100+ Years of the Olympics Opening Ceremony
100+ Years of the Olympics Opening Ceremony
From the straightforward proceedings of the first "modern" Olympics in 1896 to the over-the-top pageantry of recent Games, the opening ceremony is a vivid mirror of our times. Though this year's Tokyo Olympics will look a bit different from usual (i.e. a lingering pandemic and no spectators), we're taking a look back at the opening ceremony moments that captivated audiences past and present—including the best photos from this years event.
100+ Years of the Olympics Opening Ceremony
1896: Athens
Considered to be the first "modern" Olympic Games, the Athens opening ceremonies were a relatively simple affair. Athletes lined up in the infield of the Panathenaic Stadium (filled with 80,000 spectators), while nine bands and 150 choir singers performed the Olympic Hymn.
100+ Years of the Olympics Opening Ceremony
1908: London
Originally scheduled to be held in Rome, 1908's Summer Olympics were moved to London in the wake of the financial ramifications of the 1906 Mt. Vesuvius eruption. Here, King Edward VII arrives at the opening ceremony, which would kick off 187 days of events — the longest Olympic Games ever.
1912: Stockholm, Sweden
The very-Swedish celebration included a parade of athletes organized by national (alphabetically, according to the Swedish spelling of the nation's name), along with Swedish chants and prayers.
1920: Antwerp, Belgium
New traditions emerged this year: The official flag bearing the Olympic Games five-ring logo, the Olympic oath for athletes, and the release of doves to symbolize peace.
1924: Paris
The low-key opening ceremony of the Summer Games was observed by a crowd of 45,000 at the Olympic Stadium of Colombes. Movie lovers, take note: This was the Olympics where British runners Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell got the gold for the 100 meter and 400 meter events respectively, later inspiring the 1981 movie Chariots of Fire.
1928: Amsterdam
The opening ceremony of the Summer Games starts to resemble our modern-day Olympics a bit more. This year would be the debut of the Olympic Flame, and the official structure of the parade of nations (with Greece first and the host country last).
1932: Lake Placid, New York
The third official Winter Games were opened by Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was then the Governor of New York. Out of 14 events, the U.S. team would take home 12 medals.
1932: Los Angeles
This year's opening ceremony is observed by the largest crowd yet — 105,000, to be exact. To entertain such a huge audience, the Organizing Committee brought in 3,500 musicians. 1932 also brought about the first Olympic Village (occupied by male athletes only, however).
1936: Berlin
Both the Winter and Summer Olympics of 1936 were held amidst controversy, as Adolf Hitler would use both Games in an attempt to spread propaganda. A boycott of the Summer Games (later referred to as the "Nazi Olympics") would prove unsuccessful. For the opening ceremony, one tradition emerged that still goes on today: the Olympic torch relay.
1948: St. Mortiz, Switzerland
As the first Olympics following World War II (1940's and 1944's Winter and Summer Games were canceled), financial resources were understandably strained. The opening ceremony was a bare-bones affair, but widely covered by the media at the time — over 500 press credentials were issued.
1948: London
The Summer Games were a much bigger affair, and attended by the Royal Family. In addition to the parade of nations, the Royal Horse Artillery sounded a 21-gun salute and the Torch Relay ended with a lap around the track at Wembley Stadium before climbing the stairs to the Olympic cauldron to light the flame.
1952: Helsinki
Distance runner Paavo Nurmi and Hannes Kolehmainen, known as "The Flying Finns," light two seperate cauldrons. Thousands of carrier pigeons are released to start the Games.
1956: Melbourne
The Duke of Edinburgh launched these games and the opening ceremony included, for the first time ever, a marching band in formation to help introduce the athletes. Runner John Landy, the second man to break a 4-minute mile, took the Olympic Oath.
1960: Squaw Valley
Chairman Walt Disney was in charge of the pageantry of the opening and closing ceremonies; Vice President Richard Nixon opened the Games officially and speed skater Kenneth Henry lit the flame. The Olympic Hymn, composed by Spyridon Samaras with lyrics by poet Kostis Palamas for the 1896 Games, becomes the official anthem.
