The 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics cauldron was used for the Olympic flame during the Summer Olympics and Paralympics of London 2012. The cauldron was designed by Thomas Heatherwick and described as "one of the best-kept secrets of the opening ceremony": until it was lit during the Olympics ceremony, neither its design and location, nor who would light it, had been revealed. For the Olympics it consisted of 204 individual 'petals', and for the Paralympics 164, one for each competing nation.
Detail of the Olympic cauldron showing the 'petals'
The Olympic cauldron at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony, opening out prior to being extinguished
The Canadian Olympic team entering the stadium with a girl carrying Canada's petal for the cauldron
Olympic Bell
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The Olympic Bell was commissioned and cast for the 2012 London Olympic Games, and is the largest harmonically tuned bell in the world. Cast in bronze bell metal, it is 2 metres high with a diameter of 3.34 metres, and weighs 22 long tons 18 cwt 3 qr 13 lb. The bell is now displayed in the Olympic Park.
Bradley Wiggins began the 2012 opening ceremony by ringing the Olympic Bell.