Olympic Runner 2004

[Greek756]

SE ME HACE QUE ES DE K.BHTA

[nikolaospetrou]

ο σαμπανης ο τραγουδιστης ειναι αυτος που τρεχει.....

[aldotico]

Y terminan los panamericanos guadalajara 2011.. solo en espera de London 2012

[mykolabferrari]

olympics are awesome

[kjkjkj640]

como se llama la cancion??? se que es de dj tiesto... por que no vi esto en el 2004 fue la mejor inaguracion de los jjoo y ademas con la musica de dj tiesto... lindos momentos

[aldotico]

@kjkjkj640 yo tambien quiero la cancion, pero en internet solo encontraras un disco de tiesto de athens 2004 pero del desfile de paises.. y si yo pienso lo mismo ha sido la mejor inaguración; estamos en espera de londres 2012 y rio 2016 qe no creo qe se vallan a qedar atras..

[Nehuencho]

Increíble ! Como amo Grecia, la verdad es q lamento todo lo que les está pasando, pero esa cultura milenaria v a salir adelante!

[jvwiniarski]

2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing, 2012 London, 2016 RIO DE JANEIRO!!

[93kingcold]

great moments!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!

[MrsLuvthatsong]

Nowdays with all the financial problems it's really hard to be proud for our country Greece,but the olympic games made me so proud for my country and it's history.No matter how magnificent and spectacular the chinese games were nothing beats the simplicity,emotion and beauty of our games.Some many years after that night i am still amazed every time i see this moment!

[nixter888]

@MrsLuvthatsong YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE PROUD OF YOUR COUNTRY!THE ONLY THING YOU SHOULD NOT BE PROUD OF IS THE THIEVES IN YOUR GOVERNMENT!.. GREECE IS ALWAYS GREAT AND FANTASTIC!

[international153]

1896 Athens 1900 Paris 1904 St.Louis 1908 London 1912 Stockholm WWI 1920 Antwerp 1924 Paris 1928 Amsterdam 1932 Los Angeles 1936 Berlin 1948 London 1952 Helsinki 1956 Melbourne 1960 Rome 1964 Tokyo 1968 Mexico City 1972 Munich 1976 Montreal 1980 Moscow 1984 Los Angeles 1988 Seoul 1992 Barcelona 1996 Atlanta 2000 Sydney 2004 ATHENS!!!

[YorgoSkep]

Athens redirected the olympic games to its source. It showed the unseperable bond of body and mind in breath-taking images and sounds!

[AlexHWalker]

I just read about this before I saw this and the fall in memory on 1916 still shocked me.

[753hill]

who is that philistine who dislike this?!

[Galeonlee1]

TIESTO!!!!!NR1

[Arouraiouli]

The first time I saw him falling down it was so real... amazing!

[leito1489]

Notice that when the runner reaches the world war 2 you can only hear the kick loop of the music, and it sounds similar to the sounds of explosions in the distance, this detail is awesome.

[tktk2804]

1968--- mexico city.... whooaaaaa¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

[wolves2009]

@tktk2804 Es impresionante como siempre nos hacemos presentes ¿no?. Ninguna cuidad recibe ese tipo de reacción durante la carrera.

[MelodiaTodoElDia]

@wolves2009

La verdad es que gritaron en para todas las ciudades pero en el video no se oye.

[gpeddino]

I love the way the whole stadium GASPED when the runner stumbled. Then the voiceover: "World War I" and everything sounded amazed by the powerful image.

[MelodiaTodoElDia]

@gpeddino

I was there and it was just amazing...

[elenanocom]

It's so really beauty!!!! the significate of it is great, and the view of the stupid mind of the people in the World Wars, I and II, it's great

[eilier]

THIS IS AWESOME, SO COOL, AMAZING!!!

[ecsen]

When He Falls During Every War AMAZING!!!

Who's The Runner? is He a Medalist?

[pani74]

@ecsen His name is George Sabanis he was an ex pole vault jumper and after the Games he became a pop singer in Greece

[TheSand19]

1968 ciudad de mexico!

