Olympics Opening Ceremony London 2012 (PHOTOS)

The opening ceremony for the 2012 Olympics has begun in London, with iconic images of Britain's history.

Directed by Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle, the three-hour spectacle is expected to be viewed by one billion people, the BBC reported.

Through a combination of video and live action, the ceremony orchestrated the Queen appearing with Daniel Craig's James Bond as if she had parachuted from a helicopter.

Less than .05% of listeners will donate. Can we count on you?

Our coverage reaches millions each week, but only a small fraction of listeners contribute to sustain our program. We still need 224 more people to donate $100 or $10/monthly to unlock our $67,000 match. Will you help us get there today?