Olympic Games ceremony a standard 18-event program was established. In order to open a Games in ancient Greece the organizers would hold an Inauguration Festival. This was followed by a ceremony in which athletes took an oath of sportsmanship. The first competition, an artistic competition of trumpeters and heralds, concluded the opening festivities. The Olympic opening ceremonies represent the official commencement of an Olympic Games. In recent Olympics, athletic competition began prior to the opening ceremonies. For example, the football competitions for both men and women at the 2008 Summer Olympics began two days prior to the opening ceremonies. The 2014 Winter Olympics
1992 Winter Olympics opening ceremony 1992 Winter Olympics opening ceremony The opening ceremony of the 1992 Winter Olympics took place at Théâtre des Cérémonies in Albertville, France, on 8 February 1992. It is themed around a traditional circus. The flag bearers of 64 National Olympic Committees entered the stadium informally in single file, ordered by the French alphabet, and behind them marched the athletes with any distinction or grouping by nationality. AOOC President Jean-Claude Killy delivered a speech in French, welcoming everyone. IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch delivered a speech in French and the President of France François Mitterrand declared the Games of the XVI