's side. Her terrific rivalry between

those two in the Velodrome. The men's four in rowing, lookout for

Aussie success in the pool. Stir- fries, the female athlete of 2008

in China. -- Steph rice. We have one of the first copper petals

arriving on Glastonbury Tor. Flags will be set up, as we will see

later, there will be a mass of flags on there later on.

Austrians, land of mountains, we did not hear their national anthem

in Beijing, but it was heard four times in Vancouver during the

winter Games. Most of their greatest Olympians are winter

Olympians. Franz Klammer! Amongst many others. Another one has just

cycled from Austria to raise money Azerbaijan. Oil-rich, of course,

There flag-bearer is the defending Olympic judo champion. He looks

Officials and government leaders a welcoming their own teams into the

Beautiful Bahamas have excelled in the Olympics for its population

size. Only 347,000 people and it has 10 medals, four of them gold,

one of them, Pauline Davis, was promoted to 200m gold in Sydney

after Marion Jones was caught -- disqualified. She did end up

winning that race all those years ago. I will have a question for you

very soon. Which country has the most gold medals per-capita?

think it is New Zealand. OK. I can't get you, can I? Somebody will

correct me, I'm sure. Wonderful scene unfolding in the Olympic

Stadium, full of colour, full of The flag-bearer for Bahrain, their

first female Olympian in shooting. Just a dozen members of the team

from Bahrain. They are seeking their first medal, or seeking to

keep their first medal. You might remember them winning gold in the

men's 1,500m in Beijing, but was later stripped of that medal after

a drugs test. They have chances Bangladesh. The team size is five,

representing a population of 164 million people. The largest country,

the most populus never to have won an Olympic medal. That is a

flipside to the question I gave you about the most medals per capita!

LAUGHTER Join in if you know the song! I think we all remember it,

Barbados means "bearded one". Several of the most heralded

gymnasts in the Soviet era were from Belarus. Their flag bearer is

Max Mirnyi, a tennis player. Belgium just entering the stadium

now. The flag bearer is Tia Hellebaut. She retired - we see

Jacques Rogge watching on. She gave up, she retired to have some

children, came back after one of them, then decided to go back and

have another one and she is back to defend her Olympic title. Belize's

rainy season is May to November, rather like our own! Ours is

something like January to November! At least it is staying off for the

time being. A lot of snazzy outfits. Benin's National Anthem is The Dawn

Of A New Day - it has not been played yet on an Olympic podium.

First appeared at the Olympics in 1972. Bermuda - no Opening Ceremony

is complete without the Bermuda shorts! A handful of competitors

once again. LAUGHTER He is having fun. Bermuda shorts and shiny

shoes! Bhutan, a remote kingdom nestling in the Himalayas between

India and China. Known as The Land Bolivia, the most isolated country

in South America. Bolivia a member of the IOC since 1936. They have

never won a medal. Their flag bearer is Claudia Balderrama. Takes

us back to 1984 when Sarajevo hosted the Winter Olympics then.

What resilience that city and its people have shown since then.

are planting the flags in the Mound which is a new thing for the

Olympic ceremony. By the end of the Parade there will be a couple of

hundred flags up there. Botswana - the team has a gem in Amantle

The giant presence of Brazil. The most influential country, probably,

in South America. Rodrigo Pessoa is the flag bearer. You know for a

nation mad about football and brilliant at volleyball, it is

sailing that has been their most successful sport and their most

successful goes for his third gold in Weymouth. Look out for their

women's football team. British Virgin Islands joining us in the

stadium. One of 40 Caribbean islands. Population just over

22,000. They were the first team to arrive in the Athletes' Village.

Lord Coe gave them a personal welcome. They are keen! Flag bearer

is Maziah Mahusin. Runs in the 400m. They are including women in their

Olympic team for the very first time. The IOC has achieved one of

its long aims of the Olympic ideal. Bulgaria - Yordan Yovchev is

carrying their flag. There are 62 members in this team. First

competed in 1972. Burkina Faso here. I have to say this is my favourite

part of the ceremony. Most people love the razzmatazz, but I love

seeing the teams - the smallest team, the largest team. This is

what it is all about. This is what these young men and women have

trained to do and they have trained to be here for this moment. When

you are having your morning cup of tea, there is a chance you are

savouring the flavours of Burundi. A great splash of colour from

Burundi. Now the athletes of Cambodia joining us. It has the

longest alphabet of any language in the world - 74 letters!

Welcome to the Cambodians. Flag bearer of Cameroon is

Annabelle Ali, a freestyle wrestler. Great excitement about the women's

football team. Still with glowing hearts from

their most successful Olympic performance in history in Vancouver.