[alfaceandrice]

2008 - Beijing 2012 - London 2016 - Rio 2020 - New York 2024 - Paris 2028 - Toronto 2032 - New Delhi 2036 - Berlin 2040 - WORLD WAR III 2048 - Johannesburg ....

[pabvision]

2008- Bejing

2012- London

2016- Rio

2020-Los Angeles

2024- Dublin

2028- Santiago

2032- New Delhi

2036- Baghdad

2040- WORD WAR III....

2048- Zurich

[GRstavroula]

@pabvision how did u come up with this list from L.A to Zurich? just an assumption or what?

[markosp]

WWII didn't start for Greece in 1939. And I too can cry everytime for this video and this opening ceremony.

[flyCaliKid]

thats cool to name all the cities that hosted the summer games...

2012 -London

2016 -Rio De Janeiro

[Codyr2x]

Out of all of the things I remember from the Olympics in 2004 is this video, I could cry everytime I see this video!

[ecsen]

@Codyr2x  SO COOL!!!

[moctgaya]

SPARTA 2020 AAUUUUU!!! XD

[RothdeMan]

London will be the 1st city to host the Modern Games three times.

[blackonyx2002]

@RothdeMan AWESOME. Sadly it may be at least 2020 if not later when another American city hosts either Winter or Summer Olympics.

[marshallguy301]

The runner is yummy.

[international153]

@marshallguy301 Sorry, no cannibalism please.

[marshallguy301]

2012 London, baby!

[richieschick]

Amen baby! Rock on London 2012!

[82and9make91]

I remember that the 2004 games were the first that i watched the opening ceremonies of and this is the thing i remembered the most. Thanks for putting it up :)

[cyberkitkat]

@82and9make91 lawlz me too :)

[eric995464]

Perfect Music TIESTO!!!

[Misseva8ia]

Now, the runner is a great singer in greece....

search in youtube for Giorgos Sampanis and you will hear his songs! He wrote amazing songs for helena paparizou, pegki zina, for him etC...!

[VanCanada2010]

I do exactly the same thing, alechango. There have been far more elaborate sequences in most of the modern opening ceremonies, but this simple act is one of my favorite of all time. With the recent turn of events in the global economy, I am very interested to see what my home town of Vancouver, Canada will do. Something tells me it will be low key, but either way, my very best wishes are extended to ALL competitors from ALL countries. Have a great time in Vancouver and Whistler!!

[alechango]

I don't know why... but everytime i see this video, it makes me drop joy tears! Go Brazil! the fate of the new generation of athletes depend on you!

[iaswnath]

Good luck Rio!

Go Brazil!

All the best from Athens xxx

[leeswoo00]

Rio de Janeiro Elected As 2016 Host City

[VictorRangel87]

best ever.. even better than beijing

[alexander31332334]

and don't forget: 2008 Beijing

[EvilDave1309]

this was the best

[newschannel]

I absolutely loved this sequence, especially the part where the runner fell, but got back up. A great symbolism of our resilience!

[1993Asterix]

becuase in 1936 was the World War 2.

[legionario501]

why they cut berlin 1936 ?

[WanderingOdysseus]

The Olympic Games represents world peace. The whole Olympic idea is against war. When the games took place in the ancient years, war stopped. If you see the video more carefully, you'll understand why the flag is held down when WW2 is mentioned.

[masterfuu]

She said Berlin 1936 then WW2 ....

[fernandopascullo]

and?

ww2 started in 1939...

[panvaf]

The best opening ceremony ever! I'm still getting the chills everytime i see this part!!!!It was a great experience!

[EuropeanUnionRules]

Definitely THE BEST Olympics ever. Moscow Olympics a close second.

The part that made the Athens Olympics the best was the fact that a small country managed to not only host them but also confound the critics over its "delays" :)

[littlevatraxaki]

to those wondering why the runner why the Berlin tape falls by itself and the runner does not break it;

it was intentional because while Nazi germany hosted the games they did not respect the olympic spirit or what it represents.

So the tape falls to show that the games did take place but the runner doesnt break it because it was seen as a 'violation' of the ancient concept of the olympic spirit.

I loved this whole concept of the runner btw.

