List of people who have opened the Olympic Games

Last updated

President Xi Jinping is the most recent person to have opened a Winter Olympic Games in Beijing in 2022. Xi Jinping 2019.jpg
President Xi Jinping is the most recent person to have opened a Winter Olympic Games in Beijing in 2022.
Emperor Naruhito is the most recent person to have opened a Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020 (held in 2021). Naruhito and Masako visit Bogor Palace 48 (cropped).jpg
Emperor Naruhito is the most recent person to have opened a Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020 (held in 2021).
President Yoon Suk Yeol is the most recent person to have opened a Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon Province in 2024. South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol portrait.jpg
President Yoon Suk Yeol is the most recent person to have opened a Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon Province in 2024.

The Olympic Games are an international multi-sport event featuring both summer and winter sports, held every two years with Summer and Winter Olympic Games alternating. During Olympic Games opening ceremonies, the sitting president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will make a speech before inviting a representative from the host country to officially declare that particular Games open. The current Olympic Charter requires this person to be the head of state of the host country, [1] although this has not always been the case. This article lists the people who have had the ceremonial duty to declare each Olympic Games open.

Contents

Opening ceremony

The IOC factsheet on the opening ceremony states: "According to the Olympic Charter protocol, the duty of declaring the Games officially open falls to the head of state of the host country. Those who have performed this task are royalty and presidents, or their representatives, whether it was a vice-president, a member of the royal family, or a governor-general". [2] [3] Rule 56 of Chapter 5 of the Olympic Charter sets out the exact words that are to be declared by the person opening the Games. If at a Summer Olympic Games, the words to be said are:

I declare open the Games of [name of host city] celebrating the [number of the Olympiad] Olympiad of the modern era. [1]

When at a Winter Olympic Games, the dignitary opening the Games is to proclaim:

I declare open the [number of the Olympic Winter Games] Olympic Winter Games of [name of host city]. [1]

However, this has not always been followed strictly;

On 1 August 1936, Adolf Hitler, Chancellor of Germany, opened the Games in Berlin in exact format in German:

"I proclaim open the Olympic Games of Berlin, celebrating the XI Olympiad of the modern era."

On 29 July 1948, King George VI of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, opened the Olympic Games of London in exact format:

"I proclaim open the Olympic Games of London, celebrating the XIV Olympiad of the modern era."

On 19 July 1952, Juho Kusti Paasikivi, President of Finland, opened the Olympic Games on Helsinki in exact format in English and Finnish:

"I declare open the Olympic Games of Helsinki, celebrating the XV Olympiad of the modern era."

On 22 November 1956, the Duke of Edinburgh opened the Games of Melbourne in exact format:

"I declare open the Olympic Games of Melbourne, celebrating the XVI Olympiad of the modern era."

On 27 August 1960, Giovanni Gronchi, President of the Italian Republic, declares the Summer Olympics in Rome open by speaking in Italian:

"I proclaim the opening of the Olympic Games of Rome, celebrating the XVII Olympiad of the modern era."

On 10 October 1964, Emperor Hirohito of Japan, opened the Summer Olympics in Tokyo by speaking in Japanese:

"Celebrating the XVIII modern Olympiad, we hereby declare the opening of the Tokyo Olympic Games."

On 12 October 1968, Mexican president Gustavo Diaz Ordaz opened the Games of Mexico City in Spanish:

"Today, 12 October 1968, I declare inaugurated the Olympic Games in Mexico, that commemorate the XIX Olympiad of the modern era."

On 26 August 1972, German president Gustav Heinmann opened the Games of Munich speaking in German:

"I declare the Olympic Games Munich 1972, celebrating the XX Olympiad of the modern era, open."

On 17 July 1976, Elizabeth II, as Queen of Canada, opened the Montreal Olympics (first in French followed by the English) with:

"I declare open the Olympic Games of 1976, celebrating the XXI Olympiad of the modern era."

On 19 July 1980, Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev opened the Moscow Summer Olympics speaking in Russian:

"Mr. President of International Olympic Committee! Sportsmen of the world! Dear guests! Comrades! I declare the Olympic Games of 1980, celebrating the XXII Olympiad of the modern era, now open."

