The Greatest Event on Earth

It is probably fair to state that Olympics opening ceremonies have come to represent the pinnacle of event management. Where else on earth do you have so much time, effort and money spent on an event that will be viewed by over a billion people? The Beijing Olympics back in 2008 really set a new benchmark for just how dazzling and epic an opening ceremony could be, in no short part to the inspired choice of Zhang Yimou as the head honcho of that spectacle.

One would be forgiven for being unsure how London's ceremony would compare given had it not been for the equally inspired decision to put Danny Boyle in charge of the whole shebang. He, like Zhang, is a man with impeccable artistic vision and design sense and, equally importantly, knows how to tell a story.

Here's the Pure team's highlights from that mind-blowing show.

The opening video shot in Boyle's signature frenetic style.

Grand and bombastic, the industrial revolution tears through and spills out of the stage.

The real James Bond, the real Queen... Someone dared to suggest it, and it paid off. Goes to show anything is possible!

Nothing screams epic better than giant fairytale puppets.

The universal language of comedy.

Each member of the audience was given an LED cell to hold - great device for boosting audience interaction and creating a huge visual spectacle.

The most creative and beautiful cauldron ever, from Thomas Heatherwick, also creator of the UK's amazing Shanghai Expo Pavilion.

Can't go wrong with Paul McCartney at the end singing Hey Jude...

*Photo screen caps from BBC live footage.