Olympic Opening Ceremonies Through The Years (pics)

75 Comments

borez, on 08/09/2008, -0/+40The Beijing opening ceremony was truly awe inspiring, I'd be suprised if my home city ( London) can top that in 2012.
AllINeed, on 08/08/2008, -1/+22There's some awesome history in those pics,
sf49rox, on 08/09/2008, -0/+20The part in this Olympic's ceremony that blew my mind was that there were actual humans in the boxes that I thought were powered electronically.
icantdenythis, on 08/09/2008, -2/+18did anyone else notice that on the Berlin Olympics it says "august 1, 936"
Willtheway, on 08/09/2008, -1/+17I must say that China had a pretty spectacular opening ceremony
JRjJ106, on 08/09/2008, -0/+13Having an archer light the torch with a flaming arrow is a pretty neat idea, I must say.
zombiecarlin, on 08/09/2008, -2/+14Nobody is saying it but I do believe every American who witnessed today's opening is feeling a little less adequite right now. The last 2 US Olympics have been cheap forgetable affairs, our position as the worlds biggest and best was today bitch slapped back to the stoneage by a new superpower with a little bit more taste and a ***** more flair.
inactive, on 08/08/2008, -2/+11aweomse pics !
referal, on 08/08/2008, -2/+11nice one:D
jboitnott, on 08/08/2008, -1/+9That Munich picture that is framed in a "bubble" - just blows my mind. Truly quality.
AReallyGoodName, on 08/09/2008, -0/+7I didn't hear it as a boo. I heard the loudest cheer for Iraq, and then a far more muffled cheer and a bunch of crowd chatter for Iran as they came on immediately after Iraq.
I would hope nobody would be that disrespectful to any atheletes as to boo them.
borez, on 08/09/2008, -0/+7But they're in Wales, and they don't have phones there.
rdldr1, on 08/09/2008, -3/+9At the opening ceremony, Iran was booed. USA was cheered. USA! USA! USA!

Oh wait, North Korea was cheered too. Maybe their kimchi is that much better.
brainnovate, on 08/08/2008, -1/+7Its fun to look back and visualize the games of the past.
kleash, on 08/09/2008, -2/+8http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsyUnJS9b98
Watch the Beijing Olympic opening ceremony before youtube removes it.....this is just truly amazing.
Chainheart, on 08/09/2008, -0/+5It has an odd quality to it that makes me feel like I'm there in 1972.
mojoface, on 08/09/2008, -0/+5Gone
inactive, on 08/09/2008, -0/+4wow @ Yao
oraki, on 08/09/2008, -1/+5Here's for those who miss Opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics:

Channel: BBC 1 North West
Date: Friday 8th August 2008
Time: 19:00pm - 19:57pm

Gabby Logan presents highlights from this afternoon's spectacular opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. Did it live up to expectations as one of the greatest shows on earth? Plus a look ahead to some of the stories that are set to dominate the first few days of competition and a rundown of the athletes to watch over the next two weeks.

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enjoy
goducksgo, on 08/09/2008, -0/+4Boo sounds like "不" which means no
sockpuppets, on 08/09/2008, -3/+7Call Torchwood, they'll help out.
sockpuppets, on 08/09/2008, -0/+3Please refer to your post where you admit you're an idiot prior to posting. Thanks.

http://digg.com/olympics/Poor_Conditions_China_Ref ...
numeka, on 08/09/2008, -0/+3China's opening ceremony was 2nd to none in my opinion. Just absolutely breath-taking.

In saying that, I loved these photos of past opening ceremonies. Let's see what London's got in store for 2012!
ZeeZee2k, on 08/09/2008, -0/+3Bu?
digjam, on 08/09/2008, -0/+3 I was literrally blown away by that ...and the one in the last where the final torch bearer walks( tied to ropes ofcourse) all over the membrane on the top and lights the torch....WOW! I wish I had recorded it, Johnny Mo is a genius!
AeroZeppelin, on 08/09/2008, -3/+5Jesus Christ, why can't people shut the ***** up for the moment and just enjoy the games?
icantdenythis, on 08/09/2008, -1/+3I'm giving your comment its last rites.
wackattack, on 08/09/2008, -4/+6Well the americans got the games as well and nobody complained about that. It's not that the US isn't one of those countries that doesn't respect human rights, or is brutal and oppressive. If there is an axis of evil in the world, the US leads that axis!

China bitch slapped the US with culture. When the US want to bitch slap they use brutal force!
ABadPerson, on 08/09/2008, -0/+2About US taxes, there are some videos that says people are not really required to pay it by law, so isn't it the same in the US?
Pay taxes or else the IRS will talk to you?
Linake, on 08/09/2008, -0/+1Hey wait. . . According to the time-lapse that flaming arrow in Barcelona actually flew OVER the torch? I hope it didn't land in the parking lot.
Cashmoney504, on 08/09/2008, -0/+1There's a set of Bush with the womens Beach volleyball team, and on one picture it looks like hes totally checking her out.
shamanking911, on 08/09/2008, -0/+1i missed the opening ceremony =(
ABadPerson, on 08/09/2008, -0/+1I found an French Canadian (CBC) channel that doesn't have as much commercials. :D
xanadu2113, on 08/09/2008, -1/+2bob costas is a prick with a facelift and fake hair
GreatOne08, on 08/09/2008, -1/+2Seriously?
hudson15, on 08/09/2008, -0/+1Couldn't agree more, easily the best part. It was sick. Vancouver in 2010 is going to have some tuff shoes to fill.
AReallyGoodName, on 08/09/2008, -0/+1No idea mal and i don't know why you'd ask.
The Chinese state run media seems positive towards Iran and the 2 countries are close, economically and politically.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran-China_relations# ...
Oea420, on 08/09/2008, -0/+1Rofl I just finished watching it.. then saw this new comment.. so hit refresh.. and gone lol
driftholic, on 08/10/2008, -0/+1Golds for USA
BossKey, on 08/09/2008, -0/+1You don't want to watch on YouTube. It was awesome in hi-def (free over the air).
danielpoon, on 08/12/2008, -0/+1Here's the best pictures for this year's Beijing Olympics though:

http://www.danielpoon.com/lifehacking/2008/08/09/t ...

