Top 20 Greatest Olympic Opening Ceremonies of All Time

[@phantomlover4520]

I remember I was only 12 years old when the Beijing Olympics happened in 2008. Back then I was watching my little TV and I was absolutely blown away by how they managed to deliver such a powerful, aesthetically pleasing opening ceremony at that time.

[@tomasbobby2788]

I was 12 too

[@xinyuecheng8829]

I was ten.

[@alexyao7767]

I was 15, and it was just beyond words, little bros 😀

[@bob-thebuilder2898]

I was -1 at that time

[@bob-thebuilder2898]

I was born in 2009

[@NickZaharakisChiefOfficer]

Athens for it's symbolism and class. And Beijing for the spectacle wow effect

[@mkkm1701]

Couldn't agree more!

[@04nbod]

The parade of history was immaculate. Its shocking how recognisable everything was and showed how much Greece was the foundation of the Western World.

[@felicitydeikos5250]

As a Greek, people are asking why Greece goes first in the Flag Nation? This is because in 776 BC the first Olympics were set in Greece. The Greek Olympic committee, made a contract with the Host Olympic committee to Hist Greece first.

[@-Mitra-]

Wow, that's amazing! Now about the Olympic fire which is always lit from the sun reflection on the Hellenic land 😁

[@athenarockabilly6245]

Because we invented it

[@DW-op7ly]

So what there is 27 books out there on what the Chinese invented in the past... No one cares about that. I fact most people think the Chinese can only copy and can't innovate these days Being the I ventor means nothing

[@iriszhan516]

#1 Beijing 2008, #2 Athens 2004, #3 London 2012. They were fantastic, rich of culture, history and new technology .

[@rizzamaeong]

Here because Paris, France 2024 f*cked up. 😅 🇨🇳 Artistic poetry in motion vs 🇫🇷 freak show

[@cocoaorange1]

Don't forget Rio!

[@DollyS766]

Agreed! Not necessarily in that order though! Athens, Greece was, in my opinion on of course, more emotional and with reference to how it all began. Therefore I would place Athens first.❤

[@carolinaseo8263]

Rio 2016 too, it was very pretty

[@clarkxiao2182]

I don't have much impression of the Athens Olympics, but after the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, I doubted if any other country could bring such a spectacular performance. However, the truth is, London did it. They showcased their culture to the world very well. As for Paris. Well, they fully proved that they were once the birthplace of The Enlightenment.😅

[@firstsecond7351]

Athens is my favourite it wasn’t an opening ceremony it was a history and ART lesson for ALL

[@pinklungs420]

PERIODDDDDDDDD

[@mgg5418]

Yes the clepsydra was mesmerizing, absolutely beautiful 😍

[@simosk.6538]

I couldn't agree more !

[@yiotav.1314]

Totally agree 👍 Beijing and Athens TOP!!!

[@Blue_22511]

Athens 2004. An ode to humanity, peace , art, atlhetism and history 🌿🇬🇷🌊🏺🕊️

[@Tsochass]

I cant understand why no one realize that the opening ceremony of 2008 has half ideas from 2004 .... SO OF COURSE ATHENS 2004 WAS WAY BETTER AND MORE PHILOSOPHICAL

[@theofanisbyzantineancestor]

Athens 2004 is my number 1. Minimal, historical, powerful and there was also a sense of romanticism. Very special!!!

[@Jabberstax]

Paris 2024 was the worst I've ever seen.

[@user-ks4yl7xq7w]

yet the best for you know who … I barely know any other first impression. Best or worst, no other options between for most of issues we have nowadays. Paris 2024 did a great job for splitting the world into half-half once again! How stupid and naïve of me thinking the games aim to bring all humanity together.

[@rizzamaeong]

Here because Paris, France f*cked up. 😅 🇨🇳 Artistic poetry in motion vs 🇫🇷 freak show

[@noerhidayat8195]

Agree to that

[@JQ5827]

No, 2021 Tokyo 😢

[@酒杯-c1g]

看来东京和巴黎的开幕式很烂是全世界的共识了

[@carverraymond5139]

Beijing opening ceremony was a masterpiece, it's a national memory for most Chinese.