On 28 July 1984, U.S. President Ronald Reagan opened the Los Angeles Summer Olympics with:

"Celebrating the XXIII Olympiad of the modern era, I declare open the Olympic Games of Los Angeles."

On 17 September 1988, President of the Republic of Korea, Roh Tae-woo opened the Summer Olympics in Seoul by speaking in Korean:

"In celebration of the 24th modern Olympic Games, I declare the Seoul Olympic Games open."

On 25 July 1992, King Juan Carlos I of Spain opened the Barcelona Summer Olympics with, following the 500th anniversary of the Alhambra Decree and exploration of the New World:

"(In Catalan) Welcome all to Barcelona. (In Spanish) Today, 25 July of the Year 1992, I declare open the Barcelona Olympic Games that celebrate the XXV Olympiad of the modern era."

On 12 February 1994, King Harald V of Norway opened the Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer by speaking in Norwegian:

"I hereby declare opened the XVII Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer." [4]

On 19 July 1996, U.S. President Bill Clinton opened the Atlanta Summer Olympics with the exact format:

"I declare open the Games of Atlanta, celebrating the XXVI Olympiad of the modern era."

On 7 February 1998, Emperor Akihito of Japan opened the Olympic Winter Games in Nagano by speaking in Japanese:

"Here, I will declare the opening of the XVIII Olympic Winter Games in Nagano."

On 15 September 2000, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia Sir William Deane opened the Sydney Summer Olympics with the exact format:

"I declare open the Games of Sydney, celebrating the XXVII Olympiad of the modern era."

On 8 February 2002, U.S. President George W. Bush opened the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City (which took place five months after the September 11 attacks) using the format of the Summer Games declaration with:

"On behalf of a proud, determined and grateful nation, I declare open the Games of Salt Lake City, celebrating the Olympic Winter Games."

On 13 August 2004, Konstantinos Stephanopoulos, President of the Hellenic Republic, opened the Athens Summer Olympics, accompanied by the Adjutant to the President of the Hellenic Republic, Air Force Colonel Georgios Dritsakos, by speaking in Greek:

"I declare the opening of the Olympic Games of Athens...and the celebration of the XXVIII Olympiad of the modern era."

On 10 February 2006, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, President of the Italian Republic, opened the Turin Olympic Winter Games using the format of the Summer Games declaration by speaking in Italian:

"I declare open, in Turin, the celebration of the XX Winter Olympic Games."

On 8 August 2008, Hu Jintao, the President of the People's Republic of China, opened the Beijing Summer Olympics by speaking in Mandarin:

"I declare, the XXIX Olympic Games of Beijing, open."

On 12 February 2010, the Governor General of Canada, Michaëlle Jean, opened the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver using the format of the Summer Games declaration by saying in French and English:

"I declare open the Games of Vancouver, celebrating the 21st Olympic Winter Games." [5]

On 27 July 2012, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, declares the opening of the 2012 London Summer Olympics, following the 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne, with the exact format:

"I declare open the Games of London, celebrating the XXX Olympiad of the modern era."

On 7 February 2014, Vladimir Putin, the President of the Russian Federation, declares the opening of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics by speaking in Russian:

"The XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi I declare open."

On 5 August 2016, Brazilian vice president Michel Temer, as acting president during the suspension of President Dilma Rousseff's powers and duties, opened the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro by speaking in Brazilian Portuguese:

"After this wonderful spectacle, I declare open the Rio Olympic Games, celebrating the XXXI Olympiad of the modern era."

On 9 February 2018, Moon Jae-in, President of the Republic of Korea, declares the opening of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics by speaking in Korean:

"I declare the 23rd Winter Olympic Games, the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, open."

On 23 July 2021, Emperor Naruhito opened the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo (which was postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic), following the 10th anniversary of the Great East Japan earthquake, by speaking in Japanese:

"I hereby declare the opening of the Tokyo Games to commemorate the XXXII Modern Olympiad."