1960: Rome
It's the age of television: CBS pays $394,000 for the exclusive right to broadcast the Games in the United States. (Though previous games were televised, starting with 1936 in Berlin, this is the first instance of exclusive rights.) The torch was lit by Giancarlo Peris, who wins the honors after coming in first in a cross country race.
1964: Innsbruck, Austria
The Vienna Philharmonic opens the Games, which were held at an interesting time for Innsbruck — the normally snowy city was having a decidedly un-snowy winter. The Austrian army had to carve and carry 20,000 ice bricks from a mountain to create the luge and bobsled runs, and 40,000 tons of snow to the skiing courses.
1964: Tokyo
Yoshinori Sakai, who was born in Hiroshima on the exact date that the atomic bomb was dropped, had the honor of lighting the cauldron.
1968: Grenoble
Hosting over 60,000 people, the Olympic Stadium in Grenoble was only used for the Games and disassembled immmediately after. The torch was lit by 1964 silver medalist Alain Calmat.
1968: Mexico
Mexican hurdler Enriqueta Basilio gets the honor of being the first woman to light the Olympic flame. The opening ceremony was viewed by over 100,000 spectators (despite the fact that the stadium could only hold around 63,000).
1972: Sapporo, Japan
Planning was key to the Winter Games: Sapporo was one of the most-prepared cities to host an Olympics as it hosted an "international sport week" the year before, just to see how the city's hospitality would hold up.
1972: Munich
During the opening ceremony, the Summer Games are the first to feature an official mascot, a woman taking the athlete's oath, and the first official's oath. Sadly these Olympics will forever be remembered for the horrific massacre of 11 Israeli athletes by the Black September offshoot of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
1976: Innsbruck, Austria
Innsbruck is chosen as a late replacement after Denver (which was originally awarded games) withdraws due to costs and public disapproval.
1976: Montreal
In honor of the 80th anniversary of the modern games, 80 female dancers dressed in white performed a routine in front of the Olympic rings. Two people light the flame, 15-year-olds Stéphane Préfontaine and Sandra Henderson, but it's the closing ceremonies that get more attention, after a streaker interrupts the event.
1980: Lake Placid
Walter Mondale is the last Vice President to open an Olympic Games, but the biggest highlight of these Games was the "Miracle On Ice," when the U.S. Hockey team beat the Soviet team 4-3.
1980: Moscow
Though 60 countries (including the United States) boycott the Summer Games, the Olympics still go on. The Friendship of the Peoples features a traditional dance of the 15 Soviet Republics. Soviet Union Basketball player Sergei Belov lights the cauldron.
1984: Sarajevo
The Olympic flag was first raised upside down during the ceremony, an unfortunate mistake. The mascot of the Winter Games, a wolf named Vu?ko, was chosen via newspaper contest.
1984: Los Angeles
1960 decathlon champion Rafer Johnson receives the torch from Gina Hemphill, the granddaughter of Jesse Owens. Music from famed composer John Williams inspired the audience and appearances included President Reagan and Sam the Eagle.
1984: Los Angeles
But perhaps the real highlight of the opening ceremony was "rocket man" William Suitor, who flew around using a jet pack.
1988: Calgary
Traditionally, a famous individual or athlete from the host nation lights the Olympic cauldron, but during the Calgary opening ceremonies, 12-year old Robyn Perry, an aspiring figure skater, did the honors.
1988: Seoul
The last, as of now, opening ceremony to take place during the daytime featured skydivers and even a mass demonstration of taekwondo. The ceremony is best known, unfortunately, for the peace doves that came to rest on the cauldron as it was lit.
1992: Albertville
In the spirit of camaraderie after the collapse of the USSR, an impromptu wave is started by the Canadian team. French President Francois Mitterand joins in, as does then-Vice President Dan Quayle.
1992: Albertville
The opening ceremony includes dramatic dance numbers by performers clad in unusual snow globe-inspired costumes.
1992: Barcelona
One of the more dramatic opening ceremonies in Olympic history concluded with Paralympic archer Antonio Rebollo shooting an arrow into the Olympic cauldron. Contrary to belief, the arrow did overshoot the cauldron, though safety measures were in place to manage the risk of a flaming arrow reaching the crowd.
1994: Lillehammer
After original ski flier Ole Gunnar Fidjestol is injured during a practice run, backup Stein Gruben brings the Olympic torch to the flame in dramatic fashion by jumping into center stage.
