Ceremonies on UTube, Pt 2

[Durban Sandshark 155]

I haven't talked to him about it, BTW. There are of course other Moscow videos popping up along with his that we can go to. Nowdays, the IOC President will be seated in the VIP box with many world dignitaries and other IOC head honchos.

Part 3 with the Calico western 2-stepping dancers, the wave, Olympic Images (kids making the Olympic event logos), Olympic Winter Guard, and the Olympic flag. Does omit Calgary Organizing Committe president Frank King's and Samaranch's speeches though--but they are on ABC's broadcast (thisisabadname's Parts 19 and 20):

Part 4 concludes with the final leg of the torch relay to Robyn Perry's lighting, the Canadian Snowbirds flying over McMahon Stadium, dance in tribute to the Olympic Flame, athletes' and judges oaths, flags coming in front of the Olympians, flame, and flag, that great rendition of O Canada from Daniel Tlen, those sqaure dancers, and David Foster's composition of "Can't You Feel It?" by the World Choir that got truncated--the full one is at thisisabadname's ABC's Calgary videos (PART 32).

It would be nice if someone Canadian would upload the CTV's and/or TVA's broadcast of the same Opening and Closing Ceremonies from Calgary. Why hasn't that taken so long for that to happen?

[Durban Sandshark 155]

WXIA 11, Atlanta's NBC affiliate and the official local Olympic station as Team 96, was excited and getting ready for the start of the Opening Ceremony back in 1996, as the whole city was for the Centennial Olympic Games. But as you'll see with this one-hour Olympic evening news special aired before the Opening Ceremony, it covered also how to beat the Atlanta heat, Bill Clinton's visit to Team USA, people's (lack of) knowledge of Atlanta, and the Dream Team press conference where Karl Malone answers a question from a Danish reporter about a simple basketball rule (basketball isn't big there). Reminds me of the seemingly absurd question four years earlier in Barcleona from a Japanese journalist regarding how does Michael Jordan "feel to be called as a god?" Interesting above all since this a local news program in an Olympic city doing all this.

[Durban Sandshark 155]

Part 3 of WXIA-11 Team 96's primetime coverage including the dash for tickets and a glimpse of Olympic amateur baseball playing at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium. Too bad it omits the report on how the Atlanta Braves dealt with and followed the Olympics into their neck of the woods (they obviously were on a lengthy road trip because of it):

The beginning of the WXIA's late night broadcast after the OC's end, reacting to it:

[Durban Sandshark 155]

Part 2 of the late night news report. Back then I thought those Games were very commercial (and tacky in some aspects because of it):

WXIA's Kimberley Kennedy anchors the report moments before the start of the Opening Ceremony. The Olympic flame was at Atlanta's city hall before going to MLK's Library. Being at Centennial Olympic Park, Buckhead, Olympic Village, Georgia Dome, and Peachtree St. That station was everywhere, man!

[Durban Sandshark 155]

All right back to Los Angeles 1984. You've seen in 16 Days of Glory how Gina Hemphill, Jesse Owens' grandaughter, had to have some people clear her way along the track with those over-anxious athletes wanting to get a very close glimpse of it blocking her path before granting it to LA Olympic legend Rafer Johnson (gold in the decathalon Rome 1960) to light it. Now another chance to see that as it happens live from ABC. Goes without saying why on seeing volunteers in subsequent Olympics became human shields around the track (though Moscow did that four years earlier). Interesting to see how almost exclusively in US-based Olympics we see the torch coming from the bowels of the stadiums and into the field (NBC later did this with Atlanta, Montreal actually shown similar with a police escort if you saw that edition).

[Ikarus360 601]

Something from the 1986 Commonwealth Games

Fiddler Yahudi Menuin and A Fiddle Orchestra,Country Dancers do a Demonstration Dance also,few familiar names in their That I Know,Martin Lamb,Colin Davidson,Alan Rintoul and Brian Rintoul to name but a few,.......

[baron-pierreIV 1693]

Ik, how about finding the Sapporo 1972 and Innsbruck 1976 Closing Ceremonies?

[Ikarus360 601]

^^ I doubt they will be found that easily. They mostly exist on official video reports and stuff. I'm actually looking forward for the complete opening of Sarajevo 1984 and the closing of Albertville.

[Citius Altius Fortius 560]

a private video about the Olympic Games in Innsbruck 1976 (with some pics of the Opening ceremony)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THhAUbx10OY

Edited January 9, 2013 by Citius Altius Fortius

[baron-pierreIV 1693]

Yeah, the Opening floats around somewhere there. It's those Grenoble, Sapporo, Innsbruck and Sarajevo Closings that still have NOT appeared.

