Remembering opening ceremonies of past Olympic Games
Last Updated: 06/08/16 12:49am
![London's 2012 opening ceremony is quite an act to follow for Rio](https://e1.365dm.com/16/08/768x432/london-olympics-olympic-games-opening-ceremony-olympic-stadium_3758601.jpg?20160805180452)
As Rio prepares to welcome the world for the 2016 Olympic Games with their opening ceremony, we look back on some memorable images from the recent past.
The memorable lighting of the cauldron at London's Olympic Stadium
![](https://e1.365dm.com/16/08/768x432/london-olympics-opening-ceremony-olympic-games_3758597.jpg?20160805175708)
2008 in Beijing provided some spectacular scenes
![](https://e0.365dm.com/16/08/768x432/beijing-olympics-olympic-games-opening-ceremony_3758590.jpg?20160805175343)
Beijing's Bird's Nest Stadium played host to a vast ceremony
![](https://e1.365dm.com/16/08/768x432/beijing-olympics-olympic-games-opening-ceremony_3758589.jpg?20160805175050)
Fireworks are crucial to any opening ceremony and the Bird's Nest Stadium had plenty
![](https://e0.365dm.com/16/08/768x432/beijing-olympics-olympic-games-birds-nest-stadium-fireworks-opening-ceremony_3758584.jpg?20160805174646)
In 2004, the Olympic Games returned home to Athens
![](https://e2.365dm.com/16/08/768x432/athens-olympics-olympic-games-opening-ceremony-olympic-rings_3758575.jpg?20160805173325)
Cathy Freeman's memorable lighting of the Olympic flame starting the Sydney Games in 2000
![](https://e2.365dm.com/16/08/768x432/sydney-olympics-olympic-games-cathy-freeman-opening-ceremony_3758603.jpg?20160805180859)
1992 saw the Games head to Spain and Barcelona's opening ceremony
![](https://e1.365dm.com/16/08/768x432/barcelona-opening-ceremony-olympics-olympic-games_3758580.jpg?20160805174155)
Los Angeles welcomed the Games in their own unique way in 1984
![](https://e0.365dm.com/16/08/768x432/los-angeles-olympics-olympic-games-sam-the-eagle-mascot_3758618.jpg?20160805182756)
And what opening ceremony would be complete without a jet pack.......
![](https://e2.365dm.com/16/08/768x432/los-angeles-olympics-olympic-games-opening-ceremony-bill-suitor-jet-pack_3758608.jpg?20160805182136)