On 4 February 2022, Xi Jinping, the President of the People's Republic of China, opened the Beijing Winter Olympics by speaking in Mandarin:

"I declare, the 24th Winter Olympic Games of Beijing, open." [6]

Records

Adolf Hitler Hitler portrait crop.jpg
Adolf Hitler
Giovanni Gronchi Giovanni Gronchi.jpg
Giovanni Gronchi
Hirohito Hirohito in dress uniform.jpg
Hirohito
Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II official portrait for 1959 tour (retouched) (cropped) (3-to-4 aspect ratio).jpg
Elizabeth II

As of 2022, there have been 49 different individuals who opened either the Summer or Winter Olympic Games. Four of them have done so more than once. German führer Adolf Hitler was the first person to open more than one Olympic Games; he opened the 1936 Winter and Summer Olympics, both of which were hosted in Germany. He remains the only one to open more than one Games in the same year.

Italian president Giovanni Gronchi opened the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo and the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. He was the first democratically elected head of state to open more than one Olympic Games.

Japanese emperor Hirohito opened the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo. He was the first non-European to open more than one Olympic Games.

Queen Elizabeth II opened the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada, and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Great Britain. She is the first woman to open more than one Olympic Games, first woman to open any Summer Olympics, and the only one to do so in different host countries. Aside from declaring open the Games by herself, she was represented during the declaration four times: in the 1956 and 2000 Summer Olympics – both were held in Australia – as well as the 1988 and 2010 Winter Olympics – both were held in Canada.

In 1952, Princess Ragnhild of Norway became the first woman to open any Olympic Games.

Chinese president and Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping became the first person to open both the Youth Olympics and regular Olympics, having opened the 2014 Summer Youth and 2022 Winter Games.

Dignitaries who have opened the Summer Olympics

YearGamesHost cityOfficially opened by [lower-alpha 1] Office of opener [lower-alpha 1] Notes
1896 I Olympiad Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg Athens, Greece George I King of the Hellenes [7]
1900 II Olympiad Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg Paris, France No official openingNo official opening [8]
1904 III Olympiad Flag of the United States (1896-1908).svg St. Louis, United States David R. Francis President of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition [lower-alpha 2] [9]
1908 IV Olympiad Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London, Great Britain Edward VII King of the United Kingdom [10]
1912 V Olympiad Flag of Sweden.svg Stockholm, Sweden Gustaf V King of Sweden [11]
1920 VII Olympiad Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Antwerp, Belgium Albert I King of the Belgians [12]
1924 VIII Olympiad Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg Paris, France Gaston Doumergue President of the French Republic [13]
1928 IX Olympiad Flag of the Netherlands.svg Amsterdam, Netherlands Prince Hendrik Prince Consort of the Netherlands [lower-alpha 3] [14]
1932 X Olympiad Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Los Angeles, United States Charles Curtis Vice President of the United States [lower-alpha 4] [15]
1936 XI Olympiad Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg Berlin, Germany Adolf Hitler Chancellor of the German Reich [lower-alpha 5] [16]
1948 XIV Olympiad Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London, Great Britain George VI King of the United Kingdom [17]
1952 XV Olympiad Flag of Finland.svg Helsinki, Finland Juho Kusti Paasikivi President of the Republic of Finland [18]
1956 XVI Olympiad Flag of Australia (converted).svg Melbourne, Australia The Duke of Edinburgh Consort of the Queen of Australia [lower-alpha 6] [19]
1956 XVI Olympiad (equestrian) Flag of Sweden.svg Stockholm, Sweden Gustaf VI Adolf King of Sweden [20]
1960 XVII Olympiad Flag of Italy.svg Rome, Italy Giovanni Gronchi President of the Italian Republic [21]
1964 XVIII Olympiad Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Tokyo, Japan Hirohito Emperor of Japan [22]
1968 XIX Olympiad Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico City, Mexico Gustavo Díaz Ordaz President of the United Mexican States [23]
1972 XX Olympiad Flag of Germany.svg Munich, West Germany Gustav Heinemann Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany [24]
1976 XXI Olympiad Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Montreal, Canada Elizabeth II Queen of Canada [25]
1980 XXII Olympiad Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Moscow, Soviet Union Leonid Brezhnev Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [lower-alpha 7] [26]
1984 XXIII Olympiad Flag of the United States.svg Los Angeles, United States Ronald Reagan President of the United States [27]
1988 XXIV Olympiad Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Seoul, Republic of Korea Roh Tae-woo President of the Republic of Korea [28]
1992 XXV Olympiad Flag of Spain.svg Barcelona, Spain Juan Carlos I King of Spain [29]
1996 XXVI Olympiad Flag of the United States.svg Atlanta, United States Bill Clinton President of the United States [30]
2000 XXVII Olympiad Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sydney, Australia William Deane Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia [lower-alpha 8] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35]
2004 XXVIII Olympiad Flag of Greece.svg Athens, Greece Konstantinos Stephanopoulos President of the Hellenic Republic [36]
2008 XXIX Olympiad Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Beijing, China PR Hu Jintao President of the People's Republic of China [lower-alpha 9] [37]
2012 XXX Olympiad Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London, Great Britain Elizabeth II Queen of the United Kingdom [38]
2016 XXXI Olympiad Flag of Brazil.svg Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Michel Temer Vice President of the Federative Republic of Brazil [lower-alpha 10]
2020 XXXII Olympiad Flag of Japan.svg Tokyo, Japan Naruhito Emperor of Japan [39]
2024 XXXIII Olympiad Flag of France.svg Paris, France Emmanuel Macron (expected) President of the French Republic
2028 XXXIV Olympiad Flag of the United States.svg Los Angeles, United States TBD President of the United States (expected)
2032 XXXV Olympiad Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brisbane, Australia TBD Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia [lower-alpha 11] (expected)