They staged the Winter Games there and came out with 14 medals. That's

Simon Whitfield, and he will compete in the triathlon. Montreal

was the first Games I watched. Canada - I have a soft spot for

them. Former Portuguese colony of Cape Verde. First Olympic Games -

1996. Flag very distinction for the Cayman Islands. -- very distinctive

for the Cayman Islands. This team includes the athlete with the

longest name in the Games - she is a wrestler! Good luck to the

Chad - three athletes this time. They sent two, including a 15-year-

old. Chile - one of South America's most wealthy, most prosperous

nations. Denisse van Lamoen is the flag bearer. She won the popular

vote back home to choose the flag bearer so she has the approval of

most of Chile's 17.3 million people The flag bearer is Jianlian Yi - he

is a professional basketball player in the NBA. I wonder what they made

of our Opening Ceremony compared to They won nine out of 14 golds in

As we see the Colombians coming in - there is one man waiting - the

biggest sports star on the planet - it is Usain. He will have a very

special part to play in a few moments' time. Colombians making

their way in. Mariana Pajon is their flag bearer. A genuine threat

in the BMX. Three volcanic islands between Mozambique and the island

of Madagascar. The team includes two athletes and a swimmer - that's

Comoros. From Congo - a handful of athletes. 15 volcanic islands and

they make up the Cook Islands. A population of just 18,000. They

first appeared at the Olympics in If they do strike gold, God defend

New Zealand will therefore be The flags making their way up this

replica of Glastonbury Tor. We are intrigued by the sight of those

copper petals. Gabriela Trana - there she is - she will be taking

The flag-bearer for the Ivory Coast 110 athletes for Croatia, their

biggest ever team. A sports mad nation, home of Goran Ivanisevic,

the former Wimbledon champion. Watch out for their quad scullers,

red hot favourites for the gold at Dorney Lake. 4.5 million people

will be glued to their televisions for the handball. I am so upset

Blanca will not be here. She is my Lopez is carrying the flag. He is a

big boy! Defending champion in the 120 kg Group, the biggest one.

Obviously! Fare star man is Dayron Robles, 110 Beatles hurdles

champion at that Olympic Games and a great race in prospect with Liu

Xiang. -- 110 metres hurdles. Great boxing strength in Cuba, they are

keen to make up for two hut -- 2008 when they did not win a single goal

but will for the first time since 1968. Cyprus first sent a team to

the Winter Olympics in 1980. A team of 14 to Moscow. You might

recognise their flag-bearer, it is tennis player Marcus Baghdatis,

runner-up in the 2006 Australian Open. He lost to Andy Murray at

Wimbledon this year. Another big lad for the Czech Republic, a

badminton player. Check out the Wellington boots! They were

expecting rain. Either that or they have taken the wrong turn to

Glastonbury. The Czech Republic has produced some of the most legendary

Proudly marching behind their flak, the athletes from North Korea. 61

of them. One of the world's most secretive states. I think we have

got the right flag tonight! Pretty unmistakable. This will be the

first Olympics for the north under the leadership of Kim Jong-un, said

to be a keen follower of basketball. His father was a world-class golfer,

we are told. 11 holes-in-one in his first round. Democratic Republic of

Congo, a big exporter of diamonds and coffee. The flag-bearer is the

marathon runner. This is formally known as Zaire, Congo. You might

remember a certain rumble in the jungle there in 1974. Denmark are

with us. They have a team of 115 athletes. The flag-bearer is a

sprint canoeist, a 35-year-old. Lookout for Caroline Wozniacki, the

tennis player, looking to go at a few rounds better than at Wimbledon.

Rory McIlroy will Noga be cheering her on! -- no doubt be cheering her

Djibouti first competed as an independent country in 1984. They

won a bronze in the marathon in 1988. Their first and only medal so

far. I love beauty, Isle of splendour, so as their national

anthem. Lou and Gabriel is a 200m runner. Only 15 Dominican Olympians

They share the same island with Haiti in the Caribbean Sea. Gabriel

Mercedes won silver in taekwondo in Beijing. He returns. As does Felix

Sanchez, he of the flashing wristband, he became their first

Olympic champion over the barriers In the summer that repaid farewell

to Lonesome George, the last giant tortoise of its kind in the

Galapagos Islands, so great was his loss that the President addressed

the nation. Here is hoping for it is six athletes can raise their

spirits once again. -- Ver 36 The Egyptians are here. A nation of

82 million and after all the turmoil of the past 18 months, they

have a new President and they have hoped for more stability. For flag-

bearer won Egypt only medal at the Beijing Olympics, a bronze in judo.