[MrsLuvthatsong]

@littlevatraxaki i've never thought of that...i thought that it just felt just by mistake now why it felt seems so logical

[Octobre1986]

This was a good idea.

[flcomar]

anyone knows what is the song in the background?

[libya2030]

i've seen lots of opeining cermonies but athens 2004 still the best

[StitchV2]

I remember this opening ceremony well, i was on holiday and i watched this with my grandad

the olympics are the following things to me

Memory

Fame

History

Pride

Skill

Strength

and Spirit

[lordsupper1]

Yeah. This is another great part in the Athens ceremony. A great closing indeed.

[medatlantic]

THIS IS COOL!!

[Dasprite222]

To this DAY, I am still moved by the runner symbolically falling during the wars. To see the entire world "stumble", but shake it off and continue to move forward in traditional Olympic spirit is truly powerful.

[audition1992]

The 2016 olympics must been hosted in Tokyo, Japan or Chicago, USA because Tokyo and Chicago has a very develop cities

[leeswoo00]

나는 브라질에서 해야한다고 생각합니다. 그이유는 한번도 남미대륙에서 올림픽이 개최된 적이 없었기 때문이죠.

[leeswoo00]

I think we should in the Rio de Janeiro. That's why it did not have at the South American continent, because in the Olympics.

[aninhajulia17]

What is the runner's name?

Please, he's so hot!

[QOGFProd]

Giorgios Sampanis, this lovely singer

[dragan0405]

and mascote of atlanata was fivos and athena

[audition1992]

You mean Izzy. Athena and Phevos was the mascot of 2004 Athens Olympics

[dragan0405]

It was ironc reaply on some previous post, stupid as mine

[spyrograph]

AMAZING

[fraymemories]

This is a beautiful concept. as a runner- if i could be in the olympics just once in my life i would want to run something like this

[Egyglory]

but in athens was more better

[nautaki]

He didn't fall, it was made on purpose to reflect the fact that the Olympics didn't happen that year because of world war one. And much like the rest of the humanity after the war he stood up and started running again. Same for world war two. Perhaps you can now enjoy it more?

[spyrograph]

YOU ARE SO STUPID! DID YOU NOT WATCH WHAT IT STANDS FOR?

maybe you should take some history and arts and life lessons somewhere near your location....

[nautaki]

Aren't the animations in the beginning just fantastic?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

[jameshenry17]

I remember watching this on tv when it happened.  When he fell, everyone in the room gasped just like everyone there. It was a simple, beautiful, well thought out concept. This is one of my favorite Olympic moments.

[worldsailor1982]

amasing moent my fellow greeks!!ow did we even think o that??it was great the history of games and really gave me chill when he fell in the war time olympic games....how peoplecheere.,it was awsome!!!i was volunteer in our games..amasing!!!

[irving1903]

they realy should add this at all olympics

i loved it, such symbolism, but i guess its something that only the greeks can do :]

[spyrograph]

NOT THE best moment BUT IT WAS AN AMAZING SYMBOL! HOW THEy did this was Great! good job GREECE!! XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

SE gnoriso!

[nikik82]

i almost cry every time i watch this.

[Engel4mann]

why it isn´t in Bejing??

[nautaki]

Because it was an idea from the guys who organized the Athens Opening Ceremony and if Beijing did that it would be a flat out copy.

GO ATHENS!!!!

[gaiapurpure]

Like when that girl flew through the air during the Beijing Opening Ceremony: can anyone say "ripped off from Sydney"!?

By the way, who did the announcements for this ceremony?

Oh, wait a minute...this sort of thing was done in Atlanta too!

[miscguy222]

Athens I believe is a lot more creative with theirs cause they made it so relevant to the story of the Olympic Games from where it started until that moment - all laid out from the short film to the Olympic runner on stage.

Atlanta and Salt Lake City olympics did the announcements of the cities too before Athens but it was more of a parade of city names written on flags IMO.

I don't mind the announcements go through again next Olympics, but the one in Athens 2004 would be hard to copy.

[Egyglory]

but this idea was in atlanta 1996 too

[NoHeejin]

That was indeed a very good idea...Only in Athen could they do that ^^ If they were to repeat the same concept, it would be a bit weird

[clumsygal56]

my favorite olympic moment of all time, it gives me the chills just watching it!!!!

but why did the Berlin strip fall before he ran through it? more importantly, why did they even give Berlin an Olympics at that moment in time?

