LONDON (Reuters) – The stars of the London Olympic opening were paid just a pound each, but their songs have leapt up the charts having featured in the world’s most-watched concert this year.

“Big name” entertainers such as ex-Beatle Paul McCartney, London rapper Dizzee Rascal and “Mr. Bean” comedian Rowan Atkinson all signed a token one pound ($1.60) contract in order to meet the requirements of the Olympic organizing committee.

LONDON, July 30 (Reuters) – The stars of the London Olympic
opening were paid just a pound each, but their songs have leapt
up the charts having featured in the world’s most-watched
concert this year.

“Big name” entertainers such as ex-Beatle Paul McCartney,
London rapper Dizzee Rascal and “Mr. Bean” comedian Rowan
Atkinson all signed a token one pound ($1.60) contract in order
to meet the requirements of the Olympic organising committee.

LONDON (Reuters) – Organizers fought to quell growing public outrage on Sunday over empty seats across venues at the London Olympics, where China has laid down an early marker with a world record win in the pool and a commanding early lead in the medals table.

Dispiriting images of rows of vacant rows at football stadiums, Wimbledon, the aquatic center and beyond has angered Britons who tried and failed to buy tickets in the buildup to the Games having been told they had sold out.

LONDON, July 29 (Reuters) – Organisers fought to quell
growing public outrage on Sunday over empty seats across venues
at the London Olympics, where China has laid down an early
marker with a world record win in the pool and a commanding
early lead in the medals table.

Dispiriting images of rows of vacant rows at football
stadiums, Wimbledon, the aquatic centre and beyond has angered
Britons who tried and failed to buy tickets in the buildup to
the Games having been told they had sold out.

LONDON (Reuters) – “Strange”, “baffling” and “surreal” was how director Danny Boyle described his Olympic opening ceremony. The rest of the world largely agreed.

In the press stands of the arena where the ceremony took place on Friday night, Chinese journalists looked puzzled and asked their English peers for guidance as they struggled to make sense of the artistic whirlwind for their readers back home.

LONDON, July 28 (Reuters) – “Strange”, “baffling” and
“surreal” was how director Danny Boyle described his Olympic
opening ceremony. The rest of the world largely agreed.

In the press stands of the arena where the ceremony took
place on Friday night, Chinese journalists looked puzzled and
asked their English peers for guidance as they struggled to make
sense of the artistic whirlwind for their readers back home.

LONDON (Reuters) – Seven teenagers lit the Olympic cauldron on Friday, at an opening ceremony starring the queen and seen by millions around the world, in a touching finale to a high-octane, musical celebration of British history and culture.

True to the London Games’ motto of ‘Inspire a Generation’, organizers put unknown youngsters in the global limelight rather than established sporting greats in the closing act of a madcap four hours of comedy, spectacle, noise and emotion.

LONDON, July 27 (Reuters) – Seven teenagers lit the Olympic
cauldron on Friday, at an opening ceremony starring the queen
and seen by millions around the world, in a touching finale to a
high-octane, musical celebration of British history and culture.

True to the London Games’ motto of ‘Inspire a Generation’,
organisers put unknown youngsters in the global limelight rather
than established sporting greats in the closing act of a madcap
four hours of comedy, spectacle, noise and emotion.

LONDON (Reuters) – James Bond actor Daniel Craig and Britain’s Queen Elizabeth stole the show at a spectacular 2012 Olympic opening on Friday, appearing together in a comic film beamed to 60,000 people in the main stadium and a billion viewers around the world.

After a an eccentric and exuberant trip through British history and culture, athletes took centre stage in London as the Greek team kept Olympic tradition and led out thousands of competitors dressed in national costumes.

LONDON (Reuters) – James Bond actor Daniel Craig and Britain’s Queen Elizabeth stole the show at an exuberant 2012 Olympic opening on Friday, appearing together in a short film beamed to 60,000 spectators in the main stadium and a billion viewers around the world.

The comedic, quintessentially British moment complemented a London show that film director Danny Boyle, an Oscar winner for “Slumdog Millionaire”, turned into an unabashed celebration of the host nation’s history, culture and eccentricity.