The ceremonies are predicted to be viewed by a worldwide TV audience of 4 billion people in over 200 countries. A leading advertising industry figure has confirmed that the equivalent airtime value of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Opening and Closing ceremonies will be worth between approximately £2billion and £5billion.

Sir Martin Sorrell said: ‘The London 2012 Opening and Closing Ceremonies will be four of the biggest moments in TV history, broadcast in over 200 countries to an audience of 4 billion people. The equivalent advertising value that will deliver for the UK could be up to £5billion, however with regards to perception of London and the UK and a tourism legacy you could say that they will be priceless.’

Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media & Sport, said: ‘I am incredibly excited about Danny Boyle’s amazing plans for London’s Opening Ceremony. Four billion people around the world will be absolutely wowed by what they will see by the Olympic and Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The ceremonies will be the most fantastic advert for everything that is great about our country.’

Seb Coe, LOCOG Chair, said: ‘I would like to thank the thousands of people who have come to the auditions. The enthusiasm, energy and talent has been amazing and the team are looking forward to restarting auditions in January. So if you have huge amounts of energy and a willingness to perform in front of a stadium audience and billions of people around the world, then sign up to be part of the cast that will deliver great ceremonies to make the country proud and wow the world next summer.’

LOCOG has put in place a talented team of leading British creatives to lead the direction of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies.

In May 2010 Stephen Daldry, Mark Fisher, Hamish Hamilton, and Catherine Ugwu, were appointed as Executive Producers across all four Ceremonies, and Danny Boyle, was appointed as Artistic Director for the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.

In February 2011 Take That’s creative director Kim Gavin was appointed Artistic Director for the Closing Ceremonies of both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. He was joined by multi-award-winning stage and costume designer Es Devlin and Bond film composer and record producer David Arnold as part of the Closing Ceremonies team.

In June 2011 Jenny Sealey MBE and Bradley Hemmings were appointed as Artistic Directors of the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games

LOCOG will announce the Music Directors for the Olympic Opening Ceremony shortly.

In January next year the London 2012 Ceremonies Team will be auditioning for more people and are still particularly looking out for men. To sign up for further opportunities to audition visit www.london2012.com/ceremoniescasting

A video blog from the auditions by Kim Gavin, Artistic Director of the Olympic & Parlaympic Closing Ceremonies, can be viewed here: www.london2012.com/ceremoniesauditionvideo

London 2012 Ceremonies are now recruiting across all areas of the organisation as the team upscales to deliver four of the biggest shows the UK will ever produce. Opportunities at all levels in casting, technical, wardrobe and production are all advertised on the ceremonies jobs section of the London 2012 website, www.london2012.com/ceremoniesjobs