1984 LA Opening Ceremonies - Lighting of the Cauldron

This actually would look very good and among the best if it were in the night time. Just imagine.

que sem graça

Isn't this the games that gave us the Olympic theme that we now consider the "official" theme? I mean regardless of the "official themes" they use from game to game. I'm talking the John Williams classic one here.

You just love to politicize the Olympic Games dont you.

i remember looking thru all kinds of videos about the olympics a year ago during the 2008 olympics, i still think L.A. was the best olympiad.

These Olympics were conducted with dignity AND they turned a PROFIT!

why daytime?

Tradition. They were also done in daytime up untiil Barcelona in 1996...Plus in 1984 it had to do with ABC-TV: They wanted to maximize prime time ratings for the evening on the East Coast... Opening Ceremonies started at 4:30PM Pacific (7:30PM Eastern)

Suits the domestic US TV Market

Back in those days, the Opening Ceremony happened on the Saturday when competitions began. These days, the ceremony is held the day before the sports get underway. The first night time ceremony was in 1992 in Albertville. Barcelona followed suit a few months later (although they started just before sunset). The ceremonies changed a lot over time. Before the 1980 Moscow games, there was almost no creative in a ceremony. Just the athletes march and the protocol stuff (opening, flag, flame, oath).