Let the Games begin!
Soccer hunk David Beckham officially ushered in London’s 2012 Olympic Games Friday evening by driving a speedboat to Olympic Stadium with the all-important flame on board.
Traveling down the River Thames, Beckham, 37, joined by young soccer standout Jade Bailey, said of Friday’s festivities: “Today is going to be an amazing moment.”
“I am going to be just proud just to be there as a fan more than anything,” Victoria Beckham‘s husband continued. “In a part of London where I grew up playing soccer over the fields that have been changed now. As a fan and an Englishman I am going to be very proud.”
Inside the stadium, stars including Princes William and Harry and Kate Middleton looked on as filmmaker Danny Boyle kicked off the festivities with a pre-recorded skit featuring Daniel Craig in character as James Bond. As the movies’ theme song played, a stuntman appearing as Bond parachuted into the arena — followed by a stunt person in Queen Elizabeth garb! (While the actual parachuter was a double, the monarch did appear in the Boyle’s three-minute film.)
Also included in Boyle’s tribute to England ahead of the Games: Mary Poppins, Mr. Bean and Harry Potter’s Lord Voldemort.
Want more Olympics? Meet Team USA’s families, go inside their homes (and gyms!), and more! Check out Us Weekly‘s Olympic collectors edition, “American Heroes,” on newsstands now. Order at bn.com/usolympics.