Ramadan falls during the Games. They have been told they don't have

to fast and can make a fast days later. Some will choose to and some

will not. Bell's Salvador, the most densely populated state on the

mainland of the Americas. -- El Salvador. Their first Games was in

Mexico City in 86. -- 1968. Eritrea's on the Red Sea. First

competed in 2000. They won their Estonia has hosted part of an

Olympic Games with the sailing events in 1980 when Moscow was the

main venue. Tallinn was our Weymouth. Home of some of the best

names of all time in distance running. All 38 of Ethiopia's

medals have come in middle and long-distance running and expect

more this time. Maybe from Bekele, one of the most dangerous threats

to Mo Farah in the 10,000m. No one has won three 10,000m titles at the

Olympics. Bekele could. Fiji is my favourite. My favourite flag.

my favourite outfit! The best outfits so far. I wonder if Fiji's

greatest ever sportsman, Vijay Singh, will still be competitive

when golf makes its competitive debut in Rio in four years' time.

He is one of the fittest golfers on tour so you never know. Finland are

here. The flag-bearer is the former world champion at a 100m freestyle.

The first woman ever to carry the Finnish flag at the Summer Olympics.

Watch up for the javelin thrower. The flag-bearer is a 19-year-old, a

swimmer. He carries one of the most colourful and cheerful of all the

The Bee Gees thump out, everybody is rocking in the stadium. We might

have been in Paris tonight. It came down to a choice between London and

Paris to host these Games. For rest is history, but we welcome this big

French team and that is a big man, Teddy Renate, five-time world

champion in judo. He is not cuddly! For flag-bearer won two goals in

1996, has five medals in all. -- two gold medals. David and Carol

Hoy it will be even more proud than they have been of their son, Chris.

Sir Chris Hoy! He will carry the Union flag into the stadium in a

few moments. We are only at G! You're ahead of yourself. We have

had Gabbidon and a Gambia. One of the smallest countries in Africa. A

coastline of the Atlantic, first competed in 1984. The blue stripe

on their flag represents the Gambia river that flows through the

country. Beautiful outfit tonight. The flag-bearer is a 43-year-old

pistol shooter appearing in her 7th Olympic Games. You may remember for

years ago on this very night that Georgia was involved in a vicious

confrontation with Russia over the disputed self-assertive region in

the country. -- self-assertive. Their parents is tinged with

sadness. Representing 82 million Germans, Europe's most

industrialised and populous country. Natasha Keller, hockey player,

flag-bearer. Always one of the largest teams, always strong in the

team sports. The men of the defending hockey champions, their

best sport in 2008 was the equestrian events, where they won

Look out for Maxwells, sprint canoeing world champion. He will be

I quite like the displays in formality -- displays of

informality among people who are normally quite formal! Ghana have

nine athletes here. Some very interested onlookers. The Duke and

Duchess of Cambridge. And we have the Prime Minister and Mrs Cameron,

too. A bit of a wait before they can raise the roof for the Great

Britain team. A great hope for the Spice Island, Kirani James, the

youngest ever sprint world champion in day do last year. Two days

before his 19th birthday. He is the reigning world 400m champion. A

giant of the sport and a giant in life, hoping to bring a first

A team of eight fog lamp, led by a I think we can safely say they are

having fun! Aren't we all! Guatemala's in Central America,

famed for its natural beauty. The flag-bearer follows in his dad's

footsteps, a three-times Olympian sailor. Inspire a generation, the

We are still on cheap and by the vagaries of the Mandarin alphabet

in Mandarin last time, Guinea came out second and had a long wait at

the centre of the stage. Four They first appeared at the 1996

Olympics. They send a team of two athletes and a wrestler. Near the

top of South America, Diana. It means, land of many waters. They

won a gold medal in the 3,000m steeplechase in the colours of

Great Britain! Three men, two women, representing Haiti, and doing so

with so much pride, for a nation which has decimated by that

catastrophic earthquake in 2010 - 3 million people affected, more than

300,000 killed. Oxfam this year said that half-a-million people

remain homeless in the country. TREVOR NELSON: That's the joy of

the Olympics, to see these countries' represented on a level

playing field with everyone else. 42 athletes from Hong Kong. The

flagbearer, Lee Wai Sze, has a busy programme of road and track cycling.

Hong Kong, one of the most life- affirming places you can go.

flagbearer for the Hungarians Peter Biros. They are considered the

greatest ever power in water polo. They also have an athlete who will

be a major competition for Louis Smith in the gymnastics. Apparently

we're getting a lot of tweets from athletes saying they are loving it.

HAZEL IRVINE: Wish you were Here, guys, but I am glad you're watching.

Iceland, no delays caused by their volcanoes this time, thank you very

much! We have a stateless refugee from South Sudan, and three

athletes from the Dutch Antilles competing as independent athletes

under the Olympic flag. There is a precedent for this, with Yugoslavia

athletes competing under this flag in Barcelona, as did some athletes

from East Timor. HUW EDWARDS: The Queen, looking on

with great interest, as we have the Indian team arriving in the stadium.

