Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games - Olympic Flame & Opening Ceremony

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Our coverage of the official film of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games begins as the Olympic torch makes it way to the Olympic stadium and the Opening Ceremony begins to open the Games.
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[@dynasty0019]

My first Summer Games memory. The 1996 Atlanta Olympics will always have a special place in my heart.

[@DanielBacaMaker]

Bless you. So many miles before that but...yours was the first in the modern era

[@spitzfire1107]

Same Since then I always followed Olympic Games every 4 Years.

[@lucasbugarin1277]

My first memories were Athens 2004. My mom went to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics because she was raised in Los Angeles. She had the honor as a citizen of this amazing city to see one of the most important events events in her home turf. Not many people realize how important these games are including the winter games. This is the only time where every country puts their differences away and just unites together. In my opinion, the Olympics are one of the most amazing events the world has ever known. If we did not have them the world would not be the same.

[@memeeater420]

@Gus W yeah but it can do a lot of good for the economy in terms of the ticket sales, ad revenue and I guess endorsements from companies like McDonald's? Another reason on why they're important is because they brought the whole world together to play rather than to fight.

[@reskyramadan6287]

Los Angeles 2028

[@foxiflakes8245]

I became a fan of the Olympics when I was 6 and saw the opener for Beijing in 2008,it was an amazing moment, my parents had the privilege to see the Olympics themselves, since they were living in Atlanta and still are, when ever I pass by the Olympic village today, I feel a certain sense of pride, the day Atlanta became a city for the world to remember

[@Zodia195]

I remember watching this ceremony on TV when I was 14. I was excited to see Ali light the cauldron. Can't wait for the LA Games in 2028 because I plan on being there since I promised myself that if and when Olympics came back to the USA in my lifetime, I'd do my best to save up and go!

[@tylerbruno07]

Same

[@MultiHLH]

I was actually at the Opening Ceremonies. Very exciting night!

[@andrewcarrier3157]

I was there from start to finish....From LA to ATL...41 states in 3 months, over 15,000 miles to Muhammad Ali. Honor of a lifetime.

[@Nacholympic]

I became a fan of the Olympics with this Opening Ceremony..... despite having some critics I really love it!!! Brings me so many memories and it was a really spectacular show!!!

[@burdrchitect1680]

Same here. First time seeing the Olympics. Now I'm a resident in the city, which has grown tremendously since then.

[@hightoweratlanta]

Atlanta 1996 was the first time I became enamored with the Olympic Games and the Olympic Movement and yes they have it's critics but I have never waivered from their fascination

[@burdrchitect1680]

Chris Hightower same here. I think this is reason why Im now a citizen in the city

[@zgnp6]

the same with me.I was fascinated in sports from the 26th Olimpic games

[@MCloven779]

just makes me cry.

[@kelm2929]

I can remember being at the opening ceremonies of the games. It was such an exciting time. History being made right before me! I will never forget the thrill!

[@dmtm]

You showed the world what boxing could do. R.I.P Muhammed Ali!!!! muhammad ali 1942-2016

[@josephtafur]

out of all athletes who have lit the Olympic flame he was a sportsman who well deserving of this honor. May he rest in peace.

[@boogeymann6686]

It hurts to see Muhammad Ali in that condition

[@PurplePuppy2006]

Unfortinitly I never got to experience these games, I actually live in Atlanta but I was a late 2000s kid being born in 2006. This would’ve been an AWSOME experience for me but sadly it had already passed. At least the games will be in the US with LA in 2028 so I get to witness the games in the USA for the first time. And hopefully many more too.

[@lMobiuscidl]

Magical music

[@daradiant1]

Only Atlanta and Barcelona had the best light torches I have seen yet in Olympic history! If Tokyo out do Barcelona and Atlanta then I will change my statement.

[@cerealfibre6938]

10:41 "I declare open the Games of Atlanta."

[@KaiserInGilroy2K]

The first time I saw all the marquee events live in the west.

[@torchbearer96]

AWESOME!

[@namafarm]

The Greatest

[@kelm2929]

Description: Colour: Length: Composition: Fuel: On the wooden handle is engraved the list of Summer Games from 1896 to 1996, in reference to the centenary of the Olympic Games. The torch was inspired by simple ancient torches of bound reeds and the lines of classical Greek architecture. Its 22 aluminium “reeds” were representative of the total number of modern Olympic Games editions. The centre grip is made of Georgia pecan wood and there are two wide gold bands, one with the names of all Olympic Games host cities and, the other, with the emblem of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games and the Quilt of Leaves motif. Silver, gold, brown 82cm Aluminium, brass, pecan wood Propylene. The combustion duration is 20 minutes.

[@samsticka]

I remember the 1996 Olympics. They were a huge event. I think mainly due to the fact that it was the 100th anniversary of the Olympics. Just out of curiosity, was Nebraska one of those 42 states the Olympic Torch went through?

[@human9419]

Что я запомнил об этой олимпиаде - это то, что впервые увидел, когда шла церемония по дороге в городе, бмв пятой серии е39, новые, после е34 которые пошли. Они меня поразили дизайном конечно.

[@steinerquer]

i was just 13. first OG i watched))

[@DannyWHOficial]

1:01 the first woman who lighed the Olympic Cauldron in MEXICO 68, she’s Enriqueta Basilio and she's mexican too. 😍👌🏾💚🇲🇽

[@veneno15100]

good video

[@jasminejohnston6393]

RIP Muhammad Ali...