Notes:

  1. 1 2 Names & offices in italics reflect an opener who was not head of state when opening the Games. If the office is partially italicized, the non-italicized portion is the office & name of the head of state being represented.
  2. Representing President Theodore Roosevelt.
  3. Representing his wife, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands.
  4. Representing President Herbert Hoover.
  5. IOC records state Hitler opened these Games as "Chancellor" (head of government), but in 1934 that office was consolidated with "President" (head of state) into "Führer und Reichskanzler", or "Führer". [2]
  6. Representing his wife, Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia.
  7. IOC records state Brezhnev opened the Moscow Games as "President", a title used at that time by the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, or de jure head of state. (The office of President of the Soviet Union was not created until 1990, a year before the nation broke up.) Though Brezhnev was also de facto ruler as General Secretary of the Communist Party, that title is not reflected in IOC records. [2]
  8. Representing Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia.
  9. IOC records state Hu Jintao opened the Beijing Games as "President", de jure head of state. Though Hu was also de facto ruler as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, that title is not reflected in IOC records. [2]
  10. As acting president, discharging the powers and duties of the office of President of the Federative Republic of Brazil in place of incumbent President Dilma Rousseff, who was suspended from her duties as President during her impeachment trial.
  11. Representing Charles III, King of Australia.

Dignitaries who have opened the Winter Olympics

YearGamesHost cityOfficially opened by [lower-alpha 1] Office of opener [lower-alpha 1] Notes
1924 I Winter Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg Chamonix, France Gaston Vidal Undersecretary for Physical Education of the French Republic [lower-alpha 2] [40]
1928 II Winter Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg St. Moritz, Switzerland Edmund Schulthess President of the Swiss Confederation [lower-alpha 3] [41]
1932 III Winter Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Lake Placid, United States Franklin D. Roosevelt Governor of the State of New York [lower-alpha 4] [42]
1936 IV Winter Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany Adolf Hitler Chancellor of the German Reich [lower-alpha 5] [43]
1948 V Winter Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg St. Moritz, Switzerland Enrico Celio President of the Swiss Confederation [lower-alpha 3] [44]
1952 VI Winter Flag of Norway.svg Oslo, Norway Princess Ragnhild Princess of Norway [lower-alpha 6] [45]
1956 VII Winter Flag of Italy.svg Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy Giovanni Gronchi President of the Italian Republic [46]
1960 VIII Winter Flag of the United States (1959-1960).svg Squaw Valley, United States Richard Nixon Vice President of the United States [lower-alpha 7] [47]
1964 IX Winter Flag of Austria.svg Innsbruck, Austria Adolf Schärf Federal President of the Republic of Austria [48]
1968 X Winter Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg Grenoble, France Charles de Gaulle President of the French Republic [49]
1972 XI Winter Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Sapporo, Japan Hirohito Emperor of Japan [50]
1976 XII Winter Flag of Austria.svg Innsbruck, Austria Rudolf Kirchschläger Federal President of the Republic of Austria [51]
1980 XIII Winter Flag of the United States.svg Lake Placid, United States Walter Mondale Vice President of the United States [lower-alpha 8] [52]
1984 XIV Winter Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Sarajevo, Yugoslavia Mika Špiljak President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia [53]
1988 XV Winter Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Calgary, Canada Jeanne Sauvé Governor General of Canada [lower-alpha 9] [54]
