London Kicks Off 2012 Olympic Games With Spectacular Gala

 Britain opened the 2012 Olympic Games Friday with fighter jet flyovers¹, fireworks, and pageantry highlighting its history from 1896 – the start of the modern Games – until now.

Some 60,000 spectators saw a stand-in for 86-year-old Queen Elizabeth parachute into Olympic Stadium with the film actor Daniel Crag, who portrays² Britain’s iconic fictional³ spy James Bond. Moments later, the queen herself stood silently while a children’s choir⁴ serenaded her with “God Save the Queen.”

The traditional parade of nations saw most of the 10,000-plus athletes marching behind the flags of the 204 participating nations.

The 17-day competition in 26 sports opens Saturday and runs through August 17.

Millions of Britons and visitors packed pubs and gathered with friends and relatives for the opening of the greatest sporting exhibition of modern times.

The $40 million extravaganza was expected to take in a global audience of one billion viewers.

1 flyovers   

n.立交桥，高架公路( flyover的名词复数 )；（单机或编队）低空飞行

参考例句：

• Flyovers have changed the face of the city. 立交桥改变了城市的面貌。 来自辞典例句
• To a limited extent one can compare Beijing to Delhi. Wide roads, flyovers andand formal atmosphere. 在某种程度上，可以把北京与德里做个比较：宽阔的马路、立交桥、城市氛围等。 来自互联网

2 portrays   

v.画像( portray的第三人称单数 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• The museum collection vividly portrays the heritage of 200 years of canals. 博物馆的藏品让运河200 年的历史再现眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The film portrays Gandhi as a kind of superman. 这部电影把甘地描绘成一个超人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 fictional   

adj.小说的，虚构的

参考例句：

• The names of the shops are entirely fictional.那些商店的名字完全是虚构的。
• The two authors represent the opposite poles of fictional genius.这两位作者代表了天才小说家两个极端。

4 choir   

n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱

参考例句：

• The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
• The church choir is singing tonight.今晚教堂歌唱队要唱诗。