1994: Lillehammer
Artistic performances pay tribute to Norway's culture. At one point in the performance, a "world egg" rises among the dancers.
1996: Atlanta
The opening ceremony features an array of stunning spectacles, from Celine Dion singing with the Atlanta Symphony and the Centennial Choir, to the first uses of cars and silhouettes. A week later, the Games would be interrupted by the explosion of a bomb that results in two deaths and over 100 injuries.
1996: Atlanta
In perhaps one of the most iconic Olympic moments of all time, Muhammad Ali lights the Olympic torch.
1998: Nagano
A chorus of Ode to Joy by singers from five continents symbolizes hope for world peace. Anti-land mine activist Chris Moon leads the torch into Olympic Stadium.
2000: Sydney
The massive millennium band, featuring 1,000 Australian musicians and 1,000 from the rest of the world, take the stage. Six conductors were needed and it was the only non pre-recorded music of the night. A segment touting Australia's Aboriginal heritage offered a note of reconciliation toward indigenous Australians.
2002: Salt Lake City
An American flag from the World Trade Center is carried and raised by an honor guard of athletes, police officers, and firefighters.
2002: Salt Lake City
Over 3.5 billion people watched the opening and closing ceremonies. The opening ceremony went on to win seven Emmy Awards.
2004: Athens
Greece, the birth place of the Olympics, hosts for the first time since the first Modern Olympiad of 1896. The opening ceremony paid tribute to Greek achievements, history, and mythology. Here, the founding myth of Athens is recreated as a rock struck by a javelin thrown by Athena opens to reveal an olive tree.
2004: Athens
Performers detailed with body paint create human frescos that nod to classical art.
2006: Turin
In displays of choreography, music, light, and, yes, fireworks, the Winter Games celebrate Italian culture. Memorable moments include North and South Korea marching together in unity, and a eulogy for peace by Yoko Ono.
2006: Turin
The largest and tallest Olympic Rings were set up for the games and would be illuminated in fireworks in a memorable moment.
2008: Beijing
A brilliantly choreographed opening ceremony features 2008 drummers in perfect synchronization. Controversy does erupt days later when its discovered 9-year old Lin Miaoke lip-synced the pre-recorded voice of Yang Peiyi.
2008: Beijing
Performers rehearsed for over a year to perfect the incredible spectacle.
2010: Vancouver
Parapelgic athlete Rick Hansen brings the flame to Canadian superstar athletes including Steve Nash, skiier Nancy Greene, and speed skater Catriona Le May Doan. Wayne Gretzky lights the flame but one of the arms of the main torch malfunctioned and didn't light.
2010: Vancouver
Dancers perform around four totems, which represent the four host First Nations.
2010: Vancouver
Snowboarder Johnny Lyall flew through the Olympic rings in a grand spectacle.
2012: London
Director Danny Boyle leads a high concept ceremony that pays tribute to the cultural achievements of Great Britain. The ceremony featuring James Bond, portrayed by Daniel Craig, Queen Elizabeth II, and David Beckham among others and music by the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, and Jimmy Page. Paul McCartney ends with a live performance of Hey Jude. Cool Britannia.
2012: London
Though the evening was filled with many spectacles, one of the most memorable was the parachuting "Queen Elizabeth" and "James Bond" performers.
2012: London
The jaw-dropping scenes also celebrated pop culture, literature, and fashion. Here, children dance during the "Peter Pan" segment of the ceremony.
2012: London
The sculptural Olympic cauldron featured 204 torches, each representing a national team competing in the games, that moved to come together to symbolize unity.
2014: Sochi
In front of an audience of 40,000 at the Fisht Olympic Stadium, the Sochi Winter Games opened with tributes to Russia's achievements in dance, classical music, and culture.
2014: Sochi
Peter the Great enters on a ship "sailing" on a sea, projected from above.
2014: Sochi
Inflatable figures representing St. Basil's cathedral drift in the air above dancers.
2014: Sochi
The Olympic flame is lit jointly by former goalie Vladislav Tretiak, who played from 1972 to 1984, and legendary figure skater Irina Rodnina.
There was once a time when pageantry wasn't part of the Games, but pigeons were.