The Archbishop of Canterbury as well, just a few months away from

retirement. The Indians are arriving, of course, the world's

biggest democracy, 1.2 billion people. The flagbearer is a

wrestler, Sushil Kumar. Badminton 75 million people will be

transfixed by the efforts of the new Iranian weightlifter. The he is

a super heavy, a will champion for the last two years, and he is

trying to lift a total of 472 kilos. That's a lot! A big round of

applause for the members of the Iraqi team, a country emerging of

course from a traumatic decade. of the great Olympic stories of

recent years was the Iraqi football team's path to the semi-final in

2004, at the height of the troubles there. A huge cheer for the I rich,

led by a world boxing champion Katie Taylor. Yes, good evening to

our friends in Ireland. We wish you all well. Katie Taylor, a strong

favourite in the lightweight division in boxing, as boxing makes

its debut for women here. As ever, Irish sports fans will be as

welcome here as they are everywhere else in the world. The Israeli team

- 2012 marking the 40th anniversary of the death of 12 members of the

Israeli team following the Munich The last chance for windsurfers to

get gold, because when serving will be making way for kite surfing in

the next Games. The Italians, a very long and rich Olympic

tradition, going back to 1896. And out in front, 38-year-old Valentina

Vezzali, who has won five gold medals in fencing. One of the most

successful in history in that sport. They are dressed in Armani - aren't

we all, darling? I was going to ask you! A rival for Rebecca Adlington

there. Most famously, on the front cover of Vanity Fair, covered only

in gold paint. Here we go, it's Jamaica. Here he is, the biggest

and most charismatic sports star in the world, Usain Bolt! Listen to

the applause for the three-term gold-medallist, the man who set

three world records with his teammates last time out in Beijing.

He said just a few days ago that he is 95% fit, probably enough for a

gold? Well, he has got his teammate Yohan Blake to beat this time,

which will not be easy. TREVOR NELSON: they are looking for

a big party this year, celebrating the 50th anniversary of their

independence. Japan, led by the Women's double gold medal wrestler.

Nine athletes representing Jordan. Jordan's team includes a 16-year-

old who will be swimming up against Fran Halsall. Next, Kazakhstan. He

has not quite done the Lightning Bolt yet, he has got his hands to

full, I think. Perhaps we will see it in the coming days. Kazakhstan

coming in, led by Nurmakhan Tinaliyev. He is a 24-year-old

wrestler. This is a star team, led by a swim them, but it is David

Rudish who should be striking gold on the track. He is looking to be

the first person from the Masai tribe to do so. The flag that sees

the sun rising above the waves. These atolls were the first places

on earth to see in the new millennium. It sits right on the

date line. HUW EDWARDS: South Korea, now one

of Asia's most affluent countries, since partition back in 1948. The

flagbearer, a 39-year-old flak -- In the archery, a remarkable

athlete has broken his own record this afternoon, a man who are

technically blind in one eye. This team includes two women, one, a

Chuter, and a swimmer. KO Distin, one of only four countries whose

name contains a single vowel. competed as an independent country

in 1996. This, one of the poorest nations in Asia. There have been 40

Olympians from this country, half of them competing in athletics.

Just three in their team this time. The delegation from that fear of

being led by -- from Latvia being led by Martins Plavins, the beach

volleyball player. 10 athletes Tom Daley, getting ready to come in.

Great sense of anticipation, and we are roughly half way in this parade.

Lesotho, three Marathon runners. They have been training in Wrexham

in North Wales. Africa's oldest republic, known in the news for a

long-running and deeply damaging civil war, which saw many people

killed. The flagbearer, Phobay Kutu-Akoi, who runs in the 100m.

Libya, still plagued by violence and lots of armed militias

disrupting that country after the fall of Colonel Gaddafi. But the

long-term prospects are looking good. Let's hope that their

sporting prospects are looking good here, too. Liechtenstein's only

tennis player to hold a ranking on the WTA Tour. Virgilijus Alekna For

Lithuania, now 40 years old, chasing his third Olympic gold. He

is a table tennis player. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, just nine

athletes. The flagbearer is Marie Muller, who will be competing in

judo. Madagascar, the beloved island, beloved of David

Malawi, a nation of 15.5 million people. A pretty rural,

agricultural country. They first competed in 1972. Just three in

their team. Malaysia, of course, a much bigger, richer country, one of

the most vibrant economies in Asia. Sir Chris Hoy just gearing up,

getting his muscles warmed up to Kerry in the Union flag, signing

some autographs on the way! The Maldives, celebrated their

independence day yesterday. I think when all of this is over, in a few

weeks' time, we would love to join them for a beautiful holiday on the

beautiful beaches! This, a small team, of just six. Carrying the

flag, Rahamatou Drame, a 100m hurdler. 27-year-old William

Chetcuti has been named his country's Sportsperson of the Year

seven times, which has got to be a record. The Marshall Islands, named

after a Briton who went there in 1788.