and a re-run of the incredible opening ceremony video:

http://www.danielpoon.com/lifehacking/2008/08/11/r ...
Scheissen, on 08/09/2008, -0/+1Will NBC put the opening ceremony online? My TiVo recorded some crappy Canadian version and when I already missed an hour.
digjam, on 08/09/2008, -0/+1Dont know about the earlier olympics..but 2008 opening ceremony was MIND BLOWING! The choreography,technology, grand scale, and creativity was PHENOMENAL.

To top it off, it was a pleasure to my eyes, watching it on my PLASMA TV.

HATS OFF TO CHINESE! I VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE, AND WOULD PROBABLY NEVER SEE IT AGAIN IN A LOT OF YEARS TO COME!
BossKey, on 08/09/2008, -1/+2I agree with wphj, the only way you can do it this way is if you have a society where you can basically be ordered to hand over so much tax money without question and be ordered to get it done at this scale "or else."

I don't deny that the Chinese people have a tremendous amount of pride in this accomplishment, and they deserve it. But in most other countries, budgets and committees would not have allowed it to be pushed this far. I do wonder how the peasants feel, watching it on TV. For example the ones suffering water shortages just outside Beijing because water is being diverted to the Olympic fountains and facilities, with no avenue of protest.

So I don't feel inadequate as an American. We will put on the Games that we can either afford as a people, or get sponsors to pay for.

We wouldn't allow ourselves to indulge our tax dollars irresponibly on a one-night presentation the way we indulge tax dollars irresponsibly to start wars. Wait a minute...
ABadPerson, on 08/09/2008, -0/+1There are torrents of it already.
http://www.mininova.org/search/2008+olympics/seeds
BossKey, on 08/09/2008, -0/+1Yeah, noticed that!

I was like "WTF...no, the Third Reich did NOT last for a thousand years like Hitler said it would."
ancientshoes, on 08/12/2008, -0/+1dumbass
wphj, on 08/09/2008, -2/+340 Billion Dollars.
China paid several times what they pay for their nations health care on these games. I don't feel very inadequate.
Bobbygardner80, on 08/10/2008, -0/+0I thought it was terrifying when the soldiers did the goose step at the Beijing opening ceremonies this year. To Americans the goose-step is a symbol of oppressive, human right abusing dictatorships. It was a grim reminder that many countries do not enjoy the freedom we enjoy in the US.

I've read a little about goose-stepping and have found that there are a few countries that incorporate it into their military pageantry. I've also read that it came from Prussia. I've also read that the Chinese were enemies of the Nazi party during world war 2. For all these reasons, many on the net argue that I should not find it offensive.

However, like the swastika(which has actually been used for thousands of years), goose stepping has become a symbol of evil. Just like I choose not to name my children Adolf or Satan, I would like countries not to use the swastika on their flags and would like them not to goose-step during military pageantry.

This generation of americans has been brought up to believe in respect for other people's cultures. I think that we should do that, as long as those cultures deserve our respect. Silently tolerating the use of symbols that are commonly used to represent evil is not something we should do.

The goose-step opening ceremony at the Beijing Olympics was a slap in the face to the world. China will not respect our traditions, our culture, our sensitivities any more than it will respect the human rights of its own citizens. Ideally, the olympics would be solely about the games and the spirit of human brotherhood. However, from the begining they have served as a catalyst for discussion of politics and national policy. People who argue that we should ignore China's human rights abuses should consider that there are human beings suffering horribly over there right now, children being exploited and killed, adults being exploited and killed and Chinese protesters trying desperately to bring our attention to the corruption and oppression that they are suffering. Ignoring them is like walking through a concentration camp and admiring the beauty of the sun and getting angry at those who tell you to look around at what's happening to the people around you. While it is right to admire the beauty of the sun, there should be discussion and action to right wrongs that have no place in the world.

The Berlin games of 1936 was a truly spectacular olympic opening ceremony. The Germans walked in hailing Hitler there was inspirational music. It was crafted with the same flair for cinema that the nazi propaganda films would enjoy for the next 10 years. We can't watch footage of that opening ceremony without being facinated by the knowledge that all those people sitting in the stands would witness some of the most incredibly evil national programs the world has ever seen. Its amazing to think that a modern culture could embrace the ideals of the nazis and its scary as hell that it could happen again. When I watched the chinese soldiers goose-step around I felt similar to the way I feel when I watch footage of that 1936 Olympic opening, except I am more fearful, because I wonder if we had another World War or if there was a slow spread of oppression from China to countries around the world, would good still prevail.
chimpadink, on 08/09/2008, -0/+0Pedobear spotting from Olympics pic 1980 in pic 14
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