[Citius Altius Fortius 560]

I like that video from Innsbruck, since the video was shot by an amateur and he/she made a private documentary out of that

[Durban Sandshark 155]

It's definitely not good at all for me lately to have any of the uploaded ceremonies videos I posted taken off. Just bad luck.

[Olympian2004 511]

Yeah, the Opening floats around somewhere there. It's those Grenoble, Sapporo, Innsbruck and Sarajevo Closings that still have NOT appeared.

Not quite true. Ikarus himself posted a snippet from Sarajevo's closing ceremony almost three years ago:

I think that many people didn't consider the winter closing ceremonies important back then - and so they didn't record them. And the Olympic archivars apparently think similarly about those ceremonies. I mean, those were indoor ceremonies that were rather simple, cheap - and short. According to what I could find out by internet, Sapporo's actual closing ceremony took only 45 minutes and Sarajevo's even only 30 (!) minutes.

To give an impression how simple those ceremonies were, here's the extract from the Games' official report about Sapporo's closing ceremony:

The Closing Ceremony was held on the evening of February 13 at the Makomanai Indoor Skating Rink, preceded by a skating exhibition of the medal-winning figure skaters which began at six o'clock. A total of twelve men, women and paired skaters gave a brilliant performance which both fascinated and charmed the audience.

Following the exhibition was the victory ceremony for the men's slalom event which had been held earlier that day at Mt. Teine; the three medalists were given a rousing applause by the overflow crowd of 9,000 spectators.

All the preparations for the Closing Ceremony were completed during the tri-lingual announcement explaining the order of the ceremonies which had begun at 7:05.

At 7:25 T. I. H. the Crown Prince and Princess, attending the Closing Ceremony on behalf of T. I. M. the Emperor and Empress, entered the Royal Box as "Music Honoring H. I. M. The Emperor" was played.

After the playing of the Japanese national anthem, the bearers of the flags of the participating nations, with Greece in the lead, marched into the arena from the east entrance in the order of the English alphabet and to stirring strains of the "Sapporo Olympics March" and the "March, Junpaku no Daichi" (The Land of Glorious Snow). When the competitors began to march in behind the flag bearers (not more than six representatives from each delegation grouped without distinction of nationality), the spectators in the stands enthusiastically clapped their hands in time with the music.

The flags of 33 nations, minus those of Bulgaria and Iran which had returned home, were positioned around the rostrum set on the center of the colorful silver, blue, white, green, grey and pink canvas spread out on the rink in a semi-circle. The lights were extinguished and with the spotlight trained on the flagpoles set up near the electronic flashboard, the flags of Greece, the birthplace of the Olympics; Japan, the host nation; and the United States, the site of the next Olympic Winter Games, were raised one after another with the accompaniment of their respective national anthems.

The beam of the spotlight then shifted to the rostrum, where IOC President Brundage proclaimed the Games closed, immediately after which the fanfare of trumpets reverberated still more clearly throughout the arena. The interior momentarily darkened; and then the Sacred Olympic Fire, which had been burning continuously since the Opening Ceremony floated up brightly on the Eidophor screen specially erected in the center of the third tier. During the singing of the "Hymn to the Closing of the Sapporo Olympics," the flame gradually diminished in size until at last it disappeared from the screen altogether at precisely forty-two minutes past seven. The "Fire of Peace," having watched over the Games for eleven days after being carried by approximately 16,300 young hands during the 18,700 kilometer journey from Athens, once again returned to the sun whence it came.

The Olympic Flag, on which the spotlight was beamed, was lowered amidst the chorus of the "Olympic Hymn." Carried by eight members of the Self-Defense Force, the flag solemnly headed for its resting place in the west, its exit announced by a salute of five guns.

As the chorus began to sing the farewell song, the lighting gradually returned to normal. Two-hundred and eighty-six girl senior high school students, dressed in tights of Sapporo Blue and white ski jackets and carrying large blue rings in their hands, formed two lines along the edge of the rink, surrounding the competitors, and performed a dance of farewell. Midway through the performance, the dancers reformed in a pattern depicting the Five Olympic Rings; the ceremonies reached a climax as they broke the pattern and again lined up so as to spell out DENVER '76.

The playing of the "March, Auld Lang Syne" signaled the competitors to begin marching out of the arena—the time had come for the final farewell. The words "SAYONARA. WE MEET AGAIN IN DENVER '76" were flashed on the electronic flashboard, and the competitors were escorted out of the arena by handclapping and shouts of "sayonara" from the stands. The wave of wildly fluttering of light-blue handkerchiefs of the dancing girls added still another aspect of color to the parting.