[@mooskanate]

Or else.

[@NL-tr7ix]

2022 Winter Olympic Opening Ceremony will soon replace 2008 Summer Olympic Opening Ceremony to be the top 1

[@subifyouhatetiktokandreddit234]

Cool I'm not Chinese

[@pinkfruid5629]

@@NL-tr7ix Don't think so. No beyond.

[@marguskiis7711]

Organized by foreigners

[@vuzass]

Athens is certainly the best by far. Deeply emotional and artistic. The aesthetic that the art created is a lesson to all artists worldwide ever since. No other ceremony had such an impact to art itself afterwards.

[@alexandrapantelidisgeniata2095]

Athens 2004 actually I am a little biased being a Greek-American however I cried from the beginning all the way to the end of the opening ceremony it touched me like nothing I can put into words

[@moharinMukriz]

Athens 2004 was the best for me.

[@28sunshine218]

Greece shows the world the spirit of Olympic games

[@ulquiorra8197]

For me athens 2004 is the most nostalgic, beijing is good also in terms of colorful and many talent but the presence of true olympics has in athens you can sense the ambience of true olympics presence

[@kavasilaia]

Athens 2004 ..Deep in my heart ❤️

[@andreaspanayiotou628]

Athens 2004 has an advantage over Beijing. It set a new benchmark for Olympic opening ceremonies, which influenced subsequent ceremonies, including Beijing 2008. The technological advancements and the scale of Athens' ceremony were groundbreaking at the time, making it a pioneering event.

[@jjbalingsat9945]

People should watch the opening ceremony of the Athens 2004 Olympics. It was easily the best as it is the birth place of the games. But Beijing was spectacular too.

[@WedgePee]

It’s criminal how the Athens facilities were left to crumble. Sydney’s legacy was far, far better.

[@TRRCrimson]

Why do you think the International Olympic Committee decided to have Beijing to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.

[@aggelosn.6846]

No opening ceremony will ever surpass the one of Athens 2004. It was a masterpiece

[@Valyrisss]

Absolutely! 💙🔥🏺

[@陈文辉-u5z]

beijing better

[@stathispap8291]

Athens 2004 ,Olympic Games Welcome BACK TO GREECE! 😍❤

[@achillefs1558]

In Athens it wasn't a rocket that flame the circle's but symbolized the comet, the end the beginning of life

[@jj-if6it]

I'm Aussie so I'm biased, but I love the Athens one. It's so classy!

[@anastasialaga]

Athens 2004!

[@rachelgreen4510]

Although many were great, only Athens 2004 radiates the true spirit of the games!

[@humanbean5878]

Definitely my favorite is when it came back to Athens...🥰

[@Tripokaridos22]

Athens Ceremony was Breathtaking.

[@aniselkadiri1807]

Athens, HELLAS, love it

[@eduardorivas311]

Rio 2016 !! Passion , south americas, latin people and emotional... It was incredible

[@MC-gt6yp]

Moscow 1980 set the bar for Olympic Ceremonies. Misha was the best Olympic mascot. Also felt so sad when Misha cried a tear at the closing ceremony. Barcelona was creative masterpiece.

[@footballsfirst1]

I think noone beats Athens. The historical significance, the emotional importance of the Olympic Games coming home, the majestic presentation of the 3000 year-history of the Olympics which was presented in the utmost artistic and symmetrically esthetic way, along with the magnificent display of Greek history and its unparalleled impact in the modern culture and society, is second to none. What a magical show!

[@ecannon9507]

Athens is one of my favourites as well, along with Barcelona, London, Albertville and Sydney. Athens is still the most elegant of all time.

[@Watcher413]

You do know that the Olympics had a few thousand year break in there?

