1996 Summer Olympics opening ceremony 1996 Summer Olympics opening ceremony The opening ceremony of the 1996 Summer Olympics took place in the evening on Friday 19 July in the Centennial Olympic Stadium, Atlanta, United States. As mandated by the Olympic Charter, the proceedings combined the formal and ceremonial opening of this international sporting event, including welcoming speeches, hoisting of the flags and the parade of athletes, with an artistic spectacle to showcase the host nation’s culture and history. The Olympic cauldron was lit by former gold medalist and boxing champion Muhammad Ali. The ceremony features Award-winning and Grammy Award-time nominated film composer, John Williams, French
2012 Winter Youth Olympics opening ceremony cauldrons were lit prior to 1976 Games opening ceremony, where two cauldrons were lit. The 1964 cauldron was lit by Egon Zimmermann, Franz Klammer lit the 1976 cauldron and Paul Gerstgraser lit the 2012 cauldron. 2012 Winter Youth Olympics opening ceremony The 2012 Winter Youth Olympics opening ceremony, was held on 13 January 2012 at Bergiselschanze, Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria. Over 15,000 people attended the ceremony. The parade of nations was held before the ceremony. The ceremony featured speeches about the 1964 and 1976 Games. Heinz Fischer, the President of Austria, declared the Games open before the Olympic Hymn was played