[0987654321kynouros]

The runner represent the olympic armistice.

Something that was not been respected from Berlin but also and in 2008 olympics, from Georgia and Russia.

[ScullySayer]

This was my favourite part of the ceremony. The symbolism was wonderful!

[THEArticDragon]

did anyone else see them drop the tape for Berlin '36 BEFORE he ran through it? and yet, THIS is the thing I will remember most of the olympic games because of "....World War One"

[alexchicho]

I didn´t see it, actually I thought the tape was the one coming after he stopped...

[alexchicho]

Yes if you notice just before he passes through "1932, Los Angeles" You can see the stripe of Berlin falling, I think it wasnt atteched well, or maybe it was on purpose...

[Engel4mann]

Gänsehaut pur!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[benlee387]

This was one of the most memorable part of the Athens opening ceremony.. I still remember it after 4 years!

[geotrisi]

this was the best idea ever in the olympics!

so touching! the fall on each World War....

and the getting up and starting AGAIN!

that's the way!

NOTHING should stop the coming together of the nations,

THANK YOU GREECE FOR SHOWING US THE WAY ...

AGAIN!

[airfreshener]

Man, this was the a brilliant idea... It was fantastic...The Beijing Opening Ceremony was alright, but the Athens was brilliant and Sydney before that was excellent...

[lieke129]

Man I just watched 2008 Beijing opening, it was impressive, but this one still tears me up, it was sooo original and I think a tad more emotional.

[smile221981]

i am still crying when i watch these videos

[Kikindigo]

OMG me too i can helped!

[ninuky1]

this was awesome!!!

[madidoque]

who is the the blond runner carrying the flag with the symbol of greece?

[attie3]

i think he should had stop for 5 sec and did the flag half for the munich games cuz that one day was kind of bad what do all of you think?

[Metizia]

You read my mind.

[Joshlama]

best clip from this OC!

[impressedguy]

Σ'αφήνω τώρα στον επόμενο τον άτυχο το γκόμενο. Ο τύπος που τρέχει είναι ο τραγουδιστής Γιώργος Σαμπάνης.

[nixter888]

Ναι ειναι πραγματι ο ΓΙΩΡΓΟΣ ΣΑΜΠΑΝΗΣ ο οποιος ηταν σπουδαιος αθλητης πριν γεινει τραγουδιστης!!!..Αστους να σου βαζουν "poor comment"!!!

[LUISOTE900]

México City 1968!!!

[Metizia]

Did you hear the cheering in the background at that momment?

[shr444]

2024 TO JERUSLAME TO HOLY CITY OF THE WORLD WOHO!!!!!!!!

we want olympic in israel and we ready for it!

[JackKenobi]

Maybe till war is over...

[THEArticDragon]

Kind of gives an incentive don't it?

[simpsonsfan2007]

From Athens to Athens!

[PHSDM104]

That still makes me tear up watching this.

[PHSDM104]

London gonna host (for the 3rd time) in 2012. Tokyo's the lead bid for 2016, followed by Chicago.

[ClevelandBrowns44]

i remember this!

[audie83]

I feel so badly for that young man. :(

[Carp0708]

wish i had been there.

[tkmemberz]

woo!!! so i guess the tripping part was planned after all. when i watched it on tv, it was freaken funny as heck. but no i understand why and i reallize that it's not that funny after all, and it really symnolized something!

[audie83]

Oh wow!! Before I read your post I think that poor guy had accidently tripped! I felt so bad for him-I did not realize it was meant to represent the World Wars that prevented the Olympic Games from being held.

[tkmemberz]

lol. yeah, i felt da same way when i watch it on tv. i bet u had a bit of laugh urself too.

[audie83]

No actually I remember when I first watched it live my initial reaction was 'Oh no!' and I just felt badly for him to have this happen at the Olympics. I fell on my butt when I dismounted beam the at my first gymnastics meet-maybe that's why I could empathize lol!

