Seven young British athletes have lit the Olympic flame rather than one celebrity, much to the surprise of the public.
Sir Steve Redgrave and David Beckham were among the personalities mooted to be honoured with the task of lighting the Olympic cauldron, with the former Manchester United footballer the public's favourite.
However, seven young athletes, all chosen by British Olympic champions, lit the iconic flame.
Each athlete lit a single small flame on the ground, which together went on to ignite 204 petals, one for each competing nation, rising together to form a cauldron.
It was the culmination of a three-hour opening ceremony that encapsulated British history through a variety of sequences filled with vibrant colours and music, masterminded by Trainspotting director Danny Boyle.
Around 80,000 people attended the opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium.
