Besides Germany’s lack of fashion sense and the fact that Paul McCartney can still hit high notes, one of the most amazing aspects of the London Olympics opening ceremonies was the complete and utter invasion of LED lights into every aspect of the show.From the many theatrical, dance and music performances to the stage production, special effects and audience interaction, LED lights made the event shine. Here are some of my favorite uses:

Winged bicycled riders circled the arena, illuminated thanks to flexible LED lights.

Dancers perform using colorful bars illuminated with strip lighting.

Each seat in the stadium was backed with DMX LED lights, which turned the audience into a customizable, digital canvas that enhanced the show.

Colorful LED wall washers were used throughout the event, which depicted highlights from British history including the pastoral era, the industrial revolution, and groundbreaking cultural icons, such as Mary Poppins and The Beatles.

In one section, nurses put children to bed under blankets illuminated with dimmable LED lights.

The choreography, creativity and coordination that went into planning and pulling off the Opening Ceremony must have been staggering—it was truly impressive and inspiring to watch. If you missed it, you might be able to catch highlights on the NBC online Olympic channel.

Thanks to Tennis Buzz, Idolator, and The LA Times for the images.