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WHETHER YOU VIEW them as an awe-inspiring celebration of a nation’s culture and global unity, or as nothing more than a sparkly propaganda-fest, it cannot be denied that Olympic opening ceremonies are entertaining to watch. All that multi-billion-dollar budget has to go somewhere, and often, it goes into making the world go ‘wow’ on opening night.

Opening ceremonies, though, are about more than the wow factor. The parade of nations is as close as we may ever get to the world truly coming together, and the proceedings set the tone for the next two- -and-a-half weeks of sporting excellence, with pyrotechnics, choreographed performances and a few musical numbers. You know the drill. This year’s ceremony looked dramatically different though.

The 2024 Paris Olympics marked the first time that an opening ceremony took place entirely outside of a stadium. Instead, athletes were carried along the River Seine in boats – they didn’t have to swim in it just yet, thankfully – before arriving at the Trocadéro, a large courtyard with several gardens and a great view of the Eiffel tower. Whether this has set a precedent to be followed at future Olympics, we can’t say, but in the meantime we’re taking a look back at the best in history and ranking them from 9-1.

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9. Paris 2024

Hate it or love it, the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics certainly shook things up. Breaking away from the tradition of being held within the confines of a stadium, the opening ceremony for Paris 2024 was held predominantly on the River Seine, with the city of Paris itself effectively serving as the site for the occasion. The nearly four hour long ceremony was inspired by what Paris is internationally known for, with segments dedicated to love, lights, fashion, art and culture. It had its controversial moments, but we respect the decision to think outside of the box.

8. Athens 2004

Organisers were always going to need to go all out for the return of the Olympics to their birthplace, and Athens didn’t disappoint. The opening ceremony celebrated the Olympics’ ancient origins without feeling like too much of a history lesson, while also exploring their modern significance. The event featured a parade of important historical Olympic figures, an appropriately rich smattering of Greek mythology and successfully bridged the past and present.

7. Atlanta 1996

The USA might’ve been short on ideas for Atlanta 1996 after hosting the Olympics only 12 years earlier in Los Angeles, but it certainly didn’t show. The Atlanta Games were opened with an homage to the American South and the nicer parts of its history. Muhammad Ali lit the flame, Celine Dion performed and fireworks boomed. It was a hit.

6. Los Angeles 1984

The power of an opening ceremony to act as a propaganda tool was at its height in Los Angeles 1984. In the midst of the Cold War and an American boycott of the Moscow Games four years earlier, the Los Angeles Games presented an opportunity for the USA to demonstrate its superiority over its enemies in the Eastern Bloc. Organisers did so by showcasing American culture with a Hollywood-themed extravaganza, featuring a stunt performer flying around with a jetpack, a massive choir singing the Olympic Hymn and a large-scale fireworks display.

5. Tokyo 1964

Tokyo’s opening ceremony marked Japan’s return to the international stage after World War II, telling the world that the nation had not only recovered, but reasserted itself. The event featured performances that blended traditional Japanese culture and contemporary displays, including a mesmerising sea of kimonos and a massive wooden structure of the Olympic rings.

4. Barcelona 1992

We’ll admit that Barcelona ’92 probably wouldn’t appear on this list if not for one standout moment, but such is the absolute coolness of that moment that it earns this opening ceremony a spot. In case you have no idea what we’re talking about, familiarise yourself with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron in Barcelona, which was performed by a flaming arrow shot from the bow of Spanish archer Antonio Rebollo.

3. Sydney 2000

Australian cultural unity and reconciliation was on full display at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Even before Cathy Freeman became the first Indigenous athlete to win an individual gold medal and paraded around Stadium Australia with both the Aboriginal and Australian flags draped over her shoulders, the Games’ opening ceremony was a celebration of the nation’s indigenous culture. Sydney 2000 was also the 100th anniversary of female athletes competing at the Olympics. Fittingly, a cast of legendary female Australian Olympians carried the Olympic torch on its final legs, before Cathy Freeman lit the cauldron.

2. London 2012

London’s opening ceremony was an eclectic and thankfully humorous celebration of British culture and history. From the pastoral scenes of the Industrial Revolution to the inclusion of Sir Rowan Atkinson – Mr Bean running along to the Chariots of Fire theme is a top ten Olympic moment – the ceremony was both entertaining and poignant. The Queen even made a surprise appearance alongside Daniel Craig as James Bond. Difficult to top!

1. Beijing 2008

Earlier, we mentioned that some may perceive Olympic opening ceremonies as sparkly propaganda-fests, which is easy to understand if you’ve seen the opener at Beijing 2008. Yes, this opening ceremony may have been the biggest propaganda tool of the bunch – being used as an announcement of China’s ascension as a global economic superpower in a stadium built by migrant workers in appalling conditions  – but that didn’t make it any less spectacular.

Directed by Zhang Yimou, the event featured 15,000 performers in choreographed unison, showcasing China’s history and cultural heritage. Highlights included the synchronised drumming of 2,008 drums and the awe-inspiring moment when gymnast Li Ning ran around the top of the Bird’s Nest Stadium to light the Olympic flame.

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