Olympic Opening Ceremony 1896-2008
The Olympics Ceremony has been something of tradition from the very start and over the years each host nation has tried to out do the previous, so heres a look back over the Olympics from 1896 to Bejing 2008 Games…
The Olympics Opening Ceremony: Through The Years
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The Opening Ceremony at the 1896 Athens Olympics.
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1908: American athletes marching around White City Stadium, at the 1908 London Olympics.
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King Edward VII arrives at the newly-built Great Stadium in Shepherd’s Bush for the opening ceremony of the London Olympics, 1908.
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View of the delegations gathered in the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden.
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1912: Swedish gymnasts enter the old stadium in Stockhom in the 1912 Olympic Games and march past the Swedish Royal family.
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Victor Boin of Belgium swearing the Olympic Oath during the Opening Ceremony at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium.
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Olympics held at the Antwerp Stadium, showing the US contingent leading all the athletes in the procession around the field on August 26, 1920.
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The Swiss Delegation marching during the Opening Ceremony of the 1920 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Antwerp, Belgium.
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Opening of the 1924 Olympics at Colombes Stadium, Paris, July 15, 1924 competing athletes lined up on the field.
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The Egyptian team taking part in the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games at the Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Paris, 4th May 1924.
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9th July 1924: An interior view of the opening ceremony at Colombes Stadium during the Paris Olympics.
Denis Henri of the Netherlands swears the Olympic Oath during the Opening Ceremony of the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
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1928: The Olympic flag is raised during the Opening Ceremony of the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
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30 Jul 1932: General view of the Opening Ceremony of the 1932 Olympic Games at the Coliseum Stadium in Los Angeles, USA.
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30 Jul 1932: General view of the Coliseum Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA.
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30 Jul 1932: Aerial view of the Coliseum Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA.
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A German precision gymnastic performance at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
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The recently-lit Olympic flame at the opening ceremony of the Berlin Olympics, 1st August 1936.
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1 Aug 1936: Adolf Hitler watches the Olympic Flame depart from the Lustgarten en route to the Olympic Stadium before the start of the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.
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1st August 1936: The last Olympic runner reaches Lustgarten in Berlin. The Olympic flame has been carried from Mount Olympus in Greece by a relay team of over 3,000 runners.
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The Torch Bearer, the last of the runners bringing the flame from Greece, arrives at Wembley Stadium, London, during the opening ceremony of the 1948 London Olympic Games.
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29th July 1948: British athlete John Mark lights the Olympic Flame at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games at Wembley Stadium, London.
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29th July 1948: Guardsmen marching round the perimeter of the track inside Wembley Stadium during the opening ceremony of the London Olympics.
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29th July 1948: British Olympic women’s fencing team having lunch prior to the opening ceremony of the 1948 London Olympics at Wembley Stadium.
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The United States Olympic team pays tribute to Finland’s President Juho K. Passikivi, during their march into the Olympic Stadium for the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.
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19 Jul 1952: Paavo Nurmi of Finland lights the Olympic Flame during the Opening Ceremony of the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland.
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June 1956: A runner carries the Olympic torch into the arena at the Equestrian Olympics, Stockholm.
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MELBOURNE – 1956: Ron Clarke of Australia lights the Olympic Torch at the opening ceremony of the 17th Olympic Games held in Melbourne during 1956.
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Teams assemble in Melbourne Stadium for the opening ceremonies of the Summer Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia Nov., 22, 1956.
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Pope John 23rd (Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli) walking through the crowds in St Peter’s Square, at the opening ceremony of the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome.
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25th August 1960: The olympic team from Formosa, now Taiwan, complaining after they were forced to change their name from the Republic of China to Formosa.
Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesAugust 1960: Image of the American delegation, wearing suits and hats, marching inside
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1960: Athletes gathering for the opening ceremony at the Olympics in Rome.
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25th August 1960: The US team en route to the opening ceremony of the 1960 Rome Olympics, wearing straw hats and sunglasses.
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Closeup of the flame at the cauldron at Tokyo Stadium, where most of the events took place at the 1964 Olympic Games at Tokyo, Japan.
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General view as Yoshinori Sakai carries the torch up the stairs to light the cauldron during the opening ceremony for the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games.
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5th October 1964: Yoshinori Sakai, born at Hiroshima on the day the first atomic bomb was dropped on the city, holding the Olympic torch beside Greek actress Aleka Katseli .
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Pictured here is Tokyo Stadium at the opening ceremonies of the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 10, 1964.
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Pictured here is Tokyo Stadium at the opening ceremonies of the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 10, 1964.