TREVOR NELSON: Team GB should be coming into the stadium at

approximately 12 o'clock, apparently.

HUW EDWARDS: It all depends on the beat, and the beat is pretty vapid

at the moment, so we might make it Flag bearer is Natacha Rigobert,

competing in the beach volleyball. She's 32.

It's an island framed by such gorgeous beaches in the Indian

Ocean, you'd think volleyball would be an obvious attraction.

Another of the copper petals being put into place. In the distance

there, the Tor is filling up with flags. The Mexicans arriving Maria

del Rosario Espinoza the flag bearer. Mexico in '68 hosted the

Games. Mexico men's football team has the Porto striker Hulk in it.

I'm told he's incredible. Hez a very good player.

The flag bearer is Manuel Minginfel. He's been in the team since the

Olympic debut in 2000. He's the Moldova, which is just between

Romania and Ukraine, sandwiched you'd say, flag bearer, Kristina, a

weightlifter. Second smallest independent state in the world

Monaco. Plenty of wealth, a playground. There he is, Prince

Albert. He will now have to cheer on South Africa's athletes too

after marrying a South African last year.

Moll goala, the -- Mongola, the 29 members of the Mongolian squad

arriving in the stadium. We welcome Montenegro. It emerged as a

sovereign state just a few years ago in 2006, after a ref DM. --

referendum and the end of the former union of Serbia and

Great sense now of how this stadium is filling up. We can really start

to look ahead to the lighting of that cauldron which will happen

after this parade is done. That's the taekwondo player from

Morocco, leading out their team of 72. Still a national hero, one of

the greatest ever sportsmen Garuj It is a fantastic sight to actually

be here, watching this and not just watching it on TV. I know everybody

listening is watching on television, but it's amazing to see the colour.

Mexico have my favourite outfits on now.

This is the team from Mozambique, six of them. Kurt Couto, a 400

metres hurdler leading them out. Once known as Burma, Myanmar

represented by just six people, a nation of 50 million people, bit

way. It's beginning to change since their last appearance at the

Olympic Games since the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Namibia, that's Gaby Diana Ahrens. Nauru, a tiny island in the Pacific

named pleasant islands by the first European visitors. Just a couple in

the team. Only 10,000 people on the island.

It's only eight miles square. Prasiddha Jung Shah, flag bearer

That's Dorian van Rijsselberge the 2011 wind surfing champion. He won

the test event in Weymouth too. He will be high tailing it there after

the ceremony. Great Britain's sailors are watching in Weymouth

with the crowd. Good evening to you. I hope you are soaking this up.

196 members of the New Zealand team. Nick Willis who won silver in

Beijing is the flag bearer. He was presented with the team cloak

yesterday and all of you watching and listening from Stewart islands,

two weeks on the night shift and very early mornings, your some 12

hours ahead and we hope you're enjoying the Opening Ceremony over

your breakfast. What I do notice about the athletes

is lack of tension, you know, this is the one time they can actually

enjoy the crowds with no pressure of performance. It's good to see.

Nicaragua arrives. Now the team from Niger, the country grappling

with drought and refugee problems has sent a small team here.

includes a 14-year-old girl in swimming. Africa's most populace

country, 162 million people. Medal hopes also in the women's 100m.

Just loving the outfits as well. Tyson Gay there taking pictures.

The Americans waiting to come in. Wearing berets. Very smart. Norway

better known for the Winter Olympics. They are the most

successful nation in history at the winter Games. They have hosted two

Games. The oldest independent state in the Arab world Oman. Just a

four-member team. Three track and Just a reminder, if you want to see

this in glorious HD, you can do in 3-D as well. It's all available for

you. Go to the HD channel for 3-D coverage of this ceremony, if you

have the right gear, of course! Pakistan. 23 in the team. 33

representing, some of the discrepancies in the figures

representing the people. It's extraordinary. Going back to the 3-

D, have any of you got 3-D? I don't need it. I'm sitting here watching

it, soaking it all up. Good answer, Hazel. I'm thinking long jump or

triple jump could be interesting in 3-D. Can't be bothered with the

specs. Palestine has been a recognised member of the

International Olympic Committee since 1995, though there is no

independent state of Palestine Their flag bearer trains in a small

gym in Jerusalem. He works in his dad's scarf shop too. Ten

Palestinians have competed in the Olympics since their flag first

flew in Atlanta. Panama's first Gold Medallist Irving Saladino.

Papua New Guinea. They say it is the world's most diverse country in

terms of language, 700 native tongues. Ryan Pinne finished eighth

in the men's butterfly. He's a Commonwealth champion and the man

nicknamed rowdy is back for more in London.

