List of people who have opened the Olympic Games

Queen Elizabeth II opened the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada, and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, UK
Emperor Hirohito opened the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo
President Giovanni Gronchi of Italy opened the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo and the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome
Adolf Hitler opened the 1936 Winter Olympics and 1936 Summer Olympics, both of which were hosted in Germany

The Olympic Games are an international multi-sport event featuring both summer and winter sports, held every two years with Summer and Winter Olympic Games alternating. During Olympic Games opening ceremonies, the sitting president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will make a speech before inviting a representative from the host country to officially declare that particular Games open. The current Olympic Charter requires this person to be the head of state of the host country,[1] although this has not always been the case. This article lists the people who have had the ceremonial duty to declare each Olympic Games open.

Opening ceremony

The IOC factsheet on the opening ceremony states: "According to the Olympic Charter protocol, the duty of declaring the Games officially open falls to the head of state of the host country. Those who have performed this task are royalty and presidents, or their representatives, whether it was a vice-president, a member of the royal family, or a governor-general".[2] Rule 56 of Chapter 5 of the Olympic Charter sets out the exact words that are to be declared by the person opening the Games. If at a Summer Olympic Games, the words to be said are:

I declare open the Games of [name of host city] celebrating the [number of the Olympiad] Olympiad of the modern era.[1]

When at a Winter Olympic Games, the dignitary opening the Games is to proclaim:

I declare open the [number of the Olympic Winter Games] Olympic Winter Games of [name of host city].[1]

However, this has not always been followed strictly; at the 2010 Winter Olympics the Governor General of Canada, Michaëlle Jean, used the format of a Summer Games declaration to open the Games by saying "I declare open the Games of Vancouver, celebrating the 21st Winter Olympic Games."[3]

I declare open the Olympic Games of 1976, celebrating the XXI Olympiad of the modern era.

Dear Mr. President of International Olympic Commitee! Athletes of the world! Dear guests! Comrades! I declare open the Olympic Games of 1980, celebrating the XXII Olympiad of the modern era.

Celebrating the XXIII Olympiad of the modern era, I declare open the Olympic Games of Los Angeles.

(Speaking in Catalan): Welcome all to Barcelona! (Then speaking in Spanish): Today, 25 July of the Year 1992, I declare... (then the standard formula followed).

On behalf of a proud, determined and grateful nation..., then the standard opening formula.

On behalf of the 29th Olympiad, I officially declare these Olympic Games of Beijing ... open.

After this wonderful performance..., then the standard opening formula.

