The opening ceremony at Colombes Stadium during the Paris 1924 Olympic Games in France
Smoke in the colours of the French flag over Austerlitz Bridge during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games opening ceremony. All photos: Getty Images
Fireworks explode during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the games were delayed a year and held in 2021
Fireworks light up the night sky over Maracana stadium during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games opening ceremony in Brazil, with the Mangueira 'favela' community in the foreground
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II makes a speech during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games
The opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the National Stadium in China
Performers act out a scene representing Greek culture and art during the opening ceremony of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games
Torch bearer and Australian athlete Cathy Freeman lights the cauldron with the Olympic Flame during the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games
Olympic gold medallist and former boxing heavyweight world champion Muhammad Ali carries the Olympic Flame during the opening ceremony of the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games in the USA
The opening ceremony of the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games in Spain
The Olympic flame is lit during the opening ceremony of the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games in South Korea
The opening ceremony for the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in California, USA
The opening ceremony of the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games in Russia
The opening ceremony for the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games in Canada
Parades through the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the Munich 1972 Olympic Games in West Germany
Balloons are released over the stadium during the opening ceremony of the Mexico City 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico
Olympic flame torchbearer Yoshinori Sakai mounts the steps to light the cauldron at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games in Japan
Italian athlete Giancarlo Peris brings the Olympic flame to the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony the Rome 1960 Olympic Games in Italy
Australian athlete Ron Clarke carries the Olympic torch into the stadium during the opening ceremony of the Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games in Australia
Thousands of carrier pigeons fly over the Olympic stadium during the opening ceremony of the Helsinki 1952 Olympic Games in Finland
The opening ceremony of the London 1948 Olympic Games in Britain. The Olympics were making a return after a 12-year break due to the Second World War
The Olympic torch is carried into the stadium during the opening ceremony of the Berlin 1936 Olympic Games in Germany
The opening ceremony of the Los Angeles 1932 Olympic Games at the Memorial Coliseum in California, USA
The parade at the opening ceremony of the Amsterdam 1928 Olympic Games in Netherlands
The opening ceremony at Colombes Stadium during the Paris 1924 Olympic Games in France
Smoke in the colours of the French flag over Austerlitz Bridge during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games opening ceremony. All photos: Getty Images
Fireworks explode during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the games were delayed a year and held in 2021
Fireworks light up the night sky over Maracana stadium during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games opening ceremony in Brazil, with the Mangueira 'favela' community in the foreground
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II makes a speech during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games
The opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the National Stadium in China
Performers act out a scene representing Greek culture and art during the opening ceremony of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games
Torch bearer and Australian athlete Cathy Freeman lights the cauldron with the Olympic Flame during the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games
Olympic gold medallist and former boxing heavyweight world champion Muhammad Ali carries the Olympic Flame during the opening ceremony of the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games in the USA
The opening ceremony of the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games in Spain
The Olympic flame is lit during the opening ceremony of the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games in South Korea
The opening ceremony for the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in California, USA
The opening ceremony of the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games in Russia
The opening ceremony for the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games in Canada
Parades through the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the Munich 1972 Olympic Games in West Germany
Balloons are released over the stadium during the opening ceremony of the Mexico City 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico
Olympic flame torchbearer Yoshinori Sakai mounts the steps to light the cauldron at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games in Japan
Italian athlete Giancarlo Peris brings the Olympic flame to the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony the Rome 1960 Olympic Games in Italy
Australian athlete Ron Clarke carries the Olympic torch into the stadium during the opening ceremony of the Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games in Australia
Thousands of carrier pigeons fly over the Olympic stadium during the opening ceremony of the Helsinki 1952 Olympic Games in Finland
The opening ceremony of the London 1948 Olympic Games in Britain. The Olympics were making a return after a 12-year break due to the Second World War
The Olympic torch is carried into the stadium during the opening ceremony of the Berlin 1936 Olympic Games in Germany
The opening ceremony of the Los Angeles 1932 Olympic Games at the Memorial Coliseum in California, USA
The parade at the opening ceremony of the Amsterdam 1928 Olympic Games in Netherlands
The opening ceremony at Colombes Stadium during the Paris 1924 Olympic Games in France
100 years of Olympic Games opening ceremonies - in pictures
