The Olympic Games 2012 is gearing up to commence Friday evening, and one of the most eagerly awaited opening ceremonies in Olympic history is set to take place. Oscar-winning British director Danny Boyle has been planning the ceremony for months, and it promises to be unique and memorable.

Over one billion people are expected to watch the Olympics opening ceremony on television across the globe, and in the United States the event will be broadcast on TV (details below).

The world's top sports stars will take part in the ceremony on Friday, which will be watched by celebrities, fans, as well as members of the British Royal Family.

Danny Boyle, director of "Slumdog Millionaire," "127 Hours," "28 Days Later," and "Trainspotting," has promised an eventful ceremony show, entitled "Isles of Wonder." The show is set to feature a cast of several thousand performers, though most of the specific details have been kept a heavily guarded secret. The ceremony is however set to celebrate the Olympics, and Boyle has described it simply saying, "'Isles of Wonder' salutes and celebrates the exuberant creativity of the British genius in an Opening Ceremony that we hope will be as unpredictable and inventive as the British people."

The London Olympics Opening Ceremony kicks off at 9 p.m. London time (4 p.m ET) on Friday, July 27 and will be broadcast on NBC at 7:30 p.m. ET.

It will run no more than three hours according to IOC executive director Gilbert Felli, ensured mysteriously by "some device to try to accelerate the march."

The Opening Ceremony can also be watched online through a live stream by clicking HERE.

Tags
Olympics 2012, London olympics