BBC 1996 Olympics opening credits with Desmond Lynam

[@jaylen1948]

I’m here because 96 is my favourite Olympics Game. I was 10 at the time and the music’s been living in my head rent free ever since 😂

[@meowstermeow2967]

I would whistle the theme with my dad

[@stephenduncan3605]

The greatest Olympic games theme tune of all time. Wish they could use this for every Olympic Games apart from the Pixie bit.

[@201081hero]

@@stephenduncan3605 It's good but many would say Barcelona is better.

[@youweechube]

man, you can just see here even in this short piece what an amazing presenter Desmon Lyman was, so calm, personality and came across as a great bloke

[@jamesryder9397]

I can imagine the producer through his ear set though: “No, Des! Not HOPE will be, PROMISE will be!!!”

[@wessonharrison2726]

You all prolly dont give a damn but does someone know of a way to get back into an instagram account..? I stupidly lost the password. I love any tips you can offer me.

[@rayzander5562]

@Wesson Harrison instablaster ;)

[@samstevens6544]

Des was the best. The best presenters make you feel calm despite chaotic environments around them.

[@meridian2000]

@Sam Stevens Sorry but I preferred Steve Rider and Sue Barker, they were the best.

[@yotsubafanfan]

Nice usage of the Gone with the wind theme song.

[@stephenduncan3605]

Listening to Classic FM Brought me here

[@williamgannaway8183]

That ident at the beginning!

[@creynolds094]

Friday 19th July 1996

[@meridian2000]

Des Lynam's last ever Olympics before he left the BBC in 1999.

[@Excalibur_LP]

inspiring

[@MultiVince95]

Saturday 20th July 1996

[@stephenduncan3605]

Los Angeles hosts the 2028 Olympics and I would love to see the BBC use this tune for the games once again.

[@joannedj1]

Olympic Grandstand opening titles: Impressive. Great Britain’s performance at those Games: Terrible! At least we learned from that and have been doing miles better ever since!

[@Johnno9989]

That reminds me, Max Steiner called, he wants his theme tune back 😉

[@harveyfleming9572]

gone with the wind

[@kevinprior3549]

Its actually a good a theme tune but Team GB were poor. We only came 36th in the medal table. Thank god for lottery money.

[@eurovoxx]

Anyone know where this music was from?

[@cultofdeath79]

there's 2 tunes here tara's theme from gone with the wind and the old confederate song i wish i was in dixie land

[@poppletop8331]

Clark Gable.❤

[@ChubbyChecker182]

Rhett Butler and Dishy Does Lynham in the same video. Very similar personas

[@sarnobat2000]

I didn't realize until today there's a full recording of this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZyvaJ99jct1bKc

[@ajs41]

The UK only won one gold medal at this games. People like to say this games was disappointing, but I don't know why they say that. It was pretty much the same as other Olympic Games as far as I can tell. Maybe there's an element of snobbery in attacking a games that wasn't held in a big capital city and was also in the USA.

[@mercifulzeus01]

There's a whole behind the scenes documentary which lays bare the chaos in the Atlanta Games, particularly with regard to transport. Unlicensed, untrained, lost coach drivers who had no clue how to get to a venue whose location they didn't even know. Barcelona's not a capital city either, but the lasting impression of those games is rather more favourable. No snobbery.

[@gezzarandom]

Sydney isn’t a capital city either and most look at those Olympics as one of the best ever.

[@madabbafan]

There was more to it than that, it was the first Olympics that had legally binding monopolies on what food and drink could be bought and sold in any and all Olympic Venues (eg only McDonalds and Only Coke products etc) athletes complained about the poor quality of the food on offer in the Olympic village, It was the only Olympics not to be described as 'the best ever' by the then head of the IOC (he had for 1988 and 1992 and did so again in 2000).

[@MrDatta10]

Atlanta was the worst olympics I have seen in 1996.

[@burdrchitect1680]

Might I ask what other Olympics games did you watch in '96? Everyone saying it's the worst, I must say I enjoyed it as a young kid. The world is not perfect, and will never be. Things happen which unites us to come together and be greater. The 96 Olympics is why I'm now a Metro Atlanta resident. The area has grown from 1.5 million residents to almost 7 million since the games, and is still growing.

[@ajs41]

Why was it the worst?

[@mercifulzeus01]

Technically it was therefore also the best Olympics in 1996...

[@MrDatta10]

@@ajs41 poorly organized

[@flatoutflatbroke]

@@ajs41 Poorly organised, over commercialised plus a bombing to top things off. Now 72 was worse obviously but compared to Barcelona before and Sydney afterwards Atlanta stood out like a sore thumb. It's probably not helped by firstly the US getting two games in 12 years and secondly whilst Athens 2004 wasn't amazing it absolutely should have got the centennial games in 1996 and that will also be held against it. Although not meaning to be completely negative Michael Johnson's 200m world record is still one of the most jaw dropping sporting moments I've ever watched. As David Coleman said on the BBC 'This man surely is not human'. indeed Coleman's whole commentary on that race gives me goosebumps especially love the 'Johnson by yards' and the way he stays silent for a bit after the finish just lets the sights and sounds do the taking.

[@NPA1001]

Hmmmmmmmm.... the Dixie theme....not aged well.........

[@garyhunt8067]

Shame GB did bad out there. One gold 🥇 medal while other countries won more. How embarrassing.

[@charlesumesi]

Indeed, I remember it well! A very poor British performance.

[@madabbafan]

Yep the year after the national lottery funding for Team GB kicked in and Athletes were then able to train more etc. However, even in 1996 the Brits did far better in the Paralympics but then again, we always do (even in terms of percentage of total golds won Paralympics GB do better) this was even considering Paralympic athletes in 1996 had to buy their own kit or not go.