The Olympic Games are an international multi-sport event featuring both summer and winter sports, held every two years with Summer and Winter Olympic Games alternating. During Olympic Games opening ceremonies, the sitting president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will make a speech before inviting a representative from the host country to officially declare that particular Games open. The current Olympic Charter requires this person to be the head of state of the host country, although this has not always been the case. This article lists the people who have had the ceremonial duty to declare each Olympic Games open.
Opening ceremony
The IOC factsheet on the opening ceremony states: "According to the Olympic Charter protocol, the duty of declaring the Games officially open falls to the head of state of the host country. Those who have performed this task are royalty and presidents, or their representatives, whether it was a vice-president, a member of the royal family, or a governor-general". Rule 56 of Chapter 5 of the Olympic Charter sets out the exact words that are to be declared by the person opening the Games. If at a Summer Olympic Games, the words to be said are: I declare open the Games of [name of host city] celebrating the [number of the Olympiad] Olympiad of the modern era. When at a Winter Olympic Games, the dignitary opening the Games is to proclaim: I declare open the [number of the Olympic Winter Games] Olympic Winter Games of [name of host city]. However, this has not always been followed strictly;
On 1 August 1936, Adolf Hitler, Chancellor of Germany, opened the Games in Berlin in exact format in German: "I proclaim open the Olympic Games of Berlin, celebrating the XI Olympiad of the modern era."
On 29 July 1948, King George VI of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, opened the Olympic Games of London in exact format: "I proclaim open the Olympic Games of London, celebrating the XIV Olympiad of the modern era."
On 19 July 1952, Juho Kusti Paasikivi, President of Finland, opened the Olympic Games on Helsinki in exact format in English and Finnish: "I declare open the Olympic Games of Helsinki, celebrating the XV Olympiad of the modern era."
On 22 November 1956, the Duke of Edinburgh opened the Games of Melbourne in exact format: "I declare open the Olympic Games of Melbourne, celebrating the XVI Olympiad of the modern era."
On 27 August 1960, Giovanni Gronchi, President of the Italian Republic, declares the Summer Olympics in Rome open by speaking in Italian: "I proclaim the opening of the Olympic Games of Rome, celebrating the XVII Olympiad of the modern era."
On 10 October 1964, Emperor Hirohito of Japan, opened the Summer Olympics in Tokyo by speaking in Japanese: "Celebrating the XVIII modern Olympiad, we hereby declare the opening of the Tokyo Olympic Games."
On 12 October 1968, Mexican president Gustavo Diaz Ordaz opened the Games of Mexico City in Spanish: "Today, 12 October 1968, I declare inaugurated the Olympic Games in Mexico, that commemorate the XIX Olympiad of the modern era."
On 26 August 1972, German president Gustav Heinmann opened the Games of Munich speaking in German: "I declare the Olympic Games Munich 1972, celebrating the XX Olympiad of the modern era, open."
On 17 July 1976, Elizabeth II, as Queen of Canada, opened the Montreal Olympics (first in French followed by the English) with: "I declare open the Olympic Games of 1976, celebrating the XXI Olympiad of the modern era."
On 19 July 1980, Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev opened the Moscow Summer Olympics speaking in Russian: "Mr. President of International Olympic Committee! Sportsmen of the world! Dear guests! Comrades! I declare the Olympic Games of 1980, celebrating the XXII Olympiad of the modern era, now open."
On 28 July 1984, U.S. President Ronald Reagan opened the Los Angeles Summer Olympics with: "Celebrating the XXIII Olympiad of the modern era, I declare open the Olympic Games of Los Angeles."
On 17 September 1988, President of the Republic of Korea, Roh Tae-woo opened the Summer Olympics in Seoul by speaking in Korean: "In celebration of the 24th modern Olympic Games, I declare the Seoul Olympic Games open."
On 25 July 1992, King Juan Carlos I of Spain opened the Barcelona Summer Olympics with, following the 500th anniversary of the Alhambra Decree and exploration of the New World: "(In Catalan) Welcome all to Barcelona. (In Spanish) Today, 25 July of the Year 1992, I declare open the Barcelona Olympic Games that celebrate the XXV Olympiad of the modern era."