Ceremonies On Youtube

[baron-pierreIV 1693]

lol that probably would have been better..... no seriously, look at Sydneys handover, it was Australian, it had aborigiones, kangaroos, exotic plants and animals, lifeguards and the opera house portrayal.

Atlanta should have showed that in 4 years time they were going to celebrate 100 years of the modern games. It should have been full of colour, with reference to the fact that it was going to be the centenial games, they could have madea huge 100 like at the start of the games in 1996.

It just should have been so much better

I thought so too, Scot. However, one thing I have learned after following the Olympics for nearly 40 years now (it will be next year) is: to lower one's expectations and one will come out pleasantly surprised.

A few more things in Atlanta's defense: the Ceremonies portion was in the hands of the housewives (Ginger Watkins and Linda Stephenson) of the original Atlanta 9. They didn't know any better. But they did unveil that Centennial logo. However I had beaten them to the punch. I wore my Atlanta '96 T-shirt (w/ the same logo) at the Opening. So, technically, I was the first one with the logo at the Montjuic Stadium.

(Thankfully ACOG went with the pros for the actual Ceremonies. Sydney's hand-over was in the hands of an experienced showman, Ric Birch.)

Edited December 28, 2007 by baron-pierreIV

[Scotguy 330]

Ur right Baron. I never slag off the Atlanta games because i enjoyed them alot and despite the problems, they still delivered a great games.

I think cities have learned now about handovers, although since the Sydney handover, they havnt been as extrravegant, Athens was very cultural but kinda boring and slow, whereas i thought Beijings would have been more spectacular. Hopefully London can deliver a handover that will have us wishing that 2012 wasdays away.

[baron-pierreIV 1693]

Ur right Baron. I never slag off the Atlanta games because i enjoyed them alot and despite the problems, they still delivered a great games.

I think cities have learned now about handovers, although since the Sydney handover, they havnt been as extrravegant, Athens was very cultural but kinda boring and slow, whereas i thought Beijings would have been more spectacular. Hopefully London can deliver a handover that will have us wishing that 2012 wasdays away.

It's the budget PLUS the stage that the current hosts can offer. Yeah, Athens' bit in Sydney was boring AND dull.

If u get the chance, look for Barcelona's handover in Seoul; another very simple one which gave no indication of the great Games that B staged.

As for Beijing's, one could almost feel that they hoped for a LARGER stage than what the Greeks had at Closing. Whereas I think the Canadians used the stage that Torino gave them, rather well.

[Sir Rols 1902]

It's the budget PLUS the stage that the current hosts can offer. Yeah, Athens' bit in Sydney was boring AND dull.

If u get the chance, look for Barcelona's handover in Seoul; another very simple one which gave no indication of the great Games that B staged.

As for Beijing's, one could almost feel that they hoped for a LARGER stage than what the Greeks had at Closing. Whereas I think the Canadians used the stage that Torino gave them, rather well.

Baron, I'm sure you'll know this _ exactly how much cooperation and collaboration is there between the outgoin and incoming hosts for the handover ceremony?

I tend to agree, I think the Athens handover in Sydney was dull and boring, but part of the problem I think was that it jarred with the rest of the CC. I mean, you have Sydney being irreverent and sporting giant inflatable frankenstein kangaroos, drag queens, giant sharks with Greg Norman on them and Kylie getting carried out on a giant thong/flipflop, and then Athens comes along with serious priestesses and great solemnity! It was just too ying to Sydney's yang!

What happens betwen the two? Do the incoming side just get told "you have so much space and five minutes" and then are sent off to do what they want in isolation? Do the next hosts make demands on what stage, props etc they will require? Do the two sides artistic and creative people talk much together at all?

[baron-pierreIV 1693]

Baron, I'm sure you'll know this _ exactly how much cooperation and collaboration is there between the outgoin and incoming hosts for the handover ceremony?

I tend to agree, I think the Athens handover in Sydney was dull and boring, but part of the problem I think was that it jarred with the rest of the CC. I mean, you have Sydney being irreverent and sporting giant inflatable frankenstein kangaroos, drag queens, giant sharks with Greg Norman on them and Kylie getting carried out on a giant thong/flipflop, and then Athens comes along with serious priestesses and great solemnity! It was just too ying to Sydney's yang!

What happens betwen the two? Do the incoming side just get told "you have so much space and five minutes" and then are sent off to do what they want in isolation? Do the next hosts make demands on what stage, props etc they will require? Do the two sides artistic and creative people talk much together at all?

I think by the time the next host kinda gets its marbles (oops, sorry, that was too...Greek) together for the upcoming round -- like, I think the Beijing team is coordinating with London about now, on London's bit come the Closing on 08/25/08 -- the immediate host is so much farther along in its plans. So, since Beijing is that far along in its Closing Ceremonies plans, then the incoming host (London) which is probably just in the throes of throwing (hey, I like that pun ) something together, so the forthcoming host just 'adapts' to the stage/set that the present host (Beijing) will be using.