[@StFidjnr]

@ 5:57 the parade of nations

[@antoinettemalone2212]

I just heard through the "Grapevine" that LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA will host the 2028 Summer Olympics. No final word on it just yet, though.

[@user-submitted]

Мухаммад Али ❤❤❤❤❤

[@bnkundwa]

It is important to exercise for health.

[@John-ed8iy]

1896 Athens 1900 Paris, 1904, St. Louis, 1908 London, 1912 Stockholm, 1916 Berlin was canceled for World War I. 1920 Antwerp, 1924 Paris, 1928 Amsterdam, 1932 Los Angeles, 1936 Berlin, 1940 Tokyo and 1944 London has been canceled from World War II. 1948 London, 1952 Helsinki, 1956 Melbourne, 1960 Rome, 1964 Tokyo, 1968 Mexico City, 1972 Munich, 1976 Montreal, 1980 Moscow (American peoples can’t go to Moscow), 1984 Los Angeles, 1988 Seoul, 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta (100 years).

[@hofifut]

How did the torch fly across the ocean? Planes are all non-smoking sections.

[@anelew]

The flame is put into a special miner's lamp for transport by air

[@principedescalumet9497]

Not in 1996 you could smoke then,

[@principedescalumet9497]

Idk know y i laughed at the lady with the Polaroid camera when the pic shoots out back then that was like the coolest thing nowadays it feels corny

[@shmevanriceballz2857]

What about summon the heroes

[@pigs18]

This was really a tipping point for the Olympic movement. The Olympic Committee was so corrupt and so bloated at the time that the Atlanta organizers had to seek a lot of funds from private industry leading to criticism that the games were "too commercialized." (And a big fat obscene gesture to Mr. "One of the best games ever." You embodied the plague that nearly destroyed the Games from within.)

[@LordDavid04]

Umm the Games that didn't cause the city to become bankrupt? That only had public funds for general infrastructure projects totaling to around 500 million USD? They didn't have to seek a lot of funds from private industry because that was the bid from the beginning. Atlanta bid officials proposed a games based solely that it would use both private sponsorship rights and the selling of TV rights to help finance the games.

[@nightflyer3242]

Samaranch was just pissed that he didn't get a huge cut of the money made from the Atlanta Games because the overwhelming majority of the funds were private donors and corporate sponsors. Samaranch therefore was unable to take any kickbacks or bribes from public officials. Even if the games were done perfectly, he would've still not called Atlanta the best games ever. Atlanta had the last laugh though, since it made $50 million from the games (one of the handful of modern games to make a profit) while Samaranch's legacy was forever tarnished by the major IOC scandals of the late 90's.

[@LordDavid04]

@@nightflyer3242 Samaranch would have never called Atlanta the best ever, even if it were 💯% perfect. He just came from Barcelona hosting his hometown Olympics.

[@theblackwidow3401]

Lived in Georgia my whole life. Wasn’t born when it happened, but if I was alive, I would’ve made sure to go as soon as I got word. Southern pride

[@joshuagrotheer3589]

Wish more Games embraced the white dove symbolism the way Atlanta did.

[@franz945]

The Coke's Games!

[@stuartlaing4488]

R,I,P CASSIUS

[@jaysonboyles3251]

To those who watched the 1996 olympics, i believe this was russias first participation. How bizarre was it?

[@jaysonboyles3251]

@@josephmclaren5525 yeah i know it. I was just wondering how people felt about the once very strong competitor in olympics presented themselves as their respective individual nations. I bet it was really shameful for them or maybe liberating for some.

[@spaceBoba]

yeah, but technically as modern day russia. idk whether or not the russian empire participated im dumb.

[@ItsPoweRR]

Second

[@rlemus7559]

A dull opening ceremony🤨🤨🤨

[@polarpanda1158]

The centennial Olympics should have been in Athens

[@williamt.sherman1973]

Polar Panda in Olympia

[@LordDavid04]

It should have been Melbourne, but that was the unwinnable bid. It was bound to go to a non host if Athens wasn't ready. Toronto tried hard, but the "Breads not Circuses" camp got their way. So it ended up being Atlanta.

[@vahi37]

Athens could barely host it in 2004. What makes you think they would have been ready in 1996?

[@gordonandyu]

is it me or does the flame look like McDonald's french fries?

[@LordDavid04]

The only thing they got wrong, with regards to the Olympic Stadium itself (Atlanta got several other things wrong, like the official mascot, but that's not what we're talking about). Even Andrew Young said it was an eyesore. A better cauldron would have been a modern interpretation of a classical Greek column (made of aluminium), with a spiral staircase, and this "cauldron" but in white. Then you do the rigging of having the flame go from stadium level up to the top of the cauldron.

[@vahi37]

@@LordDavid04 I don't have a problem with the cauldron. I think it's nice. It's still here if you want to come see it.

[@curtyeomans8446]

@@LordDavid04 You mean the stadium that was built specifically to be converted into a baseball stadium after the games (but is now a college football stadium because the baseball team moved to a new stadium north of Atlanta a few years ago)?

[@LordDavid04]

@@curtyeomans8446 Yes that stadium. It looked much different in the original design as per the Atlanta 1996 bid books. It would have been slightly more conventional in design. Think Montreal's Olympic Stadium as a proper bowl without the roof. One end would have had as much as 5 large screens. A far better looking stadium than what they ended up with.

[@sonnymtv3960]

The Last True Olympic Games in terms of music, songs, era and conservative world values...

[@xdevzashura]

The american olympic always cringe