Even after the last athlete had disappeared through the exit, the hustle and bustle in the stands of people who were once more reflecting over the past eleven days in Sapporo which were so vividly engraved in their minds continued, while H. I. H. the Crown Prince, as though prompted by the playing

of "Music Honoring H. I. M. The Emperor," exchanged a firm handshake with President Brundage and exited the Royal Box.

Meanwhile, outside the rink at 7:58 o'clock, a dazzling and gorgeous display of some 250 skyrockets bursting in such patterns symbolizing "youth and strength unlimited," "the Olympic colours reflected in ice," and others, lit up the way for the huge departing crowd for more than ten minutes.

Thus, with this colorful finale all programs and events of the Sapporo Olympics came to successful and happy conclusion.

Source: http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1972/orw1972.pdf

[baron-pierreIV 1693]

Oops, our own Ikarus actually posted this on Youtube.

Montage of Opening Ceremony rehearsal of the 1993 Mediterranean Games in Languedoc-Rousillion. Looks like it was the first major waterfront setting Ceremony then copied by Guangzhou and Singapore 2010. It has actual "battle" moments which look great and which look more dynamic and make Athens 2004 so puny (w/ the absence of any "battles' on the water).

And it looks like there's also a giant head sculpture (but a CLASSICAL one, at 0:20)!!

(With this year, they reset the Med Games so it happens the year after the SOGs.)

Edited January 26, 2013 by baron-pierreIV

[Ikarus360 601]

^^ Yup, i'm interested on seeing those ceremonies. Sadly that video I posted were just the rehearsals but you can make yourself an idea of how it was.

Videos of Kuala Lumpur 1998 Closing

[agreatolympicfanforlife 0]

Does anybody have CBC's coverage of any the Olympic ceremonies?

[Olympian2004 511]

Does anybody have CBC's coverage of any the Olympic ceremonies?

Our friend Guardian once uploaded each Olympic ceremony since Lillehammer 1994 (excluding Lillehammer's opening ceremony) as broadcast by CBC or CTV on YouTube. Sadly, the copyright watchdogs deleted some of his videos - therefore, he deleted all of them. He hasn't re-uploaded them since, although he mused about it for a while.

[Victor Mata 272]

February 10th: 7th anniversary of Torino 2006

[baron-pierreIV 1693]

/\/\ What a way to go out!! His final public appearance and 'lip-synched' performance -- at an Olympic Opening Ceremony! Take that, Beyonce!!

[Durban Sandshark 155]

My first non-Olympics Opening Ceremony link since either the 2010 FIFA World Cup or the 2007 All-Africa Games--I can't really remember. The 2013 African Nations Cup Opening Ceremony at Johannesburgh's Soccer City Stadium (aka FNB Stadium) with the theme of undauntingly smashing through whatever challenges Africa's issues come its way with its youthful optimism (as repped by the giant South African boy). But, man, all those empty seats. Shame. But as pointed out by You Tube poster "Zenzi72", it was actually a sold-out affair but the torrential rains prompted many to stay away in droves for the earlier part. Still, the fans increasingly came for the first game there later involving Bafana Bafana (South Africa) vs. Cape Verde. Does use some of the elements from the World Cup version like the stage floor and the nod to Mandela.

[mattygs 274]

A very similar opening stanza as the 2003 Cricket World Cup Opening Ceremony, not sure why they have to make them all sound like a info-video for a South African government agency, but there ya go.

[Ikarus360 601]

More scenes of Albertville 1992 Closing Ceremony (including the extinguishing of the cauldron at 2:08) posted by Donnie SenFout

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbH-swlsWd0

[baron-pierreIV 1693]

Look what I found...opening ceremony of the FINA 2011 World Champs in Shanghai. Again, a very bombastic ceremony. Commentary is bi-lingual.

Am still watching it...but now, that is the way to produce and stage a Ceremony with water. Take note, Athens 2004. And even at the halfway mark that I am still watching, they also have underwater shots... none of these jumping into 8 inches of water, and pretending to have fun as those fake Athenians did.

Great Parade of Nations - no boring, spoiled athletes; just the flags. My kindda parade!! They even unveil Fina's new anthem!! No torch but it has its own rainfall and curtain of water on which to flash just a few more projections!! It's so kitschy and over-the-top, it's in a class all its own!!

Here's the link to the Closing:

Edited February 17, 2013 by baron-pierreIV

[baron-pierreIV 1693]

Somehow the link to the OC disappeared...

[intoronto 650]

Wow spectacular ceremonies then again its China