A look at memorable Olympics curtain-raisers of the past
Australian sporting icon Cathy Freeman lights the Olympic cauldron 15 September, 2000 in Sydney to ignite the 27th Olympiad of the modern era.
Image: Kazuhiro Nogi / AFP©
As Paris prepares for the opening ceremony of the Olympics on July 26 with what promises to be a spectacular parade of boats along the river Seine, AFP looks back at memorable Olympics curtainraisers of the past.
The King proclaimed the opening of the Games and the Olympic hymn, written by Greek composer Spyridon Samaras, was then sung by a 150-strong choir, accompanied by nine philharmonic orchestras.
Swastikas bedecked the Brandenburg Gate as musical fanfares announced the dictator's arrival to a largely German crowd of 100,000, who hailed him with Nazi salutes and cries of "Heil Hitler".Â