This is an interesting story, that's Benjamin Hockney -- Hockin.

He flies the flag. This is the only flag in the world where the front

and back are different. The flag bearer glad yis Tejkowski completes

the women's -- Gladys Tejeda couldn't afford running shoes, but

she'll be competing in the marathon. Flag bearer of the Philippines is a

weightlifter, just 17 when she made her Olympic debut in Beijing.

medals for the fill beans, still to strike the big G though --

Philippines, still to strike the big G though.

Danny Boyle talking about the digital age and trying to show us

exactly what that means. Look at this, incredible. Fresh from their

skphroilts hosting the European football championships alongside

Ukraine that's Agnieszka Radwanska, very high profile personality after

reaching the Wimbledon final. She'd love to turn the tables at SW19 in

a few days' time. Took a set off Miss Williams though. She's back to

Flag bearer for the Portuguese is Telma Monteiro current European

judo champion, three times world Silver Medalist. In the absence of

Nelson Agora in the triple jump it's Nonteiro shows the best chance.

She's ranked number two in the judo competition.

That is Javier Culson, real danger man. He's beaten Great Britain's

Dai Greene in the last two diamond league meetings over the 400 m

hurdles. He's still the favourite for that event. A nation of 3.9

million would love him to become their first ever Gold Medallist.

No-one's beating Dai Greene in these Games - it's official!

sure he appreciates that. This is a significant moment for

Qatar. Shooter Bahya AlHamad Tennis player Horia Tecau is the

flag bearer. Double specialist, beaten in this year's Wimbledon

final. They are boosted by the return of triple Gold Medallist

gymnast. Bumper presence from Russia, 436 competitors. Of course,

they are looking ahead to the 2014 Winter Olympics as well. They are.

At the front Maria Sharapova. She Qataris have joined us as well in

Adrien Niyonshuti says his aim is to put Rwanda on the map as a

country of skilled cyclists, and not just as a country of genocide.

It is remarkable, when you realise he lost six brothers in the

genocide in 1994, when just nine years old.

HUW EDWARDS: The Great British team, preparing to coming, and I think we

are about three-quarters of the way through the parade, so not that

long to wait. When Team GB comes in, we will then be moving towards the

lighting of the cauldron. Welcome to Levern Spencer. There's my

sister at the very back. And my other sister told me to say, make

sure you tell them that we're hosting the Commonwealth youth

Games in a few years' time. Back for another Games in weightlifting,

Ele Opeloge, one of five siblings to have competed internationally.

San Marino, one of the world's smallest countries. The oldest

surviving Republic, they say. The first Olympics for them, 1960. Just

four in their squad. One of Africa's smallest countries, just a

couple of violence, of volcanic origin. And just a couple of team

members as well. Just north of the equator. It is like a lesson being

here, it really is, so many countries you have never heard of.

HAZEL IRVINE: That's the beauty of the tournament.

HUW EDWARDS: 19 members of the Saudi Arabia team. Experts say it

is in fact a bit of an enigma, the world's biggest oil producer and

exporter, and so far resisting the winds of change of the Arab Spring.

And this young lady will become the first female to compete in the

Olympic Games for her country. Saudi Arabia have selected women

for the first time, an historic moment. Senegal's footballers drew

with Great Britain last night of course at Old Trafford. Notably,

they are all over 6mm tall. -- 6ft tall. It is so colourful out there

now. It really is. And Novak Djokovic, last year's Wimbledon

champion, of course. He won three out of four Grand Slam titles last

year, beaten by Roger Federer in the semi-final at Wimbledon, now

seeded number two in the Singles event for the Olympics. Serbia yet

to win a medal - could he be the man?

TREVOR NELSON: He looks like he's having a lot of fun. He is a

charming man. He must be a lot of fun to have around the team, for

sure. The Seychelles, a group of 86 islands in the Indian Ocean, 1,500

kilometres east of can you. -- east of Kenya. Interesting just to note

It has been a remarkable feat to bring all of these themes together

by Danny Boyle and his team. There we can see, a representation of

what we are talking about, proof of what Danny Boyle was wanting to

underline, the spirit of the volunteers, whose faces we see

there, thousands of them, who have helped to put this together. For

him, it epitomises the spirit of the Olympic Games. Slovakia, all

seven of their Olympic medals have come in the canoe slalom, they are

crazy about the sport. Watch out for the boys from Bratislava, the

twins, once again, they are favourites in the whitewater event.

The flagbearer for Slovenia is the world champion slalom canoeist

Peter Kauzer, one of 65 members of The Solomon Islands, got their name

when a Spanish explorer discovered gold in the 1,500s, and thought he

had found the source of King Solomon's great wealth. The experts

say Somalia is finally on the road to recovery, after renewed

international efforts to restore peace and to defeat the piracy

problems there. A very small team, just two competitors, from Somalia.

