London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony: Pandemonium - the rings are formed!

[@kwesiidun8512]

I remember watching this live on TV in a pub in Cardiff (The St George's in Cathays). The entire place clapped when the Olympic rings sparked. Even the barman who was serving someone at the time put the glass he was filling down to applaud. It was an incredible moment that makes me proud to be British! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇬🇧

[@litiaulamila2762]

All the devil worshiper clap

[@BP-kx2ig]

The best opening ceremony ever.

[@lupo0144]

In my 42 years I've never experienced any thing as powerful as this.....Its the greatest show I'll ever see in my life! I dont even like sport.....but I've watched as much as I can!

[@The8thDOCTOR]

Was anyone else overwhelmed with emotion and pride at that point? tbh, I had a lump in my throat and my eyes were streaming

[@JamesUK1976]

I think this is up there, for me, as one of the most beautiful and wonderful things to watch, to experience. I feel very lucky that we live in a time where we can do a search on the internet, and re-live wonderful moments and memories.

[@coppertopolo]

Definitely one of the most impressive Opening Ceremonies in the history of the Olympics. Well done London - I continue to watch this years later because of how amazing the entire production was.

[@DeadmanInc336]

An example of the magic and wonders that humanity can create when it comes together and unites.

[@davyjones800]

The music is incredible, really finished off an outstanding scene

[@mjb22]

Yes, the soundtrack absolutely boomed out during the performance! It was amazing to listen to!

[@trickettkurtis2]

this beats all the openings i remember watching it on the tv a i yelled out HOLY SHIT THIS IS BRILLIANT!!!!

[@kwesiidun8512]

kurtis trickett - I was watching on the television in a pub in Cardiff and when the Olympic rings sparked, everyone in the pub clapped. Even the barman who was serving someone put down the glass he was filling to clap. It was amazing!

[@tiogol-fd7nl]

Sinceramente fue algo que nunca olvidaré

[@aftereffects]

I was there in person during this. I can't even begin to explain the energy and magic that was around me. It was simply out of this world, so hypnotically pure that I could say it was a divine moment in my life. LONDON 2012 YOU CHANGED THE ME, EVERYONE IN THE UK AND THE WORLD. Because of this single event has caused a chain reaction in me and many others to go pursue our dreams. Be all you can be!

[@TaxingIsThieving]

What did you do?

[@forensicdar]

Sounds like you were part of the ceremony.

[@shortyktfc]

Superb. The rings fusing together is probably my favourite part of the show. There's two lump in throat moments when the camera cuts to Kenneth Branagh and he (as Brunnel) just looked delighted with the way the rings have come together and then shortly the camera cuts to a volenteer who is clearly caught up in the emotion of the occassion and I swear sheds a tear as he looks skywards.

[@laurad119]

After watching the Paris 2024 closing ceremony I had to come here to be reminded how the rings should look.

[@eamonnca1]

I love going back to watch this, still makes my hair stand on end no matter how many times I watch it. A superb piece of art.

[@bulldoglemsford]

And I Will Kiss- Underwold, brilliant soundtrack that really fit the scene well.

[@TDSM8]

This moment was just so good. Watching it makes me swell with pride.

[@danielannett1019]

I remember watching this live on t.v thinking what are they making then I saw the ring raise into the air with the other rings and figured out what they were doing and when they joined I started to cry a little bit cause it made me proud to be British

[@adamfull3181]

Most amazing thing I’ve ever seen on tv that night whole country the world was watching as well so nostalgic so emotional with pride 🇬🇧

[@xeno_5887]

I am a parisian and i don't think so we will do better than London. This ceremonie was memorable and epic, incredible, thanks you London !

[@vitorpereira9515]

How France fell since the age of Pierre de Coubertin. I expected more from the children of Charlemagne.

[@mat5379]

How did that work out? The Paris opening ceremony is globally seen as the worst in history - it was terrible, dull and boring. It's even managed to insult christians throughout the world. The organisers of the Paris ceremony have "apologised" for any offence caused but it wasn't an apology at all and they have just made people even more annoyed. Paris have even had sponsors pull out because of the ceremony.

[@antg6627]

Paris opening ceremony terrible compared to this!

