The Opening Ceremony Features Iconic Moments

The opening ceremony of the Olympics offers athletes a prime opportunity to make a memorable impression even before the competition begins. Paris 2024 will officially kick off on Friday, July 26. The opening ceremony will be held along the River Seine. As nations unveil their ceremonial outfits, Team Mongolia’s ivory-colored garments have notably captured interest. For instance, at Sydney 2000, Japan’s Naoko Takahashi clinched gold in the marathon, becoming the first Japanese woman to secure an Olympic athletics title. Her unconventional preparation which included drinking hornet stomach juices, drew considerable attention.

Meanwhile, Spain achieved three gold medals at the Games. Isabel Fernandez won in the lightweight judo division while Joan Llaneras secured gold in the points race cycling event. Additionally, gymnast Gervasio Deferr took the top spot in the men’s horse vault. In Athens 2004, Japan finished fifth in the medal table, amassing 37 medals including 16 golds. Moving to London 2012, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, who carried the flag, set an Olympic record of 9.63 seconds in the men’s 100m final. Malaysia’s Pandelela Rinong made history by winning a bronze medal in the women’s 10m platform diving event. She became the first Malaysian female athlete to earn an Olympic medal.

Similarly, Team GB achieved its most successful Games since 1908 with 65 medals and Sir Chris Hoy earned a historic triple gold. Sweden’s Fredrik Loof and Max Salminen won the country’s sole gold in keelboat sailing. In Rio 2016, Indonesia took home three medals, including a gold in mixed doubles badminton while Norway secured four bronze medals including a narrow loss for the women’s handball team in the semi-finals. Cameroon, which has six Olympic medals, celebrated gold in men’s football at Sydney 2000.

Tonga’s Pita Nikolas Taufatofua gained fame for his oiled-up appearance and competed in both taekwondo and cross-country skiing. Additionally, Australia’s summer Games team featured more women than men for the first time with Anna Meares as the flagbearer. Finally, at Tokyo 2020, Team USA topped the medal tally with 121 medals including 46 golds. Tuvalu made its fourth consecutive appearance with two track and field athletes, continuing its Olympic journey.