[tkmemberz]

lol. u didn't laugh? wow, i guess u really did feel bad for him. i wish i was a gymnist too. it's just amazing wat they do.

[gaiapurpure]

Cool video!

I'd like to see an African country host an Olympic Games, just to be fair!

[PHSDM104]

I'm crossing my fingers for Cape Town or Durban, South Africa in 2020. They made bids for both cities.

[marcoie]

Salt Lake City hosted the winter games in 2002. seem to remember it was safe enough

[JackKenobi]

Yes, and in Mexico 1968, some days before the games hundreds of students made protests and they were killed by the army

[Kevindl1985]

Anyone remember a little thing called the muncih massacre,the london bombings and the madrid train bombings.

[matt851]

yes, but but the idea is that during the world wars there were no olympics. in these other years, the olympics continued

[JackKenobi]

I think he was the best athlete of some discipline, but I don´t remember the name...

[mattm56]

Wow, what a hottie! Anyone know who he is?

[Patteller]

one of the best opening ceramonies i saw

[elchicocosmico]

The whole ceremony was beautiful!! Me hubiera gustado estar alli.

[Hengua]

Good representation of WWI

[Patteller]

this was really good iliked the whole ceramony

btw CHICAGO 2016

[saltlakecity2002]

Yeah!!!! GO CHICAGO 2016!!!!!!!

[alexxzz2008]

Well, since Monterrey retired, go chicago!

[saltlakecity2002]

9/11 actually made us safer because we stepped up security measures virtually everywhere. And we're very much capable of staging another games that is more like LA '84. Atlanta did stage a horrible games, but have you ever been to Chicago? It's a great city and is very safe. If they win, then they will be a great games.

[burster14]

It's really hard to fallow all three languages 0_o

[burster14]

It's really hard to fallow all three languages 0_o

[ravmone87]

hopefully the next olympic games will be in south- east asia and middle- east asia. there's no regret if asian countries host the game. it's too boring if european countries host the games every edition.

[PHSDM104]

Bangkok and Delhi are making bids for 2020,

[fabiomes]

This was so fantastic...

With him falling during the War Times, I remember wacthing this thru the TV and thinking how good this idea was...

Truly Amazing.

PS.: Rio 2016 (=

[elchicocosmico]

i'm from the dominican republic i watched this at home it was beautiful i'm not going to forget it

[gorcew]

We want the Olympic Games in the Middle Europe! Prague 2016! Poles. :)

[saltlakecity2002]

That would be really cool, but I want it to be in Chicago in 2016. GO CHICAGO 2016!

[QOGFProd]

this Olympic Runner is Lovely!!

[olimpicsoul]

Best Ecuador 2012

[saltlakecity2002]

What? London is in 2012.

[zzdass]

NO MEXICO OR MONTERREY 2020

[QOGFProd]

I love him

[berik77]

WARSAW 2020 of course !!!!!!!!!!!!

[tasoschem]

the city which has the honour and the responsibility to organize the olympic games of the year 2024 may be ATHENS

[QOGFProd]

again athens?

one more time...

[tasoschem]

Why not?

We made the best Olympics Ever...

We have to orginize the olympics at least every 20 years...The olympics are Greek...

[saltlakecity2002]

Yeah Athens is the home of the olympics! They were the best Olympics ever!

[yragnuH]

Budapest 2020

[audition1992]

Manila & Hiroshima 2020

[clumsygirl56]

Gave me goosebumps just watching that...

[nikis2m]

Wow,I love you,Athens!the best.

[gorcew]

Warsaw 2020:)

[audition1992]

Athens 1896-Paris 1900-St.Louis 1904-London 1908-Stockholm 1912-Antwerp 1920-Paris 1924-Amsterdam 1928-Los Angeles 1932-Berlin 1936-London 1948-Helsinki 1952-Melboune&Stockholm 1956-Rome 1960-Tokyo 1964-Mexico City 1968-Munich 1972-Monteal&Quebec 1976-Moscow 1980-Los Angeles 1984-Seoul 1988-Barcelona 1992-Atlanta 1996-Sydney 2000-Athens 2004-Beijing 2008-London 2012- ? 2016-Manila& Hiroshima 2020-