1992 XVI Winter Flag of France (lighter variant).svg Albertville, France François Mitterrand President of the French Republic [55]
1994 XVII Winter Flag of Norway.svg Lillehammer, Norway Harald V King of Norway [56]
1998 XVIII Winter Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Nagano, Japan Akihito Emperor of Japan [57]
2002 XIX Winter Flag of the United States.svg Salt Lake City, United States George W. Bush President of the United States [58]
2006 XX Winter Flag of Italy (2003-2006).svg Turin, Italy Carlo Azeglio Ciampi President of the Italian Republic [59]
2010 XXI Winter Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Vancouver, Canada Michaëlle Jean Governor General of Canada [lower-alpha 9] [60]
2014 XXII Winter Flag of Russia.svg Sochi, Russian Federation Vladimir Putin President of the Russian Federation [61]
2018 XXIII Winter Flag of South Korea.svg Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in President of the Republic of Korea
2022 XXIV Winter Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Beijing, China PR Xi Jinping President of the People's Republic of China [lower-alpha 10]
2026 XXV Winter Flag of Italy.svg Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy Sergio Mattarella (expected) President of the Italian Republic
  1. 1 2 Names & offices in italics reflect an opener who was not head of state when he or she opened the Games. If the office is partially italicized, the non-italicized portion is the office & name of the head of state being represented.
  2. Representing President Alexandre Millerand.
  3. 1 2 This office is technically not head of state in and of itself, but is the presiding officer of the Federal Council which collectively acts as head of state.
  4. Representing President Herbert Hoover.
  5. IOC records state Hitler opened these Games as "Chancellor" (head of government), but in 1934 that office was consolidated with "President" (head of state) into "Führer und Reichskanzler", or "Führer". [3]
  6. Representing her grandfather, King Haakon VII of Norway.
  7. Representing President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
  8. Representing President Jimmy Carter.
  9. 1 2 Representing Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada.
  10. IOC records state Xi Jinping opened the Nanjing Games as "President", de jure head of state. Though Xi was also de facto ruler as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, that title is not reflected in IOC records. [62]

Dignitaries who have opened the Youth Olympic Games

YearGamesHost cityOfficially opened byOffice of openerNotes
2010 I Summer Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore S.R. Nathan President of the Republic of Singapore
2012 I Winter Flag of Austria.svg Innsbruck, Austria Heinz Fischer Federal President of the Republic of Austria
2014 II Summer Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Nanjing, China PR Xi Jinping President of the People's Republic of China [lower-alpha 1]
2016 II Winter Flag of Norway.svg Lillehammer, Norway Harald V King of Norway
2018 III Summer Flag of Argentina.svg Buenos Aires, Argentina Mauricio Macri President of the Argentine Republic
2020 III Winter Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Lausanne, Switzerland Simonetta Sommaruga President of the Swiss Confederation [lower-alpha 2]
2024 IV Winter Flag of South Korea.svg Gangwon Province, Republic of Korea Yoon Suk Yeol President of the Republic of Korea
2026 IV Summer Flag of Senegal.svg Dakar, Senegal TBD President of the Republic of Senegal (expected)

Notes:

  1. IOC records state Xi Jinping opened the Nanjing Games as "President", de jure head of state. Though Xi was also de facto ruler as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, that title is not reflected in IOC records. [62]
  2. This office is technically not head of state in and of itself, but is the presiding officer of the Federal Council which collectively acts as head of state.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olympic Games</span> Major international multi-sport event

