Olympic Games, the most memorable opening ceremonies

Many a times the result was impressive, while other times the result bordered on kitsch. Be that as it may, opening ceremonies are today much more than a procedural ritual. They have become an integral part of the Olympic Games, as host countries invest a lot of time and money in them. The organizers exhaust the limits of imagination and the possibilities of technology to present an impressive and memorable spectacle.

Moscow was the city that changed the opening ceremonies’ history forever and became the blueprint for the ceremonies to come. Those who witnessed the show the Soviets put on in Moscow Olympic stadium, right amid one of the biggest cold war crises, along with hundreds of millions of TV viewers around the globe, were taken by surprise. Even cosmonauts were recruited for the show: in “direct connection” with the Mir space station, they wished the athletes success. The spectators sitting in the stadium became part of the spectacle as they formed impressive card stands with synchronized movements. Inside the stadium, hundreds of students created impressive designs with their choreography. The artistic part of the ceremony was dedicated to the birthplace of the games, ancient Greece. Another first, was the fact that audiences idolized “Misha”, the teddy bear that remains until today the most successful mascot of the Games. During the closing ceremony, Misha waved goodbye to everyone with tears in his eyes.

Four years after Moscow, it was the turn of their cold war arch-rival, the USA, to host the Games. Los Angeles is the chosen host city, and the organizers had the difficult task of proving that America can organize a ceremony as well, or even better than the Soviet Union. The Americans put on a Hollywood show, with cowboys, native-Americans, a gospel choir, while 9,000 dancers flooded the field. One of the highlights was George Gershwin’s live performance of “Rhapsody in Blue” accompanied by 84 grand pianos. At the high point of the ceremony, Bill Suitor, a man who following this event would become world famous, appeared out of nowhere and wearing a jet pack, flew over the heads of the spectators and landed on the field.

In 1988, Seoul gave a new dimension to the opening ceremonies, presenting an impressive artistic program that immersed the audience in the culture of South Korea. Barcelona, the organizer of the 1992 Games, was inspired by this concept, but managed to take it to the next level!
The organizers held the first night ceremony with light shows and fireworks on display. On the playing field of the Olympic Stadium, the whole spirit of Catalonia and the host city unfolded. The Games permanently changed the character of the city itself: from a large commercial port, Barcelona transformed into a cultural and tourist hub and a reference point for the entire Mediterranean. The classic voices of Montserrat Caballé and José Carreras, combined with legendary pop icon Freddie Mercury, musically dressed this magical transformation. The musical part of the show also culturally involved Greece: During the procession of the Olympic flag, leading Greek mezzo-soprano singer Agni Baltsa and the symphonic orchestra under the direction of composer Mikis Theodorakis performed “Romiosyni” by Yannis Ritsos.

The opening ceremony of the Atlanta Olympic Games has been described as having displayed the worst taste of all time. Some argue that the artistic program, which included cheerleaders, marching bands, and even gigantic trucks, fully reflected the culture of the American big city in the 90s. The show was enjoyed by the audiences within the US, yet only there. Nevertheless, Atlanta did manage to contribute to the opening ceremonies: Firstly, perfect television coverage forever changed the way sports picture was brought into the homes of millions of television viewers. Secondly, we were treated with a highly emotional lighting of the Olympic cauldron Altar, as World Boxing legend Muhammad Ali, stricken with Parkinson’s disease, took charge.

Sydney Olympic Games opening ceremony marked the beginning of the 21st century. Τhe organizers tried to combine the best elements of past Games. The result was an impressive art show, which set the standards even higher for the following host cities. The Australians, through 10-year old Nikki Webster, presented the history and culture of their country in a way that no one had ever done before. More importantly, they focused on the Aboriginal people who inhabited the continent 40,000 years before the first white settlers arrived. In a highly symbolic move, the (Aboriginal) 400m champion, Kathy Freeman, was the chosen athlete who, stepping through a waterfall, lit the flame on the Olympic altar.

In 2008 in Beijing, China reached perfection. The organizers presented a spectacle where digital projection and physical scenery were used in ways that many had never dreamed of before. The artistic program directed by Zhang Yimou was divided into two parts. The first was about the past and the second about the future. Both tied harmoniously together in a spectacular, yet dense program lit up by tons of fireworks. The goal is twofold. On the one hand, to highlight the rich history of the vast country and on the other, its inexhaustible potential that made China a rising superpower at the time.