History of Olympic Opening Ceremonies

SI Staff | Jul 25, 2012

History of Olympic Opening Ceremonies

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

Getty Images

1908, London

Getty Images

1908, London

Getty Images

1912, Stockholm

Getty Images

1920, Antwerp

Getty Images

1924, Paris

Popperfoto/Getty Images

1924, Paris

AP

1932, Los Angeles

AP

1936, Berlin

Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

1948, London

AP

1948, London

AP

1952, Helsinki

1956, Melbourne

AP

1960, Rome

AP

1964, Tokyo

AP

1964, Tokyo

AP

1968, Mexico City

1972, Munich

AP

1972, Munich

1976, Montreal

Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

1984, Los Angeles

1984, Los Angeles

WireImage

1984, Los Angeles

1988, Seoul

1988, Seoul

1980, Moscow

AFP/Getty Images

1980, Moscow

Tony Duffy/Getty Images

1992, Barcelona

1996, Atlanta

Peter Read Miller/SI

1996, Atlanta

David Taylor /Allsport

2000, Sydney

David E. Klutho/SI

2000, Sydney

Bob Martin/SI

Sydney, 2000

John Biever/SI

2004, Athens

John W. McDonough/SI

2004, Athens

John Biever/SI

2008, Beijing

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

2008, Beijing

John W. McDonough/SI

2012, London

Simon Bruty

2012, London

John W. McDonough

2012, London

Al Tielemans