[@jasminejohnston6393]

Which Athens Olympics, 1896 or 2004?

[@Blue_22511]

Pin this comment please ❤

[@annab3552]

Athens 2004 is still my favourite maybe because they created them....

[@qimingyang4484]

Beijing Olympics in 2008. No doubt! That is when I was only six! 🎉

[@yewjo7410]

No offense, but Tokyo's ceremony is too scary, like a funeral. The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games is still a classic today. Just back here to see what a real ceremony of Olympics should be like.

[@svenblubber5448]

With faked fireworks and a Girl singing Play-Back from a more talented singer? Beijing was whatever the equivalent to doping is in ceremonies!

[@yewjo7410]

​@@svenblubber5448 Winner dwarfs others, and losers will feel mad about it.

[@svenblubber5448]

@@yewjo7410 LOL, chinese propaganda bot? "Winners" had to pay a multitide of times what anybody esle pays to distract from their genocidal dystopian regieme, and pays "western" social media outlets to produce pro-cina propaganda!

[@hjackie9241]

@@svenblubber5448 loser

[@svenblubber5448]

@@hjackie9241 you cant even begin to imagine how much I prefer to be a loser rather than being chinese....

[@StergianiPapoutsi-qv2in]

Athens 2004 is my favorite one and in first place by far!!!

[@ChrisCreats]

The queen calling Daniel Craig mr bond was cool too

[@shrekwazowski3836]

The Mr.Bean opening ceremony gave me goosebumps.

[@NearEarthOddity]

Gay

[@shyamal903]

Rowan Atkinson said himself that it was not Mr Bean, just someone like Mr Bean.

[@ChrisCreats]

Playing a keyboard in the middle of the stadium must of been a highlight for him lol

[@staceyrox360]

Yes! It’s unforgettable!

[@Vanos99]

Loved that bit. that and the fake queen parachute into statdium made it 2 behing bejing

[@marianacruz8861]

I remember watching the 2008 opening ceremony on TV. It was truly amazing.

[@ironicinorironic.]

Exactly, when that Olympics symbol rises, that looks straight out of Disney movie or something

[@ktrstk9401]

Athens 2004, no doubt!!

[@basicelement]

Athens 2004, forever ❤

[@ΛΙΑΝΑΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟΥΔΑΚΗ]

Athens by far.

[@claudian4250]

Many of the ceremonies for the past 20 years are great, but I only watched Beijing thrice and still find something new, which maybe I missed during the first 2 viewing. Maybe its a grand production, so many things happening at the same times, and with so much detailing, so prone to escape your eyes if you are not fast enough.

[@kostasdinos8982]

Nah....Athens 2004 was by far the best. Quality over quantity.

[@timmoporter3742]

IMO...the Chinese 2008 Olympics Opening was the best I have ever seen...and I have tried since then (unsuccessfully) to get a video/dvd of it.

[@ironicinorironic.]

It's on Olympics official KZbin channel

[@xeniar4150]

GREECE TOP 1. Sorry guys truth sometimes hurts

[@potatoking7722]

No, not this time

[@christoschristoforou5265]

Witnessed the Athens opening ceremony and it was easily the best

[@cindyrigor9760]

Hands down 2008 China Beijing. That was like OMG!

[@isaganigimeno8228]

My fave is 2004 Athens Olympics

[@dimi7ris7]

Athens 2004, the most majestic show

[@penelopeviews7335]

My favorite ceremonies are Beijing, London, and Rio. They were all so amazing. My favorite ceremony moment is when Daniel Craig worked with the Queen as James Bond. Making it seem like she skydived into the stadium was pretty funny.

[@ΑγγελικήΚοσκινά-χ4κ]

But didn't have the Olympic Spirit it was just a ceremony

[@saadsrequiemforsasuke7041]

I had the Beijing Olympics mascot toys from McDonald's! They were pretty cute stamps with the green and blue , nature and water chubby girls posed!

