London has opened the 2012 Olympic Games with a glittering opening ceremony watched by over one billion people worldwide. Directed by Oscar-winning film-maker Danny Boyle, the fireworks-laden extravaganza featured over 10,000 performers and took place in front of a crowd of 80,000 spectators at the Olympic Stadium. We brought you all the action as it happened (all times AEST): 9:45am: Sir Paul stands up and moves to the front of the stage to involve the audience, before closing his performance by shouting "Welcome to London!" A fitting ending to a truly spectacular opening ceremony. 9:38am: Sir Paul McCartney now appears on stage and the Olympic bell rings out before he begins to perform Hey Jude. 9:36am: The flame is used to light dozens of torches which rise up to form one, the flame of unity, and thus the Olympic cauldron. So it was the six young athletes who lit the cauldron, not a 'name'. An interesting, if not tad underwhelming, decision. That sets off a fireworks display which lights up London as Pink Floyd plays in the background. A montage of great Olympics moments plays on the video screen. 9:30am: Redgrave passes the Olympic torch onto six young athletes who represent the future of Great Britain at the Olympic Games. Each of them was nominated by some of the greatest sports stars to come out of the United Kingdom. 9:28am: After travelling 20,600 kilometres, the Olympic torch is carried into the stadium by Sir Steve Redgrave, who brings it through