Of course, there will be special staging requests that the incoming could ask for; but which the host may or may NOT grant. Unless the new host sends someone early to sit in on some of the meetings and maybe sees the scale models of the Closing, I think like Beijing would probably send over some plans, blueprints, etc., of the stage set-up. But if I were with an incoming host city, I would send over a recon team to really scope out the stadium and the set, etc., before I conceived my 'handover' portion.

Also, if you've noticed, there is also a limit on how many cast and production people the incoming host can transport; that is depending on the lodgings that the host ORG can offer them. (Remember, the current OrgCom also has to host the observer and learning Organizing teams from the same next host city and from other candidate cities; so accommodations are at a premium.) So, once they have a rough idea of that number, can the new host build together its cast, no. of performers, etc.

Timing-wise? Yeah, I think the host Ceremonies team sort of tells the incoming host: OK, you have 10 minutes for your portion.

And then if they're lucky, they get to actually rehearse in the stadium.

*In LA-1984, the Koreans were able to rehearse in the actual stage at the El Segundo High School where the rest of the 1984 Closing rehearsed (minus the spaceship sequence of course).

* In Atlanta, reading Birch's notes for the Syndey closing, they didn't get much of a chance, and Ginger Watkins of ACOG even pulled the rug from Birch by not letting them rehearse at Turner Field because the turf was replaced right after the OC and needed to look fresh for the remaing 10 days or so. So your Sydney guys kinda had to rehearse at the Univ. of Georgia (Athens, where soccer had its finals) grounds; and just doing a visual check at Olympic stadium. So with the schedule so tight, at most, they get one rehearsal at the main Olympic stadium.

I think that's how it comes about.

Good observation on the completely contrasting tones of Sydney's CC and the Greek portion. Unlike Atlanta, where it was all fun for both the hosts and the next city.

[ChicagoFan90 0]

I think by the time the next host kinda gets its marbles (oops, sorry, that was too...Greek) together for the upcoming round -- like, I think the Beijing team is coordinating with London about now, on London's bit come the Closing on 08/25/08 -- the immediate host is so much farther along in its plans. So, since Beijing is that far along in its Closing Ceremonies plans, then the incoming host (London) which is probably just in the throes of throwing (hey, I like that pun ) something together, so the forthcoming host just 'adapts' to the stage/set that the present host (Beijing) will be using.

Of course, there will be special staging requests that the incoming could ask for; but which the host may or may NOT grant. Unless the new host sends someone early to sit in on some of the meetings and maybe sees the scale models of the Closing, I think like Beijing would probably send over some plans, blueprints, etc., of the stage set-up. But if I were with an incoming host city, I would send over a recon team to really scope out the stadium and the set, etc., before I conceived my 'handover' portion.

Also, if you've noticed, there is also a limit on how many cast and production people the incoming host can transport; that is depending on the lodgings that the host ORG can offer them. (Remember, the current OrgCom also has to host the observer and learning Organizing teams from the same next host city and from other candidate cities; so accommodations are at a premium.) So, once they have a rough idea of that number, can the new host build together its cast, no. of performers, etc.

Timing-wise? Yeah, I think the host Ceremonies team sort of tells the incoming host: OK, you have 10 minutes for your portion.

And then if they're lucky, they get to actually rehearse in the stadium.

*In LA-1984, the Koreans were able to rehearse in the actual stage at the El Segundo High School where the rest of the 1984 Closing rehearsed (minus the spaceship sequence of course).

* In Atlanta, reading Birch's notes for the Syndey closing, they didn't get much of a chance, and Ginger Watkins of ACOG even pulled the rug from Birch by not letting them rehearse at Turner Field because the turf was replaced right after the OC and needed to look fresh for the remaing 10 days or so. So your Sydney guys kinda had to rehearse at the Univ. of Georgia (Athens, where soccer had its finals) grounds; and just doing a visual check at Olympic stadium. So with the schedule so tight, at most, they get one rehearsal at the main Olympic stadium.

I think that's how it comes about.

Good observation on the completely contrasting tones of Sydney's CC and the Greek portion. Unlike Atlanta, where it was all fun for both the hosts and the next city.

