Watch London Olympics 2012 Opening Ceremony live stream online

Watch London Olympics 2012 Opening Ceremony live stream online HD video.

Watch London Olympics 2012 Opening Ceremony live on PC, iPad, iPhone, Android.

The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad, and also known as London 2012 as per the official logo, are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012.

Watch London Olympics Opening Ceremony online.

Watch Olympics Opening Ceremony online. Following a bid headed by former Olympic champion Sebastian Coe and the then Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, London was selected as the host city on 6 July 2005 during the 117th IOC Session in Singapore, defeating Moscow, New York City, Madrid and Paris. London will become the first city to officially host the modern Olympic Games three times, having previously done so in 1908 and in 1948.

Watch 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony online. While budgetary considerations for the games have generated some criticism, they have also been welcomed by others as having prompted a redevelopment of many of the areas of London in which events are to be held – particularly themed towards sustainability.

An arts worker at London's Olympic Park says at least 2,000 performers are expected Saturday night for a secret rehearsal of the July 27 opening ceremony.

She told The Associated Press that the opening ceremony, which is being directed by Danny Boyle, will involve 10,000 performers in all.

She spoke to the AP as she escorted a lost reporter away from Olympic Stadium on Saturday afternoon and toward the Olympic Park's main press center. She spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not allowed to speak to the press.

En route, she also sharply criticized two Olympic security guards who let the reporter into the rehearsal section with no obvious credentials showing. The reporter was going in to get her media credentials validated.

The main focus of the games will be a new 200 hectare Olympic Park, constructed on a former industrial site at Stratford in the east of London. The Games also make use of many venues which were already in place before the bid.

London 2012: Olympics opening ceremony details revealed

The Olympic Stadium will be transformed into the "British countryside" for the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Games on 27 July.

A cast of 10,000 volunteers will help recreate country scenes, against a backdrop featuring farmyard animals and landmarks like Glastonbury Tor.

After revealing this month that 12 horses, three cows, two goats, 10 chickens, 10 ducks, nine geese, 70 sheep and three sheepdogs would be part of the opening scene, animal rights campaigners claimed it could breach the Animal Welfare Act by subjecting them to undue distress.

Boyle said that "genuine care will be taken of the animals" who "will feature only in the very beginning of the show during daylight hours and will leave the stadium shortly after the 9pm start and before any large effects or noisy sequences take place".

The opening "green and pleasant" tableau is expected to give way to a more urban environment of dark satanic mills and protests.

The Slumdog Millionaire director also promised that he would "follow up vigorously" concerns about the fate of the animals after the show, to ensure they were safely retired to animal sanctuaries.

Peta said it would offer its assistance and suggested Boyle team up with fellow film director Chris Noonan, who made sure that all 48 piglets used in the making of the film Babe were spared the abattoir.

Despite 6.5 billion pounds ($10 billion) of improvements, serious concerns remain over whether the Underground system can cope with the millions of extra passenger journeys. Officials have warned of expected overcrowding and long delays at some key stations and urged Londoners to work from home or change their travel habits.

As for driving, the message has been: Don't even think about it. Many locals have complained that they are being inconvenienced while miles of dedicated Olympic roads and lanes are reserved for Olympic officials, athletes, media and VIPs.

The games will be protected by 12,000 police officers during peak times and 23,700 security staffers a number that includes 7,500 troops. A no-fly zone will be established over Olympic venues.

London knows the threats all too well. Homegrown suicide bombers attacked the city's public transport system, killing 56 people, on July 7, 2005, the day after London was awarded the games.

It’s going to be a busy summer of sporting music placement, with the Olympics soon to provide the next drama in need of a soundtrack. First Steps, the Official BBC Olympics song, has been specially composed by Elbow (last time I looked they were from Bury, not London) and is already picking up a lot of attention, judging by the reaction to short snippets released.