The modern Olympic Games or Olympics are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games are considered the world's foremost sports competition with more than 200 teams, representing sovereign states and territories participating; by default the Games generally substitute for any World Championships the year in which they take place. The Olympic Games are normally held every four years, and since 1994, have alternated between the Summer and Winter Olympics every two years during the four-year period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summer Olympic Games</span> Major international multi-sport event

The Summer Olympic Games, also known as the Games of the Olympiad, and often referred to as the Summer Olympics, is a major international multi-sport event normally held once every four years on leap years. The inaugural Games took place in 1896 in Athens, Greece, and the most recent Games were held in 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is responsible for organising the Games and for overseeing the host city's preparations. The tradition of awarding medals began in 1904; in each Olympic event, gold medals are awarded for first place, silver medals for second place, and bronze medals for third place.
The Winter Olympic Games were created out of the success of the Summer Olympic Games, which are regarded as the largest and most prestigious multi-sport international event in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1948 Summer Olympics</span> Multi-sport event in London, England

The 1948 Summer Olympics were an international multi-sport event held from 29 July to 14 August 1948 in London, United Kingdom. Following a twelve-year hiatus caused by the outbreak of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics held since the 1936 Games in Berlin. The 1940 Olympic Games had been scheduled for Tokyo and then for Helsinki, while the 1944 Olympic Games had been provisionally planned for London. This was the second time London hosted the Olympic Games, having previously hosted them in 1908, forty years earlier. The Olympics would return again to London 64 years later in 2012, making London the first city to host the games three times, and the only such city until Paris and Los Angeles host their third games in 2024 and 2028, respectively. The 1948 Olympic Games were also the first of two summer Games held under the IOC presidency of Sigfrid Edström.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1996 Summer Olympics</span> Multi-sport event in Atlanta, Georgia, US

The 1996 Summer Olympics were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. These were the fourth Summer Olympics to be hosted by the United States, and marked the 100th anniversary of the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, the inaugural edition of the modern Olympic Games. These were also the first Summer Olympics since 1924 to be held in a different year than the Winter Olympics, as part of a new IOC practice implemented in 1994 to hold the Summer and Winter Games in alternating, even-numbered years. The 1996 Games were the first of the two consecutive Summer Olympics to be held in a predominantly English-speaking country preceding the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. These were also the last Summer Olympics to be held in North America until 2028, when Los Angeles will host the games for the third time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1976 Summer Olympics</span> Multi-sport event in Montreal, Canada

The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad and commonly known as Montreal 1976, were an international multi-sport event held from July 17 to August 1, 1976, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam on May 12, 1970, over the bids of Moscow and Los Angeles. It was the first and, so far, only Summer Olympic Games to be held in Canada. Toronto hosted the 1976 Summer Paralympics the same year as the Montreal Olympics, which still remains the only Summer Paralympics to be held in Canada. Calgary and Vancouver later hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 1988 and 2010, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1928 Summer Olympics</span> Multi-sport event in Amsterdam, Netherlands

The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad and commonly known as Amsterdam 1928, was an international multi-sport event that was celebrated from 28 July to 12 August 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The city of Amsterdam had previously bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but was obliged to give way to war-torn Antwerp in Belgium for the 1920 Games and Pierre de Coubertin's Paris for the 1924 Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1924 Summer Olympics</span> Multi-sport event in Paris, France

The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the VIII Olympiad and also known as Paris 1924, were an international multi-sport event held in Paris, France. The opening ceremony was held on 5 July, but some competitions had already started on 4 May. The Games were the second to be hosted by Paris, making it the first city to host the Olympics twice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1920 Summer Olympics</span> Multi-sport event in Antwerp, Belgium

The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad and commonly known as Antwerp 1920, were an international multi-sport event held in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olympic symbols</span> Symbols of the International Olympic Games

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) uses icons, flags, and symbols to elevate the Olympic Games. These symbols include those commonly used during Olympic competition—such as the flame, fanfare and theme—as well as those used throughout the years, such as the Olympic flag.

