In the beginning: Olympic opening ceremonies of the past decade
British director Danny Boyle has some tough acts to follow in Friday's opening Olympic ceremonies
Sydney, 2000: Aboriginal dancers carry flags during the opening ceremony of Sydney's Olympic Games.PETER MUELLER/Reuters
Salt Lake City, 2002: Covered wagons move across the stage at the Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP / Getty Images
Athens, 2004: Performers dressed as ancient Greek athletes pose during the opening ceremonies.AMY SANCETTA/The Associated Press
Turin, 2006: Yuri Chechi, an Olympic gymnast from Italy, starts the ceremony by pounding an anvil.JULIE JACOBSON/The Associated Press
Beijing, 2008: Chinese gymnast Li Ning carries the Olympic torch as he makes his way around the rafters of the National Stadium suspended by cables to light the Olympic flame.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
Vancouver, 2010: A snowboarder flies through the Olympic rings at the Winter Games festivities held at BC Place.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail