Olympics opening ceremony kicks off

A group takes a photo of themselves in front of Olympic Rings floating in the River Thames off of Battersea park Tuesday, July 24, 2012, in London. The city will host the 2012 London Olympics with opening ceremonies scheduled for Friday, July 27. AP/Charlie Riedel

LONDON— The opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games has begun.

The show is kicking off with a film about the River Thames, followed by a countdown and the release of four balloons carrying the five Olympic rings to the edge of space.

The ringing of a giant bell made especially for the games ushers in what promises to be a quirky three-hour journey through British culture and history. Thousands of athletes were set to parade before 60,000 spectators, including Queen Elizabeth II and an A-list of global celebrities. Cyclist Bradley Wiggins, the winner of the recent Tour de France, had the honor of ringing the bell.

After Friday’s extravaganza, it’ll be time to officially “Let the games begin.”