The opening ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympics was held on August 13, 2004 starting at 20:45 EEST (UTC+3) at the Olympic Stadium in Marousi, Greece, a suburb of Athens. As mandated by the Olympic Charter, the proceedings combined the formal and ceremonial opening of this international sporting event, including welcoming speeches, hoisting of the flags and the parade of athletes, with an artistic spectacle to showcase the host nation's culture and history. 72,000 spectators attended the event, with approximately 15,000 athletes from 202 countries participating in the ceremony as well. It marked the first-ever international broadcast of high-definition television, undertaken by the U.S. broadcaster NBC and the Japanese broadcaster NHK. The Games were officially opened by President of the Hellenic Republic Konstantinos Stephanopoulos at 23:46 EEST (UTC+3).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bids for the Olympic Games</span> Bids to host the Olympic Games

National Olympic Committees that wish to host an Olympic Games select cities within their territories to put forth bids for the Olympic Games. The staging of the Paralympic Games is automatically included in the bid. Since the creation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894, which successfully appropriated the name of the Ancient Greek Olympics to create a modern sporting event, interested cities have rivaled for selection as host of the Summer or Winter Olympic Games. 51 different cities have been chosen to host the modern Olympics: three in Eastern Europe, five in East Asia, one in South America, three in Oceania, nine in North America and all the others in Western Europe. No Central American, African, Central Asian, Middle Eastern, South Asian, or Southeast Asian city has ever been chosen to host an Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All-time Olympic Games medal table</span> List of medals won by Olympic delegations

The all-time medal table for all Olympic Games from 1896 to 2022, including Summer Olympic Games, Winter Olympic Games, and a combined total of both, is tabulated below. These Olympic medal counts do not include the 1906 Intercalated Games which are no longer recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as official Games. The IOC itself does not publish all-time tables, and publishes unofficial tables only per single Games. This table was thus compiled by adding up single entries from the IOC database.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 Summer Olympics opening ceremony</span>

The opening ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics took place on the evening of Friday, 15 September 2000 in Stadium Australia, Sydney, during which the Games were formally opened by then-Governor-General Sir William Deane. As mandated by the Olympic Charter, the proceedings combined the formal and ceremonial opening of this international sporting event, including welcoming speeches, hoisting of the flags and the parade of athletes, with an artistic spectacle to showcase the host nation's culture and history. Veteran ceremonies director Ric Birch was the Director of Ceremonies while David Atkins was the Artistic Director and Producer. Its artistic section highlighted several aspects of Australian culture and history, showing Australia's flora and fauna, technology, multiculturalism, and the hopeful moment of reconciliation towards Aboriginal Australians. The ceremony had a cast of 12,687 performers, seen by a stadium audience of around 110,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 Summer Olympics</span> Multi-sport event in Paris, France

The 2024 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad and commonly known as Paris 2024, is an upcoming international multi-sport event scheduled to take place from 26 July to 11 August 2024 in France, with Paris as the main host city and 16 other cities spread across metropolitan France, plus one subsite in Tahiti—an island within the French overseas country and overseas collectivity of French Polynesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serbia and Montenegro at the Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

The former State Union of Serbia and Montenegro was represented at the Olympic Games on six occasions between 1996 and 2006, when the union was dissolved and Montenegro and Serbia each declared full independence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Summer Youth Olympics</span> Sports festival for teenagers in Nanjing, China

The 2014 Summer Youth Olympics, officially known as the II Summer Youth Olympic Games Chinese: 第二届夏季青年奧林匹克运动会; pinyin: Dì'èrjiè Xiàjì Qīngnián Àolínpǐkè Yùndònghuì, and commonly known as Nanjing 2014, were the second Summer Youth Olympic Games, an international sports, education and cultural festival for teenagers, held from 16 to 28 August 2014 in Nanjing, China. These were the first Youth Olympic Games held in China, making it the first country to host both regular and Youth Olympics following the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olympic Games ceremony</span> Ceremonial events of the ancient and modern Olympic Games

