1992 Summer Olympics opening ceremony

The opening ceremony of the 1992 Summer Olympics took place in the evening on Saturday 25 July 1992 in the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain. 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 Games were officially opened by King of Spain Juan Carlos I at 22:20  CEST (UTC+2 ).

1992 Summer Olympics
opening ceremony
Date25 July 1992 (1992-07-25)
Time20:00 - 23:08 CEST (UTC+2)
LocationEstadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain
Coordinates41°21′53.14″N 2°9′20.37″E
Filmed byRTVE and COOB
FootageBarcelona 1992 Opening Ceremony - Full Length on YouTube
Olympic rings
Part of a series on
1992 Summer Olympics

Greek mezzo-soprano, Agnes Baltsa, sang "Romiossini" as the Olympic flag was taken around the stadium. Alfredo Kraus later sang the Olympic Hymn in both Catalan and Spanish as the flag was hoisted. The Olympic flame cauldron was lit by a flaming arrow, shot by Paralympic archer Antonio Rebollo. The arrow had been lit by the flame of the Olympic Torch. Rebollo overshot the cauldron[1] which was the original design of the lighting scheme.[2][3]

There were two main musical themes for the 1992 Games. One was Barcelona, composed five years earlier by Freddie Mercury and sung as a duet with Montserrat Caballé. Due to Mercury's death eight months earlier, the duo was unable to perform the song during the opening ceremony. A recording of the song instead played over a travelogue of the city at the start of the broadcast. Caballé performed at the end with other Spanish and Catalan opera singers various Spanish operatic hits.[4] The second theme was Amigos Para Siempre, composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black. In the opening ceremony, it was performed by a chorus while an Olympic flag covered the athletes.[5] Flags covering the athletes has been a motif that was used in the 2000 and 2004 opening ceremonies. This second song was a favorite of the then IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch and was played at his funeral.[6]

Parade of nations
See also: 1992 Summer Olympics national flag bearers

Brunei participated in the Opening Ceremony, but its delegation consisted of only one official. This also occurred in the 1988 Games[7][8] Afghanistan did not send their athletes to compete, but the country took part in the Parade of Nations.[9] Liberia[10] and Somalia[11] also participated in the Opening Ceremony, but its accredited athletes (five and two, respectively) did not enter to compete.[7]

Anthems

TV coverage

References
  1. Digital, La Vanguardia. "Edición del lunes, 27 julio 1992, página 36 - Hemeroteca - Lavanguardia.es".
  2. "Ceremonial hall of shame". BBC News. 2000-09-15. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  3. Official Report of the 1992 Summer Olympics, Vol. 4 (LA84Foundation.org). Note p. 70 (confirming arrow lit the gas above the cauldron).
  4. "Barcelona 92: inicio de la ceremonia". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
  5. "Barcelona Olympic Games 1992". Spectak International. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  6. "Dignitaries attend funeral for IOC's Samaranch". ESPN.com. Associated Press. 22 April 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  7. 1992 Olympics Official Report. Part IV. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 25, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2012. List of participants by NOC's and sport.
  8. Barcelona 1992 Opening Ceremony Parade of Nations 2/8 on YouTube
  9. Barcelona 1992 Opening Ceremony Parade of Nations 1/8 on YouTube
  10. Barcelona 1992 Opening Ceremony Parade of Nations 4/8 on YouTube
  11. Barcelona 1992 Opening Ceremony Parade of Nations 6/8 on YouTube
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