Olympic opening ceremonies from Paris to Beijing – in pictures

A look back at some scenes and characters at past Olympic ceremonies, from 1924 to 2008
  
  


Opening ceremonies: Opening ceremony 1924 Olympic Games Paris
Paris 1924: a scene during the parade at the opening ceremony Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images
Opening ceremonies: London Olympic Games 1948 - Opening Ceremony
London 1948: a view of the opening ceremony in Wembley Stadium
Photograph: S&G/EMPICS Photograph: S&G/Action images
Opening ceremonies: Torch bearer at 1948 Olympics
London 1948: the torchbearer, the last of the runners bringing the flame from Greece, arrives at Wembley Stadium Photograph: Getty Images
Opening ceremonies: Opening Ceremony Montreal 1976
Montreal 1976: a general view of the opening ceremony in the Canadian city Photograph: Tony Duffy/Getty Images
Opening ceremonies: 1980 Moscow Olympic games opening ceremony
Moscow 1980: hundreds of Russian gymnasts take part in a display Photograph: Heinz Kluetmeier/Getty Images/Time & Life Picture
Opening ceremonies: 1980 Olympic Games Moscow
Moscow 1980: the crowd creates a portrait of Lenin while a hammer and sickle and human pyramids are formed on the ground Photograph: Tony Duffy/Getty Images
Opening ceremonies: Jetpack man at the LA Olympics 1984
Los Angeles 1984: a performer wearing a jetpack flies around the stadium Photograph: Tony Duffy/Getty Images
Opening ceremonies: Jetpack man at 1984 LA Olympics opening ceremony
Los Angeles 1984: the man in a jetpack floats above the crowd Photograph: Popperfoto
Opening ceremonies: Barcelona Olympics - Opening Ceremony
Barcelona 1992: the crowd at the opening ceremony
Photograph: Sporting Pictures Photograph: Action images
Opening ceremonies: 1996 Muhammad Ali holds the torch
Atlanta 1996: Muhammad Ali holds the torch before lighting the Olympic flame Photograph: Michael Cooper/Getty Images
Opening ceremonies: General view of the Oympic Stadium Atlanta 1996
Atlanta 1996: the US city's Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Opening ceremonies: Opening Ceremony, Sydney Olympics 2000
Sydney 2000: a torchbearer lights a flaming ring
Photograph: Frank Baron for the Guardian Photograph: Frank Baron/for the Guardian
Opening ceremonies: Olympics - Opening Ceremony Beijing 2008
Beijing 2008: drummers perform at the opening ceremony Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Opening ceremonies: Opening Ceremony Montreal 1976
Beijing 2008: dancers in illuminated suits
Photograph: Tony Duffy/Getty Images Photograph: Tony Duffy/Action images
 

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