Oh Baron...on your observation of minimum transport of participants for the handover sequences--how did Birch and Sydney pull that handover off...I'm guessing close to over a 100 performers and massive sets (i.e the Sydney Opera House, props for the waves, etc..) in transporting all the way from Sydney to Atlanta---while Barcelona's was minimal at best, Atlanta's was just about 20 dancers, a movie, and a big emblem, Athens was just the goddesses and the olive branches with a film, and Beijing's was a film, the stilt walking lantern dancers, more dancers, banners and the BIG lantern......looks like after Sydney's performance, ceremony teams are keeping the handover ceremonies to a minimum---especially with the athletes out there

And speaking of Sydney--here's a little treat--a commercial from the Sydney 2000 Bid in 1993

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrD00vKjkbI...feature=related

[baron-pierreIV 1693]

Oh Baron...on your observation of minimum transport of participants for the handover sequences--how did Birch and Sydney pull that handover off...

Did I say there was a limit? I'm just saying you could not possibly transport say, 2000 performers or so. Even 350 or 400 would be stretching it.

[cfm Jeremie 2]

Oh Baron...on your observation of minimum transport of participants for the handover sequences--how did Birch and Sydney pull that handover off...I'm guessing close to over a 100 performers and massive sets (i.e the Sydney Opera House, props for the waves, etc..)

If I remember correctly, some members of the Australian team participated in the Sydney handover (as the Life Guard carrying the blue banners).

[baron-pierreIV 1693]

If I remember correctly, some members of the Australian team participated in the Sydney handover (as the Life Guard carrying the blue banners).

Correcto.

[Scotguy 330]

I think the problem is that the host city may not want the next host upstaging there ceremony, if there handover is better than the show they themselves are putting on.

London will probs not get that much of an oppertunity to showcase the next games as the beijing organisers will want to keep attention on them for longer.

The Atlanta closing was not spectacular but sydneys handover was. Ever since it has been the ceremonies that have been better.

Delhis handover at Melbourne for the commonwealth games was very spectacular, if a little too long.

[olympics08 0]

Hey! Rare find by me and rav3n!

Nagano 1998 Announcement - Winning Bid

In Japanese, perhaps by NHK, therefore translating Samaranch's words.

Also mind the Olympic Hymn in English at the start of the clip. The version starting with "Immortal spirit of antiquity..." was used, I think, but I can't understand the choir's voice.

[Olympian2004 511]

Hey! Rare find by me and rav3n!

Nagano 1998 Announcement - Winning Bid

In Japanese, perhaps by NHK, therefore translating Samaranch's words.

Also mind the Olympic Hymn in English at the start of the clip. The version starting with "Immortal spirit of antiquity..." was used, I think, but I can't understand the choir's voice.

An amazing find.

First of all, the way Samaranch announced the result was very strange, I think. Usually he said "The Games of the ... Olympiad/The ... Olympic Winter Games are awarded to the city of ..." or at least (as in Sydney's case) "The winner is..." so that the name of the elected city always was at the end of his sentence. But here he said the name very early and thus it was no miracle that he couldn't finish his sentence due to the cheers of the Nagano delegation.

And secondly, it's true that the choir sang the so-called "free" English translation of the Greek lyrics of the Olympic Anthem. Here's that translation:

Immortal spirit of antiquity

Father of the true, beautiful and good

Descend, appear, shed over us thy light

Upon this ground and under this sky

Which has first witnessed thy unperishable fame

Give life and animation to these noble games!

Throw wreaths of fadeless flowers to the victors

In the race and in the strife

Create in our breasts, hearts of steel!

In thy light, plains, mountains and seas

Shine in a roseate hue and form a vast temple

To which all nations throng to adore thee

Oh immortal spirit of antiquity!

(Source: Wikipedia)

And as far as I could identify it, the lyrics as being sung by the choir in this clips are:

"(unintelligible) in the race

Create in our breasts, hearts of steel!

In thy light, plains, mountains and seas

Shine in a roseate glow and hue and form a vast temple, a vast temple, a vast temple to

Which all nations, all nations throng to adore, adore (unintelligible) thee

(Larger unintelligible part) throng to adore, adore (unintelligble) thee

Immortal spirit of antiquity!

(Larger unintelligible part) beautiful and true

Immortal spirit of (unintelligible) antiquity!"

So those lyrics mostly correspond to the free translation mentioned above. It's amazing that somebody tried to sing those lyrics, since I always thought they were unsingable. And actually, in my opinion, they still sound pretty clumsy when they are sung, especially with all those artificial insertions (for example, the two repetitions of "a vast temple").

[rav3n 1]

Yeah, i noticed the same thing, since its not the same version which was sang at Los Angeles 84 and Atlanta 96, very different. And more loyal to the original lyrics of the song. Perhaps this is the one we will hear at London 2012? Who knows.

A little find, from the 23rd SEA Games opening ceremony in Philipines.

The flag was escorted by various filipino sport legends.