[@1stchkd529]

They call 贝贝, 晶晶,欢欢,迎迎,妮妮. Means welcome to Beijing

[@SupremeLeaderyt]

I still have Athena and Phoibos , the mascots of Athens 2004 . I was 1 years old at the time and they were among my first toys .

[@staceyn2541]

The Beijing ceremony was one of the most fantastic things I have ever seen. The coordination and precision was awe inspiring. You didn't even mention the guy who ran sideways across the whole top of the bird's nest with the torch!! Omg. I still get chills thinking about it. It's all on youtube, I just checked, and the torch guy has his own clip. Spectacular in the truest sense of the word.

[@sumaechajeamruen5526]

He named Li Ning men of torch.

[@svenblubber5448]

@@sumaechajeamruen5526 And what was the name of the little girl that was judged to ugly to sing, so they got an other girl to pretend sing? And the names of the animators who faked the fireworks for the TV broadcast that they couldn't actually do in real life? They were at least as important to the ceremony!

[@demo1205]

@@svenblubber5448faked firework on TV？ How about our British Queen skydiving？😂

[@svenblubber5448]

@@demo1205 A pretty obvious Joke compared to something they tried to pass off as real.... Try anothr comeback, that one failed!

[@XGemz18X]

@@svenblubber5448 - It is called having a sense of humour.

[@miltiadisorfanidis7489]

Athens 2004 hands down the best one!

[@lexkanyima2195]

Easily Mr.Bean because it felt like a Olympics ceremony. Bejing 2008 had the best ending Olympics ceremony of all time.

[@shyamal903]

Rowan Atkinson said himself that it was not Mr Bean, just someone like Mr Bean.

[@lexkanyima2195]

@@shyamal903 😄😄😄

[@JW-gd8cc]

Best open ceremony of all time

[@lexkanyima2195]

@@JW-gd8cc i know

[@重情重义李秀莲]

@@lexkanyima2195 Let's look forward to 2022

[@nixter888]

Athens 2004 was the best by far! Original ceremony in the home of the Olympic Games,!

[@itsallagoodfun6018]

I came here after yesterday's crappy opening in Paris! Yes, Beijing opening was mind-blowing!

[@n.kr.7703]

For all of you claiming that the best olympic games opening ceremony was Beijing or London, you either have not wached the Athens opening ceremony or you cannot really appreciate and understand the meaning of it. Olympic games came back home. Everything that was presented was not just ancient greece' s history but also the origins and history explanation of the olympic games themselves. The goal was achieved through simplicity, armonia and aesthetics with loyalty to what the olympic games symbolise

[@georgiosa.9893]

Athens 2004 by far!!!

[@MsRaven-fd5iz]

Passionate ceremonies are always my favorites, like Beijing and Rio.

[@00Banger00]

London's Pandemonium segment still leaves me in awe. I absolutely love Underwolds composition and when all that energy from thousands of drums and shouts wind down to the simple whistled tune to honour the fallen from the World Wars, I still get teary-eyed. The final movement is a climactic finish that thrills me every time I watch it.

[@Blue_22511]

😂😂 another freak show

[@dianeunderhill8506]

​@@Blue_22511What looked at yourself in the mirror then?

[@hanayokoizomi9369]

I agree.. Beijing is the number one.. it's masterpiece..

[@kappakappa7950]

2004 was a dream.

[@MariaBurns-i9d]

More, like a nightmare.... Just at the end was pretty good 😊

[@ainiel7602]

​@@MariaBurns-i9d you watched something different then because Athens opening was spectacular.

[@MariaBurns-i9d]

I'm so sorry. I thought you wrote 2024, referring to Paris... I apologize for mymistake

[@Thunderbird-cs2cz]

Here after the Paris blasphemy. I loved the London and Athens one the best!

[@MrBallerinakaka]

Athens 1896 Is First Modern Olympic Games Altough Event & Opening Did Well :) Fast Forward To 2004 When Olympics Games Came Back To Athens (His Birthplace) The Event Did Well Again And Opening Too!

