1996 Atlanta Opening Ceremonies – Lighting of the Cauldron
Posted on April 06, 2010 by Ed
(12:17am) This is the entrance of the Olympic Flame into the Olympic Stadium and the Lighting of the Cauldron by Muhammad Ali hosted by Bob Costas & Dick Enberg to the music of Beetoven’s “Ode to Joy”. Athletes hand-off include:
Al Oerter, Evander Holyfield, Voula Patoulidou, & Janet Evans. Others include Shaquille O’Neal & Michael Johnson. July 20th, 1996 Atlanta, Georgia USA
I recommend viewing Janet Evans’ video speech under her website on being a champion where she talks about this moment.
http://www.janetevans.com/index2.html
Click on “Speaking” then “Video Preview” at lower right of page.
Duration : 0:8:14
[youtube 5TaITzi64Sw]
Discussion: 25 Comments
25 Responses to “1996 Atlanta Opening Ceremonies – Lighting of the Cauldron”
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samoas2323
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
well done
well done
meast30
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
Ali is the GREATEST …
Ali is the GREATEST. period.
Eric0816
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
Ali has always …
Ali has always carried the torch.
kmotch
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
@bolimerica31 No i …
@bolimerica31 No i didnt know he won 56 times….. but i would hope ”The Greatest” would at least remain undefeated his entire career not unlike Joe Calzaghe!!!!
bolimerica31
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
you also might not …
you also might not know that he won 56 times
vinceism1
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
“and looks who …
“and looks who comes next…the greatest..oh my”
ZhangtheGreat
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
@dsfddsgh, Li Ning, …
@dsfddsgh, Li Ning, former gold medalist in artistic gymnastics and current CEO of his own clothing brand. While his brand hasn’t cracked the US market, it’s huge in Europe with several European countries now having adopted it as the official brand for their athletes.
Yeah you’re right, “no one” outside China knows who Li Ning is =P
lostalex77
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
Ali was the perfect …
Ali was the perfect person to light the flame. a true example of the American spirit. Amazing moment.
Unsungheroful
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
Could you get any …
Could you get any better!! The Greatest always !!
WalterSobchak1998
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
Wow, let’s let the …
Wow, let’s let the flame enter the stadium to a German hymn that was the anthem played for German gold medalists in the 50s and 60s. Despite the possible backlash, Dixie should have been played, and I’m from the north! Hell, “Marching through Georgia” would have been better. Muhammed Ali deserved better, as did the country (though this could be said about the entire 96 Games).
kmotch
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
@2000boxter …… …
@2000boxter …… thats the thing with Ali, you cant comment on his boxing ability without delving into the dark world of rasism, draft dodging etc… yeah he fought back to win some titles but he lost 5 times in his career, im no boxing expert but thats alot of times to be dumped on your and still be considered the ”greatest”….. if you want to go down the road of destrimination, adversity etc then Jesse Owens is surely a greater athlete and over came the third reich to win!!!!!
2000boxter
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
@kmotch ”The …
@kmotch ”The greatest athlete in our last century”……..Really?
Yes Really…Can’t think of anyone else,as a pure athelete, fighting back to win 3 titles,adversity,rasism……
kmotch
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
@2000boxter ”The …
@2000boxter ”The greatest athlete in our last century”……..Really? i just don’t get the Ali thing, and i can name many athletes who in the last century were ”greater” than he was, for me people get caught up in his mythology, if someone says ”i am the greatest” enough times most people will believe him… im not trying to denigrate his career, i simply dont get all the fuss!!!
devastateurface
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
What a powerful …
What a powerful moment. There’s no explaining it. Seeing Ali back on the world stage where he belongs, yet riddled with such an insidious disease. It stole the very thing which made the world love him, his voice. You watch this wishing to somehow reach the “old” Ali, to hear his quick wit and cutting commentary again, knowing it will not happen. It’s kind of a desperate feeling, and illustrated with this one poignant moment.
CivilizedJerk
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
I was there!!!!!!!!!
I was there!!!!!!!!!
wade2bosh
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
beijing had a nice …
beijing had a nice torch and flying wheelchair guy climbing up….and canada messed up a bit…great one had to take a truck to an outside torch…that looked like aluminum foil crap
linz811
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
me 2 lightning !
me 2 lightning !
LightningFistFighter
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
brought tears to my …
brought tears to my eyes
2000boxter
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
Thanks for posting …
Thanks for posting this. My favorite Summer Games opening of all. When i saw Ali light the cauldron, it was historic, you get chocked up. He was the greatest athlete in our last century.Vancuver was the best winter opening so far….
Lennon4life1968
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
ALI!! ALI!! ALI!!!!
ALI!! ALI!! ALI!!!!
kylekeske
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
we all love …
we all love Muhammad Ali
dsfddsgh
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
I’m not talking …
I’m not talking about the whole ceremony. Just the lighting of the torch. Do you even know who lit the torch in Beijing? Yeah i thought so. Everyone in the world knows who Muhammad Ali is. Bet no one outside China knew who it was that lit the torch in Beijing.
secondplacefinish
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
Nah, Beijing 2008 …
Nah, Beijing 2008 takes the cake.
manzi71
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
@himynameississy …
@himynameississy Yes it was.But hell,everyone knows that Canada is the “51″state!
JoaoPessoa86
- 6th Apr, 10 07:04pm
nice lighting, but …
nice lighting, but by far the ugliest cauldron