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Atlanta 1996 OC - Lighting of the Olympic Cauldron

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The main highlight of any Olympic Games opening ceremony: the lighting of the Olympic cauldron by the Flame. First, the late Al Oerter (1936-2007) brings in the Olympic torch from outside the stadium. Oerter was the four-time Olympic champion in the discus throw event from Melbourne 1956 to Mexico City 1968 consecutively. Within the bowels of the stadium, the flame was passed from Oerter to Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield. He was the Los Angeles 1984 bronze medal winner in the light-heavyweight boxing event. He then popped out from the center of the stadium, from where the official opening speeches were spoken. As he carried the Olympic Flame closer to its final destination, he picked up Paraskevi ("Voula") Patoulidou of Greece (her name in Greek is Παρασκευή "Βούλα" Πατουλίδου) to accompany him. Patoulidou was the first Greek female athlete, at the time, to earn an Olympic medal in a track and field event. In Barcelona 1992, she won gold in the 100m hurdles event. She would "repeat" this scene again at the Athens 2004 opening ceremony, but by herself. I believe she is the only person to be allowed that kind of honor TWICE so far in modern Olympic history. Then, the Flame was passed to Janet Evans: a four-time Olympic gold medalist and an Olympic silver medalist in swimming from both Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992. Finally, the climax and the honor of lighting the Olympic cauldron was given to MUHAMMAD ALI (formerly named Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr). He was the Olympic champion and gold medalist in the light-heavyweight boxing event at Rome 1960. Kind of funny that the Flame would just "crawl" along the line up to the cauldron like that; never mind how some people reacted what the cauldron looked like then. Note: The "Ode To Joy" music was used mostly throughout this clip.

Channel: Sports
Uploaded: November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am
Author: rockies77

Length: 08:27
Rating: 4.75
Views: 109368

Tags: 1996  ali  atlanta  cauldron  ceremony  evans  flame  games  holyfield  look  oerter  olympic  opening  patoulidou  torch  XXVI  

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RockImmortal (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
i dont like this kind of torch lighting... i mean, what is spectacular is how did thet doi it not who do it... sydney 2000 made the best lighting of cauldron ever!!!! beijing made something really simple: a man flying but syndey used more techonlogy...a very sci-fi idea, somebody that "lights the water" and the a big cauldron fly, thats amazing... The torch lighting was the best in the history!!!!!!!!!
rorymarshall1 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
Muhammed Ali, Still the Gratest of All Time!
tommyrock69 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
I had just moved to Atlanta one year before these games. I remember watching the torch being run through my neighborhood. I watched the final run on TV. I teared up for a boyhood hero who appeared at the end for the first time in years. I am now privileged, by coincidence (or fate), to teach social studies at his Alma mater- Louisville Central High School. I meet kids with his brand of grit and ambition every day. This, though, was a "moment."
tommyrock69 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
Beijing got ya though. Mezmorizing.
MOTOFRANK2 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
THE GREATEST
pakmanATL (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
the olympics in atlanta might have not been the best but the olypic theme for atlanta was by far the best.
scarblade234 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
Sydney was and still is the best Olympics ever!
kevinwashere12345 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
the flame on the cauldron looks weird
sajiduk (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
u twat
hysterical1981 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
I totally agree with you on that Antros23 with no disrespect for the Great Legend who lit the torch that day. As far as the standards of Olympics were concerned, I think Atlanta was definitely the worse. No host country,yet,has been able to beat the display that Barcelona came up with, as far as the torch lighting is concerned. It definitely takes the top reward.

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