[@leeking888]

You should have discuss how the Queen and James Bond arrived at the games that's a highlight in itself

[@coreyhill681]

Totally agree 👍

[@amras1984]

Even glimpses of video shot of Beijing still give me goosebumps. Just incomparable.

[@gymboreeplaymusicwarwickan5216]

London 2012 was far better. More interesting culture than Beijing. UK has been way more impactful on the world. London 2012 easily beats Beijing despite Beijings insane price tag. I just didn't connect with it at all.

[@kodekodak9298]

@@gymboreeplaymusicwarwickan5216 true

[@kodekodak9298]

@@tsiaa6790 but on london fucking illmunati got involved

[@Usera2324dfre]

My friend Chinese director took all the ideas from the greek one But still was no depth in it

[@zimoliu9714]

@@gymboreeplaymusicwarwickan5216 More interesting culture... Highly doubt that. When a ceremony showcases three thousand years of a fantastic and unique culture of the oldest nation in the world is compared with a ceremony that sprinkled a few pop culture references... it's not hard to see which one's more cultured. If you can't connect with a culture completely alien to you, that's fine. But think twice before completely brushing them off. Also, about your point about UK being more impactful on the world... How so? In the current world, China has a much bigger economy, political presence, and influence than the tiny British isles. Or, if you're talking about the British empire, where they enslaved, killed, raped, and tortured foreign peoples during colonization, is that a sort influence you should be proud of? Absolutely ridiculous.

[@rtpoe]

Sometimes, the best and most inspiring moments are the little things that get lost in the spectacle. At the Berlin Olympics in 1936, Sohn Kee-Chung, a native Korean, won the gold medal in the marathon, setting an Olympic record in the process. But because Korea was occupied by Japan at the time, he had to compete under the Japanese flag, his medal was credited as being won for Japan, and he even had to compete under the Japanese version of his name. At the Seoul Olympics in 1988, he brought the Torch into the stadium.....under his own name....

[@jfotopoulou4143]

2004 Athens ❤❤❤❤

[@rs-xk5db]

Agree.. If you think China Beijing Olympics 2008 is the most spectacular and most amazing Ceremony in Olympic History !!! Second I think is Rio de Janeiro?

[@robin82pb94]

Rio was not bad, but random. 😑 Athens / Beijing / London have a so high level, in 3 differents styles...

[@juddphilby9015]

With London 2012, surprised you didn't mention about a sky diving monarch

[@karriesancan4349]

I completely agree

[@angelkt100]

but they forgot the doctor

[@yesleksmith]

Didn't mention the Spice Girls either!!

[@Zappo32]

I'm 40 years old and based on the ceremonies I have seen during my lifetime, my favourites are: Beijing 2008, Barcelona 1992, London 2012, Atlanta 1996 and Seoul 1988.

[@omertaword583]

the best Olympians were in Greece where they belong

[@MariaBurns-i9d]

Any of those ceremonies were better than Paris 2024

[@naturelilacgold9016]

We are 100% agree that Beijing Olympic 2008 was the best of all👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@Blue_22511]

Athens ❤ always and forever. The true spirit of the Olympics ❤

[@marypulley]

Athens 2004!

[@andreaspanayiotou628]

Athens 2004 has an advantage over Beijing. It set a new benchmark for Olympic opening ceremonies, which influenced subsequent ceremonies, including Beijing 2008. The technological advancements and the scale of Athens' ceremony were groundbreaking at the time, making it a pioneering event. While Beijing 2008 took these elements to new heights with even more advanced technology and larger-scale performances, the foundational work done by Athens in 2004 undoubtedly paved the way. Those two are competing with each other, yet both Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 have set benchmarks in the history of Olympic opening ceremonies that remain unparalleled as of 2024.

[@weiwei36362]

I like Athen Beijing and London . those are the tier ones for me .

[@rmnvldz_]

London 2012 was the best Opening Ceremonies for me. The Pandemonium segment was out of this world, it was the best!!