Dignitaries who have opened the Olympic Games

Year games Host city Officially opened by[lower-alpha 1] Office of opener[lower-alpha 1] Notes
1896 I Olympiad Greece Athens, Greece George I King of the Hellenes [4]
1900 II Olympiad France Paris, France No official opening No official opening [5]
1904 III Olympiad United States St. Louis, United States Francis, David R.David R. Francis President of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition[lower-alpha 2] [6]
1908 IV Olympiad United Kingdom London, Great Britain Edward VII King of the United Kingdom [7]
1912 V Olympiad Sweden Stockholm, Sweden Gustaf V King of Sweden [8]
1920 VII Olympiad Belgium Antwerp, Belgium Albert I King of the Belgians [9]
1924 I Winter France Chamonix, France Vidal, GastonGaston Vidal Undersecretary for Physical Education of the French Republic[lower-alpha 3] [10]
1924 VIII Olympiad France Paris, France Doumergue, GastonGaston Doumergue President of the French Republic [11]
1928 II Winter Switzerland St. Moritz, Switzerland Schulthess, EdmundEdmund Schulthess President of the Swiss Confederation[lower-alpha 4] [12]
1928 IX Olympiad Netherlands Amsterdam, Netherlands Prince Hendrik Prince Consort of the Netherlands[lower-alpha 5] [13]
1932 III Winter United States Lake Placid, United States Roosevelt, Franklin D.Franklin D. Roosevelt Governor of the State of New York[lower-alpha 6] [14]
1932 X Olympiad United States Los Angeles, United States Curtis, CharlesCharles Curtis Vice President of the United States[lower-alpha 6] [15]
1936 IV Winter Germany Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany Hitler, AdolfAdolf Hitler Führer and Reich Chancellor of the German People[lower-alpha 7] [16]
1936 XI Olympiad Germany Berlin, Germany [17]
1948 V Winter Switzerland St. Moritz, Switzerland Celio, EnricoEnrico Celio President of the Swiss Confederation[lower-alpha 4] [18]
1948 XIV Olympiad United Kingdom London, Great Britain George VI King of the United Kingdom [19]
1952 VI Winter Norway Oslo, Norway Princess Ragnhild Princess of Norway [lower-alpha 8] [20]
1952 XV Olympiad Finland Helsinki, Finland Paasikivi, Juho KustiJuho Kusti Paasikivi President of the Republic of Finland [21]
1956 VII Winter Italy Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy Gronchi, GiovanniGiovanni Gronchi President of the Italian Republic [22]
1956 XVI Olympiad (equestrian) Sweden Stockholm, Sweden Gustaf VI Adolf King of Sweden [23]
1956 XVI Olympiad Australia Melbourne, Australia The Duke of Edinburgh Husband of Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia [24]
1960 VIII Winter United States Squaw Valley, United States Nixon, RichardRichard Nixon Vice President of the United States[lower-alpha 9] [25]
1960 XVII Olympiad Italy Rome, Italy Gronchi, GiovanniGiovanni Gronchi President of the Italian Republic [26]
1964 IX Winter Austria Innsbruck, Austria Schärf, AdolfAdolf Schärf Federal President of the Republic of Austria [27]
1964 XVIII Olympiad Japan Tokyo, Japan Hirohito Emperor of Japan [28]
1968 X Winter France Grenoble, France de Gaulle, CharlesCharles de Gaulle President of the French Republic [29]
1968 XIX Olympiad Mexico Mexico City, Mexico Díaz Ordaz, GustavoGustavo Díaz Ordaz President of the United Mexican States [30]
1972 XI Winter Japan Sapporo, Japan Hirohito Emperor of Japan [31]
1972 XX Olympiad West Germany Munich, West Germany Heinemann, GustavGustav Heinemann President of the Federal Republic of Germany [32]
1976 XII Winter Austria Innsbruck, Austria Kirchschläger, RudolfRudolf Kirchschläger Federal President of the Republic of Austria [33]
1976 XXI Olympiad Canada Montreal, Canada Elizabeth II Queen of Canada [34]
1980 XIII Winter United States Lake Placid, United States Mondale, WalterWalter Mondale Vice President of the United States[lower-alpha 10] [35]
1980 XXII Olympiad Soviet Union Moscow, Soviet Union Brezhnev, LeonidLeonid Brezhnev Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics[lower-alpha 11] [36]
1984 XIV Winter Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Sarajevo, Yugoslavia SpiljakMika Špiljak President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia [37]
1984 XXIII Olympiad United States Los Angeles, United States Reagan, RonaldRonald Reagan President of the United States [38]
1988 XV Winter Canada Calgary, Canada Sauvé, JeanneJeanne Sauvé Governor General of Canada[lower-alpha 12] [39]
1988 XXIV Olympiad South Korea Seoul, Republic of Korea Roh Tae-woo President of the Republic of Korea [40]
1992 XVI Winter France Albertville, France Mitterrand, FrançoisFrançois Mitterrand President of the French Republic [41]
1992 XXV Olympiad Spain Barcelona, Spain Juan Carlos I King of Spain [42]
1994 XVII Winter Norway Lillehammer, Norway Harald V King of Norway [43]
1996 XXVI Olympiad United States Atlanta, United States Clinton, BillBill Clinton President of the United States [44]
1998 XVIII Winter Japan Nagano, Japan Akihito Emperor of Japan [45]
2000 XXVII Olympiad Australia Sydney, Australia Deane, WilliamWilliam Deane Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia[lower-alpha 13] [46][47][48][49][50]
2002 XIX Winter United States Salt Lake City, United States Bush, George W.George W. Bush President of the United States [51]
2004 XXVIII Olympiad Greece Athens, Greece Stephanopoulos, KonstantinosKonstantinos Stephanopoulos President of the Hellenic Republic [52]
2006 XX Winter Italy Turin, Italy Ciampi, Carlo AzeglioCarlo Azeglio Ciampi President of the Italian Republic [53]
2008 XXIX Olympiad China Beijing, China PR Hu Jintao President of the People's Republic of China [54]
2010 XXI Winter Canada Vancouver, Canada Jean, MichaëlleMichaëlle Jean Governor General of Canada[lower-alpha 12] [55]
2012 XXX Olympiad United Kingdom London, Great Britain Elizabeth II Queen of the United Kingdom [56]
2014 XXII Winter Russia Sochi, Russian Federation Vladimir Putin President of the Russian Federation [57]
2016 XXXI Olympiad Brazil Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Michel Temer Vice President of Brazil[lower-alpha 14]

Notes:

  1. 1 2 Names & offices in italics reflect an opener who was not head of state when he or she opened the Games. If the office is partially italicized, the non-italicized portion is the office & name of the head of state being represented.
  2. ↑ Representing President Theodore Roosevelt.
  3. ↑ Representing President Alexandre Millerand.
  4. 1 2 This office is technically not head of state in and of itself, but is the presiding officer of the Federal Council which collectively acts as head of state.
  5. ↑ Representing Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands.
  6. 1 2 Representing President Herbert Hoover.
  7. ↑ IOC records state Hitler opened these Games as "Chancellor" (head of government), but in 1934 that office was consolidated with "President" (head of state) into "Führer und Reichskanzler", or "Führer".
  8. ↑ Representing her grandfather, King Haakon VII of Norway.
  9. ↑ Representing President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
  10. ↑ Representing President Jimmy Carter.
  11. ↑ IOC records state Brezhnev opened the Moscow Games as "President", a title used at that time by the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, or de jure head of state. (The office of President of the Soviet Union was not created until 1990, a year before the nation broke up.) Though Brezhnev was also de facto ruler as General Secretary of the Communist Party, that title is not reflected in IOC records.
  12. 1 2 Representing Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada.
  13. ↑ Representing Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia.
  14. ↑ As Acting President, in place of incumbent President Dilma Rousseff, who was suspended from her duties as president during her impeachment trial.

Dignitaries who have opened the Youth Olympic Games

Year Games Host city Officially opened by Office of opener Notes
2010 I Summer Singapore Singapore S.R. Nathan President of the Republic of Singapore
2012 I Winter Austria Innsbruck, Austria Heinz Fischer Federal President of the Republic of Austria
2014 II Summer China Nanjing, China PR Xi Jinping President of the People's Republic of China
2016 II Winter Norway Lillehammer, Norway Harald V King of Norway
2018 III Summer Argentina Buenos Aires, Argentina

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 International Olympic Committee (11 February 2010). Olympic Charter (PDF). p. 103. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  2. ↑ IOC Factsheet.
  3. ↑ "Opening Ceremony: 2010 Winter Games declared open". Agence France-Presse. 12 February 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  4. ↑ "Athens 1896 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  5. ↑ "Paris 1900 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  6. ↑ "St Louis 1904 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  7. ↑ "London 1908 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  8. ↑ "Stockholm 1912 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  9. ↑ "Antwerp 1920 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  10. ↑ "Chamonix 1924 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  11. ↑ "Paris 1924 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  12. ↑ "St Moritz 1928 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  13. ↑ "Amsterdam 1928 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  14. ↑ "Lake Placid 1932 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  15. ↑ "Los Angeles 1932 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  16. ↑ "Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1936 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  17. ↑ "Berlin 1936 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  18. ↑ "St Moritz 1948 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  19. ↑ "London 1948 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  20. ↑ "Oslo 1952 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  21. ↑ "Helsinki 1952 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  22. ↑ "Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  23. ↑ Kubatko, Justin. "1956 Stockholm Equestrian Games". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  24. ↑ "Melbourne-Stockholm 1956 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  25. ↑ "Squaw Valley 1960 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  26. ↑ "Rome 1960 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  27. ↑ "Innsbruck 1964 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  28. ↑ "Tokyo 1964 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  29. ↑ "Grenoble 1968 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  30. ↑ "Mexico City 1968 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  31. ↑ "Sapporo 1972 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  32. ↑ "Munich 1972 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  33. ↑ "Innsbruck 1976 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  34. ↑ "Montreal 1976 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  35. ↑ "Lake Placid 1980 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  36. ↑ "Moscow 1980 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  37. ↑ "Sarajevo 1984 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  38. ↑ "Los Angeles 1984 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  39. ↑ "Calgary 1988 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  40. ↑ "Seoul 1988 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  41. ↑ "Albertville 1992 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  42. ↑ "Barcelona 1992 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  43. ↑ "Lillehammer 1994 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  44. ↑ "Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  45. ↑ "Nagano 1998 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  46. ↑ "Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  47. ↑ "Get ready to watch the Opening Ceremony: Heads of state". NBC. 24 March 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  48. ↑ Harvey, Randy (16 September 2000). "Down Wonders". LA Times. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  49. ↑ Olsen, Lisa (10 September 2000). "History Lesson Despite the stereotypes, don't expect to run into Crocodile Dundee at the Sydney Games". New York Daily News. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  50. ↑ "Australia: Britain's Queen Elizabeth Visit". AP Archive. Associated Press. 21 March 2000.
  51. ↑ "Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  52. ↑ "Athens 2004 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  53. ↑ "Turin 2006 Winter Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  54. ↑ "Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  55. ↑ "Governor General to Open the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games". Governor General of Canada. February 8, 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-10.
  56. ↑ "London 2012 Olympics launches with huge ceremony". BBC News. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  57. ↑ Sam Sheringham (February 7, 2014). "Sochi 2014: Winter Olympics opens with glittering ceremony". BBC. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
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