History of Olympic Opening Ceremonies

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jul 25, 2012

History of Olympic Opening Ceremonies

1896, Athens

1896, Athens — Getty Images

On Friday, the 2012 Summer Olympics will officially kick off with the Opening Ceremonies. Among the rumored participants are Muhammad Ali, David Beckham and Paul McCartney. In honor of this event, here's a brief history of Opening Ceremonies, starting with the first Olympic Games in 1896.

1908, London

1908, London — Getty Images

1908, London

1908, London — Getty Images

1908, London

1908, London — Getty Images

1912, Stockholm

1912, Stockholm — Getty Images

1920, Antwerp

1920, Antwerp — Getty Images

1924, Paris

1924, Paris — Popperfoto/Getty Images

1924, Paris

1924, Paris — AP

1932, Los Angeles

1932, Los Angeles — AP

1936, Berlin

1936, Berlin — Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

1948, London

1948, London — AP

1948, London

1948, London — AP

1952, Helsinki

1952, Helsinki

1956, Melbourne

1956, Melbourne — AP

1960, Rome

1960, Rome — AP

1964, Tokyo

1964, Tokyo — AP

1964, Tokyo

1964, Tokyo — AP

1968, Mexico City

1968, Mexico City

1972, Munich

1972, Munich — AP

1972, Munich

1972, Munich

1976, Montreal

1976, Montreal — Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

1984, Los Angeles

1984, Los Angeles

1984, Los Angeles

1984, Los Angeles — WireImage

1984, Los Angeles

1984, Los Angeles

1988, Seoul

1988, Seoul

1988, Seoul

1988, Seoul

1980, Moscow

1980, Moscow — AFP/Getty Images

1980, Moscow

1980, Moscow — Tony Duffy/Getty Images

1992, Barcelona

1992, Barcelona

1996, Atlanta

1996, Atlanta — Peter Read Miller/SI

1996, Atlanta

1996, Atlanta — David Taylor /Allsport

2000, Sydney

2000, Sydney — David E. Klutho/SI

2000, Sydney

2000, Sydney — Bob Martin/SI

Sydney, 2000

Sydney, 2000 — John Biever/SI

2004, Athens

2004, Athens — John W. McDonough/SI

2004, Athens

2004, Athens — John Biever/SI

2008, Beijing

2008, Beijing — Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

2008, Beijing

2008, Beijing — John W. McDonough/SI

2012, London

Simon Bruty

2012, London

John W. McDonough

2012, London

Al Tielemans