[@ΜαριαΚαμπουρη-η3ψ]

ATHENS 2004

[@MikuDraconia]

The London 2012 was the most British thing ever. My favorite.

[@ericskateboy]

Beijing 2008 Olympics opening ceremony was magic

[@陈文辉-u5z]

15 years later, beijing 2008 is still the best.

[@athenarockabilly6245]

Don't think so

[@trendyinsight9080]

The 2008 Beijing Olympics was still my favorite! Well they had the budget to go over the top. Unlike other countries that host the Olympics are left with a big bill!

[@svenblubber5448]

They ahd the money, and the lack of integrity allowing them to cheat (fireworks, girl singing)

[@pompei1009]

@@svenblubber5448 like the queen jumping off the helicopter? They never claimed they were real to start on with.

[@svenblubber5448]

@@pompei1009 They didn't claim it for the Queen, which was an obvious Joke from the start. The chinese DID try to pass it off as real!

[@pompei1009]

@@svenblubber5448 Well that fireworks look digital to me so I knew it was a teaser prior to the actual fireworks and performance. Yes the girl replacement was a disappointing one but why not focus on the positivity and the 90% of the amazing performances that the Chinese had provided to the world audience, especially when Olympic is all about peace and positivity? We should give credit where credit's due.

[@rosemaryli485]

@@pompei1009 this guy is clearly a stereotype

[@marguskiis7711]

Moskva had the best closing ceremony without any competition! Everybody who saw it were crying.

[@leahluostarinen]

To be honest I actually enjoyed watching lot of opening ceremonies of the Olympics they were mostly pretty awesome and good

[@seanspear6224]

The jrpg music in this new opening ceremony was iconic

[@aaronheroes8485]

Not to mention they even freaking playing sonic music

[@realphagamer6410]

True... Final Fantasy... Neir... Kingdom Hearts... Ace Combat 5... And more... I love it than other countries...

[@CherryBlossom28479]

Yes!! I loved the music of Tokyo, they won me over with Sonic, Kingdom Hearts and, Final Fantasy.

[@Lapinporokoira]

I was waiting to guess what each one was from.

[@ΑγγελικήΚοσκινά-χ4κ]

Athena 2024 we see the spirit of the game's

[@lakeinrocks]

After watching Paris 2024, I had to go back to Beijing 2008, the best olympic opening of all time!

[@Duelinator]

One of my favorites was the 2014 Winter Olympics that had Igor Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite” at the lighting of the cauldron. And London 2012 was spectacular

[@skiptheboxingkangaroo]

I was only 6 or so when the Sydney games were played. I have always been so proud to be an Aussie.

[@NR-ru3xb]

Rio opening ceremony was stunning!!! 😍😍😍

[@francescamonacelli1510]

Shame the French (2024) didn’t take inspiration from this video

[@athanasiostziouvaras8717]

There were amazing spectacles in every ceremony but nothing really can top the 5 fire olympic rings on water being lit by a meteorite during the Athens' openining show. Just pure art and symbolism.

[@Tripokaridos22]

Athens the Best , Paris the Worst....

[@kappa633]

Beijing Olympics was really MOAO while London was unique it was quite messy. Beijing would always give goosebumps to everyone

[@maytalacedo2942]

The Rio opening was a wow in my opinion since it's absolutely beautiful 2 watch.

[@davidpine2013]

Who is here after the HORRENDOUS Paris 2024 performance

[@aguilarmcsv]

My all time favorites are the Barcelona and Beijing Olympics

[@theprinceofspades3359]

Of all the openings Beijing is the only one I remember.

[@brucew5919]

#1 Beijing 2008, #-1 Paris 2024

[@defyyourlogic487]

🤡

[@thabom9791]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@bethanyhait6880]

It’s hard to top Beijing. But can we also mention that Tokyo 64, being the first games in a country that didn’t use the Latin alphabet, was the first time the pictograms were used for the different sports as well?