Both of them are athletes. Already a superb summer of sport for South

Africa, with Ernie Els winning the Open last weekend, and a

significant statement made, with the flag being carried by Caster

Semenya she was at the centre of a pretty disgraceful investigation

into her gender, carried out in public. And of course, Oscar

Pistorius, the first double amputee to take part in the Olympic Games.

290 members of the Spanish Olympic team. Rafa Nadal was originally

chosen to be the flagbearer, but he has a knee injury. Yes, so,

everybody hoping that the Men's football team can go on to win. But

surprisingly, they lost to Japan at Hampden Park last night, Spain

having a man sent off. Perhaps their luck will change once the

Olympic flame is lit. Either way, the Olympic motto, faster, Higher,

stronger, it sounds great in Spanish.

TREVOR NELSON: It is nice to see people from these countries that

HAZEL IRVINE: I am loving the hair. That's what it is all about! The

That's what it is all about! The rain has stayed away. Sri Lanka,

meaning resplendent islands. Marco Polo said it was the most beautiful

place he had ever seen. The Sri Lankans fielding a team of seven.

Sudan, a team of six, and once again, very smartly turned-out.

2008, they had a breakthrough, their first ever medal, a silver in

the 800m. And now, they have got a real chance of gold, although he

will have his work cut out to beat the athlete from Kenya. Sudan split

into two countries, which is why we had the other athlete earlier,

representing South Sudan. Surinam, a country of 500,000-odd people.

They have won two medals, from 1988 and 1992. And I think they are

still using the stamps and coins minted in honour of those

achievements. Swaziland, a team of three, including a swimmer and two

track athletes. 140 members of the Swedish team. Their most successful

Games came a century ago, when they hosted the Games in Stockholm.

flagbearer, a showjumper, Folf- Goran Bengtsson. But it will be in

the pool that they will look for real success. The next flagbearer,

tennis player Stanislas Wawrinka. Roger Federer is in the team. Let's

see if we can spot him... Roger Federer said that taking part at

Wimbledon for a gold medal would be one of the most special occasions

in Olympic history. He is actually playing tomorrow, so he may not be

down there. He is the third match on Centre court, we have been told.

Good knowledge, Trevor! The Syrian team of 10 has prepared for these

Olympic Games against a backdrop of increasingly violent times in their

country. 44 athletes from Chinese Taipei. First entered the Olympic

Games in 1956. They have won two gold medals since that time, in

A country of 23 million people. Next, the former Soviet republic,

the poorest nation, economically, in Central Asia. 16 team members.

Sadly, civil unrest at the moment in the mountains in their country,

we can only hope that the Olympic truce may bring some respite.

HUW EDWARDS: A real sense now of the Tor being packed with these

flags. All 224 will be on the Tor after Team GB have come in.

Everyone was gearing themselves up in the Thai squad for the

reappearance of their of gold-medal winning weightlifter, but she was

recently axed from the squad because of poor form in the build-

up. Every commentator breathed a sigh of relief. Can you say that

again?! I don't think I can do that! This country, some 400 miles

north-west of Australia. This is a remarkable story, the flagbearer,

Augusto Soares. He said, if it is cold in London, do not worry, I

will bring a jumper. Togo won their first medal last turn around in

Beijing, in the canoe slalom. He snapped his paddle in celebration,

I remember. The Tongan flagbearer, is further from that country, his

mother English, and he grew up in New Zealand! This flagbearer, from

Trinidad and Tobago, a 200m sprinter. Many stars in sprinting

from Trinidad and Tobago. Some rivals for Dai Greene in amongst

that team. We have just 15 minutes to go until Team GB come into the

stadium. It is building up nicely, as we welcome the Tunisian team.

You will notice around the stadium, what we were talking about earlier,

everybody using these pixels to great effect, and they will be

creating even more magic with it as Another landmark moment, this time

for Turkey, this is Neslihan Darnel carrying the flag. She's the face

of volleyball, 28-year-old mum, known as the Iron Lady. We know how

formidable they can be. First match for her and her team is tomorrow

night actually against the defending champions Brazil.

Ten athletes in five sports for Turkmenistan, 80% of the country

made up by the great Garaboun Nine tiny islands in the South

Pacific, which gained independence from the UK in 1978. We've had a

tweet from Zoe Smith and the British team who stuck out saying,

"Getting impatient, let us in. I'm so excited." Don't worry, not long

The 16 members of the Ugandan team representing 33 million people of

Uganda. Ganzi Mugula is the swimmer and the flag bearer. Uganda's only

Olympic champion won gold in the 400 metres hurdles trained by

Englishman Malcom Arnold. He now trains Dai Greene.

Ukrainians, as we mention, recently co-hosted Euro 2012 with Poland.