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Pictured here is Tokyo Stadium at the opening ceremonies of the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 10, 1964.
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View of the University City Olympic Stadium at Mexico City, Mexico 1968 site of the Nineteenth Olympiad, or the XIX Olympiad summer games.
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Activities during Opening Day Ceremony of Olympics in Mexico City, October 12, 1968.
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Activities during Opening Day Ceremony of Olympics in Mexico City, October 12, 1968.
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1972: Image of German runner Guenter Zahn holding the Olympic torch while standing on the steps of Munich stadium during a rehearsal for the opening ceremonies, Munich, Germany.
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Pictured here is a view of the opening ceremonies of the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, Aug. 26, 1972.
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Pictured here is the entrance of the U.S. team at the opening ceremonies of the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, Aug. 26, 1972.
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Pictured here is an aerial view of the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremonies of the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, Aug. 26, 1972.
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German runner Gunter Zahn arrives at the Olympic stadium in Munich, carrying the Olympic flame for the opening ceremony, 27th August 1972.
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Jul 1976: General view of the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada.
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17th July 1976: Queen Elizabeth II opening the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
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View of the Olympic Flame during the 1976 Montreal Olympics, July 17, 1976.
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Opening ceremony of the games of the XXI Olympiad held in Montreal during the summer of July 17, 1976.
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Opening ceremony of the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympic Games, July 19, 1980.
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18 JUL 1980: PERFORMERS MAKE A HUMAN TOWER DURING THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 1980 SUMMER OLYMPICS HELD IN MOSCOW IN THE SOVIET UNION.
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Photo of the Olympic Games’ mascot Misha-bear, 19 July 1980 in Lenin Stadium Moscow, wishing everyone good luck at the opening ceremony of the 1980 Olympic Games.
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Opening ceremony of the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympic Games, July 19, 1980.
3,500 card-bearers from the coat of arms of the Soviet Union with the hammer and sickle and a red star at the top during the opening ceremonies of the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympic Games in Lenin Stadium.
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1984: High-angle view of human Olympic ring formations at summer games, Olympic Stadium, Los Angeles, California.
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27 JUL 1984: AN AMERICAN INDIAN RIDES HIS HORSE IN THE STADIUM AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 1984 SUMMER OLYMPICS HELD IN LOS ANGELES IN THE UNITED STATES.
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RAFER JOHNSON OF THE UNITED STATES HOLDS ALOFT THE OLYMPIC TORCH AFTER LIGHTING THE OLYMPIC FLAME AT THE OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE 1984 LOS ANGELES OLYMPICS.
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A GENERAL VIEW OF TODAY’s OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 1984 SUMMER OLYMPICS. THE CEREMONY TOOK PLACE AT THE COLISEUM IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES.
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28 JUL 1984: THE BALLOONS ARE RELEASED DURING THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 1984 OLYMPICS HELD IN THE LOS ANGELES MEMORIAL COLISEUM.
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28 JUL 1984: SAM THE EAGLE MASCOT OF THE 1984 LOS ANGELES OLYMPICS WALKS AROUND THE MEMORIAL COLISEUM DURING THE OPENING CEREMONY.
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THE OPENING DAY OF THE 1984 SUMMER OLYMPICS IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.
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THE CEREMONY TOOK PLACE IN THE COLISEUM, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES.
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A GENERAL VIEW OF THE OLYMPIC STADIUM DURING THE OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE 1984 SUMMER OLYMPICS HELD IN LOS ANGELES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
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28 JUL 1984: THE UNITED STATES OLYMPIC TEAM MARCH THROUGH THE STADIUM DURING THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 1984 LOS ANGELES OLYMPICS.
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Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the 1984 Summer Olympics, July 28, 1984.
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17 SEP 1988: A STUNT MAN WITH A PARACHUTE ATTEMPTS TO LAND IN THE OLYMPIC STADIUM DURING THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 1988 SEOUL OLYMPICS.
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17 SEP 1988: DANCERS PERFORM IN THE CENTRE OF THE STADIUM DURING THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 1988 SUMMER OLYMPICS HELD IN SEOUL IN SOUTH KOREA.
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THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 1988 SUMMER OLYMPICS HELD IN SEOUL IN SOUTH KOREA.
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17 Sep 1988: Dancers form the Olympic rings in the center of the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.
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The Olympic torch towers above the Olympic stadium in Seoul Sept. 17, 1988, during the opening ceremonies for the summer Olympic Games in Seoul.
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Flags frame the Olympic Stadium as participants form the Olympic rings on the field during opening ceremonies in Seoul, Sept. 17, 1988.