[@ncreswell]

I had the good fortune to be in the cast - at this point was up on the stage by the Tor. The music positively surged through you, along with all the energy emanating from the action and the crowd. On top of that, the smell of cordite was all around the stadium - adding to the sense of industry. The moment the crowd roared as the rings sparked off, our producer said over our in-ear monitors: "Feel the love on your backs!". An unforgettable, magical moment.

[@NicknooVision]

"Pandemonium" artistic number was very EPIC!!! I watch that moment over and over, the WONDERFUL music, along to all the London history in one night, a very special tribute to the INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION and the OLYMPIC RINGS 😄😄👏👏👏 Gosh, i saw fire Greek rings, shining sticker Chinese rings, Australian dance or artistic performance rings, and flying winter snowflake Russian rings (but one of the five rings didn't open), BUT THESE SPARKING STEEL BRITISH RINGS ARE BETTER THAN THE OTHERS!! 😁😁 Congratulations to London...😁😁😁😊😊😀☺👍👍👏👏👏👏

[@mattmorelli]

I will never, ever tire of watching this.

[@gustavomartinez1228]

Just 10 years today!

[@Emperix]

Of all the crowd videos I've seen, this is by far the best one. Thanks for uploading this; it actually motivated me this morning :)

[@bm5956]

too me the best ever opening of the Olympics ever, fantastic, it shows what UK gave the world, my god were they powerful, especially in victorian times, their history is fantastic, especially in discovery, invention etc and are still the best country for music

[@takeshiC1]

That first 25 mins was the most spectacular live performance ever. I thought the UK would mess this up, boy was I wrong

[@AlexG-xq7xj]

I always wondered what this looked like from inside the stadium. I think TV viewers actually got the better view of this entire sequence overall. This and the cauldron lighting were the only real awe inspiring moments of London 2012's opening ceremony. Beijing 2008 is still the gold standard, but that's just my opinion as a non-Brit and non-Chinese.

[@76juno]

You could watch the London Olympics opening ceremony 100 times and still not see everything that was happening. It sure as hell beats watching row upon row of genetically identical Chinese blokes doing synchronised drumming that had no story to it and merely proved that the Chinese are good at banging drums in unison.

[@BP-kx2ig]

I have watched this many times and do not tire of it. Fantastic.

[@ekbalco]

Superb video,you caught the crack and the hiss that was not evident on television.

[@doublebone7]

Thanks for posting this. I was one of those Industrial Revolution workers and your video really captures what it was like to be there

[@LoraESC]

Always get a lump in my throat when I watch this bit!

[@Dholoko]

Hey guy,congratulations for you,and the rest of workers,and drummers and all the rest of the people who made part of this spetacular presentation!we will never forgive your performance,thank you!!was wonderfull!greetings from brazil!!

[@kristianowst6852]

London 2012 opening ceremony is far better than Paris 2024 opening ceremony. More British and more entertaining.

[@kayja42]

Thank you for uploading. I was one of the drummers and it's taken me this long to start watching the various footage....too emotional. Many thanks. Pandemonium Drummer 630

[@Eructation1]

Wonderful just absolutely wonderful. Well done UK, you really are a world class act when at your best.

[@patricianoble2917]

The drummers were amazing.....

[@mjb22]

It's part of an especially composed piece called 'And I Will Kiss' by Underworld.

[@eamonnca1]

I get goosebumps every time I look at this ceremony no matter what angle I see it from. Thank you for uploading, I'm jealous that you had such a great view of it. The drumming must have been hair-raising.

[@pcaminador1]

well done you for getting to the stadium! It was all a bit of rush at the time, but now the dust has settled I see that this was a particularly powerful moment, a fitting homage to Britain's industrial past and cleverly working in the Olympic theme.

[@strike1977]

This is the Best Part of the Whole Opening Ceremony!!! I reckon that this is way better than 2008!

[@liquidjp]

Best. Opening. Ever.

[@PMMac-l2n]

The best ever!

[@Galaczee]

Oh there’s 5 rings? After Sochi I thought there were 4!

[@arassi2710]

I miss that time

[@davedrumsuk]

I'm one of the drummers in this, thanks for uploading as there aren't many videos that show us!

[@AdvaitThakur]

Awesome !!! Thanks for this video.

[@mjb22]

My pleasure!

[@EnglishKev]

Genuinely stunning. At the end the rings appear to have arrived from another world.

[@SarotKongthong]

Every one in 2024?