The Olympic Games ceremonies of the Ancient Olympic Games were an integral part of these Games; the modern Olympic games have opening, closing, and medal ceremonies. Some of the elements of the modern ceremonies date back to the Ancient Games from which the Modern Olympics draw their ancestry. An example of this is the prominence of Greece in both the opening and closing ceremonies. During the 2004 Games, the medal winners received a crown of olive branches, which was a direct reference to the Ancient Games, in which the victor's prize was an olive wreath. The various elements of the ceremonies are mandated by the Olympic Charter, and cannot be changed by the host nation. This requirement of seeking the approval of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) includes the artistic portion of opening and closing ceremonies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1988 Summer Olympics closing ceremony</span>

The closing ceremony of the 1988 Summer Olympics took place at Seoul Olympic Stadium in Seoul, South Korea, on 2 October 1988 at 19:00 -20:45 KDT (UTC+10).

The opening ceremony of the 1988 Summer Olympics took place at Seoul Olympic Stadium in Seoul, South Korea, on 17 September 1988 at 10:30 KDT (UTC+10). The official song of this game was "Hand in Hand", which was performed by Koreana. The Games were officially opened by President of the Republic of Korea Roh Tae-woo.

References

  1. 1 2 3 International Olympic Committee (17 July 2020). Olympic Charter (PDF). p. 95. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Factsheet – Opening Ceremony of the Games of the Olympiad" (PDF). International Olympic Committee. 11 January 2018. pp. 4–5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Factsheet – Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games" (PDF). International Olympic Committee. 11 January 2018. p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  4. Los Angeles Times article published February 13, 1994
  5. "Opening Ceremony: 2010 Winter Games declared open". Agence France-Presse. 12 February 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  6. "Beijing 2022: Winter Olympics opening ceremony – as it happened". The Guardian. 4 February 2022.
  7. "Athens 1896 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  8. "Paris 1900 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  9. "St Louis 1904 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  10. "London 1908 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  11. "Stockholm 1912 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  12. "Antwerp 1920 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  13. "Paris 1924 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  14. "Amsterdam 1928 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  15. "Los Angeles 1932 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  16. "Berlin 1936 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  17. "London 1948 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  18. "Helsinki 1952 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  19. "Melbourne-Stockholm 1956 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  20. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "1956 Stockholm Equestrian Games". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  21. "Rome 1960 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  22. "Tokyo 1964 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  23. "Mexico City 1968 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  24. "Munich 1972 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  25. "Montreal 1976 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  26. "Moscow 1980 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  27. "Los Angeles 1984 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  28. "Seoul 1988 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  29. "Barcelona 1992 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  30. "Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  31. "Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  32. "Get ready to watch the Opening Ceremony: Heads of state". NBC. 24 March 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  33. Harvey, Randy (16 September 2000). "Down Wonders". LA Times. Archived from the original on 5 August 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  34. Olsen, Lisa (10 September 2000). "History Lesson Despite the stereotypes, don't expect to run into Crocodile Dundee at the Sydney Games". New York Daily News. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  35. "Australia: Britain's Queen Elizabeth Visit". AP Archive. Associated Press. 21 March 2000.
  36. "Athens 2004 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  37. "Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  38. "London 2012 Olympics launches with huge ceremony". BBC News . 27 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  39. Rurika Imahashi; Francesca Regalado (23 July 2021). "Tokyo's Olympic flame burns at last after subdued ceremony". The Nikkei.
  40. "Chamonix 1924 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  41. "St Moritz 1928 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  42. "Lake Placid 1932 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  43. "Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1936 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  44. "St Moritz 1948 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  45. "Oslo 1952 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  46. "Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  47. "Squaw Valley 1960 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  48. "Innsbruck 1964 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  49. "Grenoble 1968 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  50. "Sapporo 1972 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  51. "Innsbruck 1976 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  52. "Lake Placid 1980 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  53. "Sarajevo 1984 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  54. "Calgary 1988 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  55. "Albertville 1992 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  56. "Lillehammer 1994 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  57. "Nagano 1998 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  58. "Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  59. "Turin 2006 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  60. "Governor General to Open the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games". Governor General of Canada. February 8, 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-10.
  61. Sam Sheringham (February 7, 2014). "Sochi 2014: Winter Olympics opens with glittering ceremony". BBC. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
  62. 1 2 "IOC President meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping". International Olympic Committee. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2021.