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25 JUL 1992: A GIANT OLYMPIC FLAG IS PULLED ACROSS THE FIELD INSIDE THE OLYMPIC STADIUM DURING THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 1992 BARCELONA OLYMPICS.
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25 Jul 1992: A dancer performs in colorful costume during the Opening Ceremony for the 1992 Summer Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain.
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25 Jul 1992: A dancer operates a giant red puppet during the Opening Ceremony for the 1992 Summer Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain.
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25 Jul 1992: A close-up picture of one of the objects used during the Opening Ceremony for the 1992 Summer Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain.
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25 Jul 1992: An archer lights the flame at the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
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The Olympic rings are set on the pitch during the opening ceremony of the XXVth Summer Olympics 25 July 1992 at Montjuic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain.
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A ship symbolizing Mediterranean culture sails through Olympic Stadium July 25, 1992 in Barcelona during opening ceremonies for the XXV Games.
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A time exposure blurs spectators waving banners in the stands during the opening ceremonies of the XXV Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona July 25, 1992.
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25 JUL 1992: FIREWORKS EXPLODE HIGH ABOVE THE OLYMPIC STADIUM DURING THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 1992 BARCELONA OLYMPICS.
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View of the Olympic Stadium as performers form the Olympic rings 19 July, 1996 in Atlanta during the opening ceremony of the Centennial Olympic Games.
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The opening ceremony of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Friday, July 19, 1996.
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Festivities for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games opening ceremony in Atlanta Friday, July 19, 1996.
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The silhouette of a javelin thrower is seen in a performance depicting the ancient Olympics during the 1996 Summer Olympic Games opening ceremony in Atlanta Friday, July 19, 1996.
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Dancers entertain during the opening ceremony of the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, Friday, July 19, 1996.
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Flags of the participating nations ring Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony for the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta Friday July 19,1996.
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Entertainers strike olympic poses in the Olympic Stadium Friday July 19, 1996 during opening ceremonies of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta Ga.
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Sydney, Australia. 2000 Summer Olympic Games.
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15 Sep 2000: A performer on stilts during the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Homebush Bay, Sydney, Australia.
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15 Sep 2000: General view from the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Homebush Bay, Sydney, Australia.
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15 Sep 2000: Performers gather to create a map of Australia during the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Homebush Bay, Sydney, Australia.
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15 Sep 2000: General view from the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Homebush Bay, Sydney, Australia.
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Torchbearer Cathy Freeman of Australia prepares to light the Olympic Flame during the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
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15 Sep 2000: A general view from the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Homebush Bay, Sydney, Australia.
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Fireworks greet the ascending Cauldron containing the Olympic Flame during the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium.
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Fireworks erupt over the Olympic Stadium (bottom left) during the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
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A performer is dressed as a statue during the allegorical sequence of the opening ceremony of the 2004 Summer Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens.
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Performs take part in the allegorical sequence of the opening ceremony of the 2004 Summer Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens.
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Fireworks explode above the Olympic flame at the end of the opening ceremony of the XXVIII Olympic Games 13 August 2004 in Athens.
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Pyrotechnics fill the air marking the end to the opening ceremony of the 2004 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Athens.
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The five Olympic rings are lit with fire in a pool in the Athens Olympic Stadium during the 2004 summer games opening ceremony.
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The opening ceremonies of the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games on August 13, 2004 at the Sports Complex Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece.
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A View during the opening ceremony of the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games on August 13, 2004 at the Sports Complex Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece.
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A performer acts out a scene representing a period of Greek culture and art during the opening ceremony of the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games.
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Fireworks can be seen inside the National Stadium, nicknamed “the Bird’s Nest”, at the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
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Fireworks light up the night sky at the National Stadium to kick off the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
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Performers are pictured during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium.
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Drummers perform during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Summer Olympics at the National Stadium in Beijing.
Fireworks explode over the National Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.
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The Opening Ceremony at the 1896 Athens Olympics.
Category: Olympics
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Are you sure the image of the coloured teepees in Montreal (1976, about 1/2 way down this page) is of the opening ceremonies. To my knowledge the teepees only appeared in the closing ceremonies but I’d be very glad to find out if I’m wrong.
Hi
Ive taken a very long time researching the Olympics history and gathering from official sources to give a picture of the Olympic Movement since the beginning. I have still got to find time to load the rest of the history bringing it up to date and the 2012 Olympics.
But as Ive said Ive used official sources to build this history and to my knowledge according to the research the photos are correct. Im not saying you are wrong and I am right, just that the research has given me the info I have published
Thanks, hope you have enjoyed reading the articles on the Olympic history,
Mike
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