10 Best Olympic Opening Ceremonies Of All Time, Ranked

Initially threatening max cheesiness with a Ken Done–designed ‘G’Day’ covering the surface, the Sydney 2000 Opening Ceremony at Stadium Australia became renowned for spectacular, TV-perfect imagery, including 120 galloping stock horses forming a kinetic vision of the Olympic rings and the stadium floor transforming into the Great Barrier Reef. Aboriginal runner Cathy Freeman, who would later win gold, lit the cauldron in a sequence that gained extra drama when the ring of flame that rose around her and was meant to travel to the top of the stadium got stuck for four suspenseful minutes. - Joel Meares