[@fabianohza7749]

Eu (me) 🙋‍♂️

[@PipoGirlTv]

I am here due to the Paris 2024 fiasco

[@mjb22]

Loved the drummers! You did a superb job!

[@bluedragon9925]

Those are some damn good seats you got! :O

[@Jbob20789]

Thanks for uploading I was a drummer

[@donotserorator]

You are a STAR thank you!1 Chris East Sussex England UK

[@petiu2005]

Great video :) Thank You :) I was one of the 1000 pandemonium drummers :) You can see me at 0:56 on left - the guy with white sleeves :) the sound system of the stadium was 1 000 000 Watt !!!

[@wmramsey26]

That was awesome!

[@SAVOYCHAPPELL]

Just Brilliant!!!

[@petemk73]

'And I will Kiss' By Underworld. It's 17 minutes long. Underworld also composed 'Caliban's Dream', which was performed by Dame Evelyn Glennie and Alec Trimble before the lighting of the cauldron

[@musi89noel]

exceptional...

[@DavBlc7]

Sadly both Olympic and Paralympics now finished for London 2012 but well done to these athletics taking part even if they don't win any medals. Roll on Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016!

[@99wurzel1]

stunning beautiful moment,thank you for this.

[@martinjkrumm8764]

A little tip for future Olympic hosts. The rings should already be rings, and the rest is history.

[@petemk73]

Words alone cannot possibly convey how jealous I am right now. We went to the park in the second weekend, but never got into the stadium. Honestly, how much did you actually see from your viewpoint? Awesome position to get the flaming rings like that

[@vicheni2]

Absolutely awesome..

[@ecbelect]

Spine tingling brilliance

[@mjb22]

Do you mean on this ticket or altogether? This ticket was £1600.

[@MrEurocat]

The IOC were in charge of the camera work, which was unfortunate as the BBC have far higher standards. The camera work could have been so much better

[@peanuts2105]

Good camera work. What camera did you use? I like the crafty image stabilisation

[@EARTHEGODS]

is amazing... tanks

[@MacMorrison]

oh any more - you're just behind dump 6 and dump 5 to the right where i was taking turf. I was back at the tor when by this bit.

[@Star5dg]

Amazing

[@TEAK36]

It's called And I will Kiss by underworld.

[@bencrick8675]

I think it's an understatement to say I'm jealous of you.

[@Freshboot]

If you don't mind me asking, around how much did you spend?

[@paulhunter123]

how were the rings controlled?

[@mjb22]

The tractor was just being used to transport scenery and wasn't broadcast as part of the show!

[@PsychoCarlo]

What's the song name after the rings were formed?

[@Jadentheman]

I was just referring to the fact that the tractor is shown on TV. Usually they don't let goofs such as that slip up. Others I seen included are the cameramen and stadium staff. lol

[@redneckbob109]

what the hell. your basically on the field. lucky!

[@LastMinuteAdventures]

i would love this song for my collection, anyone know the name?

[@JMPICTUREPRODUCTIONS]

anyone know the song?

[@mjb22]

Just lucky in the LOCOG ballot. Saved up and bid high! LOL

[@MrEurocat]

Not the BBC'sfault - the IOC controlled the TV production

[@davedrumsuk]

It's a shame that the BBC didn't capture the sound we produced in there.

[@mjb22]

I totally disagree. In fact, I think it adds to the eiffect.

[@SeriouslyNotNormal]

mjb22 me too. Its like how it looks out of the furnace

[@fostergumble7593]

se estan yendo solos

[@RodmasterStudios]

Funnily enough, the first tractors were in the 1850s.

[@buddylove88]

People try and ruin this great nation. It will never happen!

[@TheTopKek]

Rio 2016 opening ceremony wont be as good as this. :D

[@Clancedrums]

well, they thought about it... hahaha!

[@darkxaur]

Anyone else think of collecting 50 rings at this point?

[@yoman45135]

I was about to complain why they didnt show something about the British Empire but then again a play about white people enslaving black people is not the best theme for the olympics...

[@Jadentheman]

I don't think a tractor existed back in the 1800s. Way to break the illusion!

[@kwesiidun8512]

Jadentheman - We've had tractors in Britain since the mid-19th century, so it's actually correct!

[@QuartetmanIA]

The whole effect of the rings was ruined because one of them started sparking long before the rest of them.

[@mjb22]

It's part of an especially composed piece called 'And I Will Kiss' by Underworld.