PD: Thanks olympics88

[SOlympiadsW 0]

awesome clips, I know I asked a while back but does anyone have anymore opening sequences or the final closing credits to NBC's coverage of the Olympics- Torino, Athens, Sydney, and Atlanta are on youtube.com...I would really love to see Salt Lake City's again...

if you have them or a way of putting them on there I would really appreciate it if you did :-)

or if you find them please post them here...thanks

[rav3n 1]

Now this is a very RARE jewel i have found. Rehearsals of the Barcelona 1992 Lighting of the cauldron. This is owned by a user who was member of the sound staff by that time. Notice that the arrow didn't reached the cauldron (and even more weird, the cauldron didn't get lighted )

[baron-pierreIV 1693]

Now this is a very RARE jewel i have found. Rehearsals of the Barcelona 1992 Lighting of the cauldron. This is owned by a user who was member of the sound staff by that time. Notice that the arrow didn't reached the cauldron (and even more weird, the cauldron didn't get lighted )

Good find. It looks like that was from the dress rehearsal 2 or 3 nights before. Yeah, they didn't light the cauldron so as not to give the surprise away to those outside the stadium. And the final runner wasn't Epi. But that's how final dress rehearsals are.

[rav3n 1]

Good find. It looks like that was from the dress rehearsal 2 or 3 nights before. Yeah, they didn't light the cauldron so as not to give the surprise away to those outside the stadium. And the final runner wasn't Epi. But that's how final dress rehearsals are.

Exactly. The final runner was the same user who posted this vid. According to the description (which is in spanish), he gave this video to Epi the next day for the final act.

[rav3n 1]

After replying him on the video, he answered me with something really interesting:

''el pebetero no se encendio porque la direccion de ceremonias asi lo determino, no porque rebollo fallara, en cuanto a la ceremonia si hubiera fallado rebollo el pebetero se habria encendido igualmente...X''

Which on spanish means: The cauldron wasn't burnt because that was the decision of the ceremonies comittee, no because Rebollo failed. As for the ceremony, if Rebollo would have failed the shoot, the cauldron would be lighted anyway.

So that supports the theory that the arrow never reached the cauldron at the opening ceremony, but the cameras created a effect like it actually did it.

[rav3n 1]

By the way, i have a very, very good surprise to you all:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=aLHhpeeaIS0

More coming soon

[cfm Jeremie 2]

So that supports the theory that the arrow never reached the cauldron at the opening ceremony, but the cameras created a effect like it actually did it.

That's not a theory but a fact (otherwise the arrow wouldn't be on display at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne).

And it was done on purpose: trying to put the arrow in the cauldron would have been too dangerous for the public (imagine the shot being a tat too short and falling into the public).

[BTHarner 138]

If I am not mistaken, NBC did a segment the day after the OC in which they had a camera placed outside the stadium to show where the arrow landed.

[baron-pierreIV 1693]

So that supports the theory that the arrow never reached the cauldron at the opening ceremony, but the cameras created a effect like it actually did it.

.

Yeah, I told them to use a trebuchet!!

But No! No! No! That's a myth. I was there. I had an excellent view of the lighting, raven. The arrow was meant to fly OVER the cauldron (and land outside). It was NOT meant to land IN the cauldron. (That might've caused an explosion.)

It's just like when you light a gas stove or barbecue. You try to 'brush' over the gas jet slightly with your match -- and you get the flame. The arrow's arc was to land outside the stadium.

[rav3n 1]

Well guys, 2008 is only starting and we already have a new & interesting material:

Albertville 1992 Opening Ceremony! (Recorded from TVE Radio Television Española)

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

The only bad thing is that this only contains the ceremony starting from the ligthing of the cauldron (no protocol, in other words), but anyway this was the worthy part of the show, directed by Philipe Decoufle. Also this was the biggest inspiration for greek director Dimitri Papaioannou to create the world recognized Athens 2004 OC.

I hope you like it as i did, i almost lose my hope on watching it . Hope to see the closing someday.

[NY20?? 98]

Now this is a very RARE jewel i have found. Rehearsals of the Barcelona 1992 Lighting of the cauldron. This is owned by a user who was member of the sound staff by that time. Notice that the arrow didn't reached the cauldron (and even more weird, the cauldron didn't get lighted )

So, it's possible they rehearsed the lighting just like this 4 + times? I bring this up specifically, because according to

about Barcelona’s lighting, Rebello was chosen (out of four archers) to light the cauldron on the very night of the OC, two hours before the actual moment, after the ceremony started ! I've always found this a bit out there, and now I think this rehearsal video may disprove it.

[baron-pierreIV 1693]

So, it's possible they rehearsed the lighting just like this 4 + times? I bring this up specifically, because according to

about Barcelona’s lighting, Rebello was chosen (out of four archers) to light the cauldron on the very night of the OC, two hours before the actual moment, after the ceremony started ! I've always found this a bit out there, and now I think this rehearsal video may disprove it.

Well, Rebollo was the first choice; but they always have back-ups in case he had a hiccups attack or cold feet or something.