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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport

Olympic Games opening ceremonies – in pictures

Olympic games opening: Beijing 2008: Actors perform at the opening ceremony at the Bird's Nest
Beijing 2008: actors perform at the opening ceremony in the Bird's Nest stadium Photograph: Adrees Latif/Reuters
Olympic games opening: Beijing 2008: The opening ceremonyat the Bird's Nest
Beijing 2008: the ceremony included actors on what appeared to be a huge illuminated scroll Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian
Olympic games opening: Athens 2004: An olive tree is raised out of a cycladic head
Athens 2004: an olive tree is raised out of the remains of a Cycladic head during the opening ceremony Photograph: Gero Breloer/EPA
Olympic games opening: Sydney 2000: A sun lights up the grounds of the Olympic Stadium
Sydney 2000: a sun lights up the grounds of the Olympic Stadium Photograph: Eric Feferberg/AFP/Getty Images
Olympic games opening: Sydney 2000: The Olympic flame is lit during the opening ceremony
Sydney 2000: the Olympic flame is lit Photograph: Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Olympic games opening: Atlanta 1996: The Olympic Stadium as performers form the Olympic rings
Atlanta 1996: performers form Olympic rings at the ceremony, which took three years to prepare Photograph: Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty Images
Olympic games opening: Barcelona 1992: A giant moving model of an athlete is moved
Barcelona 1992: a giant moving model of an athlete is moved through the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony Photograph: Simon Bruty/Getty Images
Olympic games opening: Seoul 1988: A sea of Olympic flag bearers during the opening ceremony
Seoul 1988: a sea of Olympic flagbearers march Photograph: Gray Mortimore/Getty Images
Olympic games opening: Los Angeles 1984: Space-age arrival for Bill Scooter using a jet pack
Los Angeles 1984: a space-age arrival for Bill Scooter using a jet pack Photograph: Bob Thomas Sports Photography/Getty Images
Olympic games opening: Moscow 1980: Performers make a human tower
Moscow 1980: performers make a human tower Photograph: Getty Images
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