Roman Gontiuk is the two time judo medallist and the flag bearer.

There's Sergei Bubka, legendary pole vaulter.

Of course, Ukrainians against England at the European football

champions, they think it was over the line.

Perhaps they'll maybe get their own back here with the Dobrynska

against Jessica Ennis in the heptathlon. United Arab Emirates.

Saeed Almaktoum the flag bearer. is a trap shooter and a member of

the Royal Family. We welcome the United States of America, the most

successful nation ever in swimming, athletics, basketball, tennis,

boxing and diving. 530 of them in London. The First Lady Michelle

Obama welcoming them. She'd been leading the delegation here.

Speaking yesterday about how humble she felt and reminiscing about the

way she'd been inspired by the Olympics in the 1970s when she was

growing up. Raffle Lauren uniforms they --

Ralph Lauren uniforms they wear tonight. Michael Phelps is

returning to the Games with his 14 gold medals already. He's trying

for just seven this time. Ryan Lochte his team-mate has a

possibility of winning six this time. Look out for missy the

missile Franklin. She's just 17. She has qualified for seven events

as well. She could be the new star of this US swim team, indeed the US

team generally. In athletics Justin gat Lynn and Tyson Gay will try to

stop Bolt and Blake in the 100m. There is Tyson Gay. Usain Bolt, I

don't think he's going to get round of track. It's the slowest he's

negotiated the 200 m. The exuberant entry of the

Americans, more than 500 of them tells us that we really are in the

final stages of the athletes' parade. Not too long to wait. Just

going to guess around ten minutes, maybe a little less.

David Cameron and Lord Coe, who's Master Minded these Games really,

sitting next to Prince Charles. Prince Harry, William and Katherine,

all waiting, knowing within ten minutes or so Team GB will be here.

Just spotted KobiBryant, LA Lakers basketball player. The USA are

favourites for the Gold Medal once again. It will be a shock if they

win. That It always is. Rod offalo Colley -- Rodolfo Collazo is the

A good shot of the drummers there. They're not actually banging real

drums. They're plastic buckets. Let's hear it for the drummers,

because they've been at it now for hours. Really, they deserve a round

of applause too. That is a real star, if you're a

fan you'll know why. He's looking for his fourth consecutive Gold

Medal. Incredible talent. Lulu is carrying their flag, not our one,

but their one, Anolyn Lulu, 33- Fabiola Ramos table tennis player

in her fifth Games. She's flag Five countries to go! Then the home

team makes its entrance. 18 members of the Vietnamese team.

22-year-old fencer Tien Nhat Nguyen The United States bought of Virgin

Islands for $25 million. That's tab This marks the 20th year of Yemen's

Welcome Prince Mumba with their flag. He's not, by the way. He'll

run in the men's 800 metres at years after last appearing in that

events in Athens. Seven in their team. Wild celebrations and all

around when Zambia won the Africa Cup of Nations. But their team

didn't qualify for the Olympics. There's Kirsty Coventry an Olympic

legend, seven-strong team. She's won seven of Zimbabwe's eight

medals in their history, two of them gold. She's a swimmer. She

recently dislocated her knee. This is a real achievement for her. The

noise builds. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Chris Hoy,

he's waited patiently. That's the reward, thunderous applause.

How appropriate, David Bowie's Heros blasts out around the Olympic

It's a 541-strong team. Only about half of them marching tonight. The

others saving their energy for events early in the Games. There's

Tim Brabbants back to defend his title.

What a moment for David and Carol Hoy! Chris, Britain's most

successful cycling athlete in history. The flying Scotsman. The

first ever cyclist to carry the flag at the Opening Ceremony and

who can forget his triple gold from Beijing.

The Queen looks on proudly, I'm sure. Seven billion little bits of

paper, biodegradable paper to represent every single human being

on the planet. I'm up with the crowd taking a

picture. I'm filming this. It's so historic, the moment we've been

waiting for for seven years. Daley, here at the age of 18, for

his second Olympic Games. He was just 14 when he made the final in

the 10m platform in Beijing. What a picture, what a scene and what a

moment for these athletes. For all of team members, 540 of

them, Tom Daley looks ecstatic, I can't quite believe the moment's

arrived. Tom Daley there, Pete has a Silver Medal from the sink row

diving in Athens. The sense of joy and celebration! Prime Minister

applauding enthusiastically, members of the Royal Family,

Archbishop of Canterbury too enjoying. The Duke of Edinburgh and

the Queen, surveying the scene and taking it all in.

We see Alison Williams, six times Olympian. Yeah! I couldn't agree

more. This team trying to surpass the 19 gold medals and seven silver

they brought back from the last Games. The enthusiasm, the welcome,

it's as warm and lively as you can imagine. This is the first time

that Great Britain has entertained all 26 summer Olympic sports, from