The spectacular evolution of the Summer Olympics' opening ceremony

More than a century ago, the Olympics' inaugural night was endearingly modest

Swedish gymnasts enter the old stadium in Stockhom in the 1912 Olympic Games.
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(Image credit: (Public Domain)In 1896, spectators packed into the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens were treated to a parade of bands, a choral performance of the "Cantata for the Olympic Games," (which would b)

(Image credit: Swedish gymnasts enter the old stadium in Stockholm, marching past the Swedish royal families. The opening ceremonies included a gymnastics demonstration, a 12-band concert, and trumpeters dr)

(Image credit: The Olympic torch is carried into the Olympic Stadium on Aug. 1.)

(Image credit: Thousands of carrier pigeons are released over the Olympic stadium in Helsinki to signify the start of the Games.)

(Image credit: Gymnasts perform during the opening ceremony at the Tokyo National Stadium on Oct. 10, 1964.)

(Image credit: Colorfully dressed performers decorate the Aztec pyramids northeast of Mexico City during a rehearsal of the opening ceremonies.)

(Image credit: Performers form into spiraling pyramids on the field of the Lenin Stadium on July 19, 1980, during the opening ceremonies.)

(Image credit: Bill Suitor hovers with his jet pack over the stadium during the opening ceremony for the XXIII Olympic Games on July 28, 1984, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.)

(Image credit: Dancers form the Olympic rings in the center of the stadium during the opening ceremony of the 1988 Summer Olympic Games.)

(Image credit: A ship symbolizing Mediterranean culture sails through Olympic Stadium on July 25, 1992, during opening ceremonies for the XXV Games.)

(Image credit: Dancers and a choir perform on July 19, 1996, in Atlanta during the opening ceremony of the Centennial Olympic Games. The ceremony took three years to prepare.)

(Image credit: Performers create a map of Australia during the opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games.)

(Image credit: A performer posing as Eros descends during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on Aug. 13, 2004.)

(Image credit: Participants take part in the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on Aug. 8, 2008.)

(Image credit: Performers dressed as the character Mary Poppins descend to the ground during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on July 27, 2012.)

Lauren Hansen
Lauren Hansen

Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.

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