2004 Athens Opening Media Guide

Games o f the XXVIII Olympiad
Friday August 13, 2004
TM©
ATHENS 2004
Opening Ceremony Media Guide
Source : Centre d'études olympiques - bibliothèque

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Unique Games on a Human Scale

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a In 2004, the Olympic Games are returning to their ancient birthpiace and the city o f th e ir revival. Athletes from all nations will unite in Greece to engage in noble competition.
The Athens Olympic Games will combine history, culture and peace w ith sports and Olympism.
J The people o f Greece shall host unique Games on a human scale, inspiring the w o rld to celebrate Olympic values.
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Embargo fb Contents
The contents o f this guide relating directly to the Opening C erem ony may not be broadcast, printed o r communicated to the public in any way prio r to the comm encement o f ™ An Introduction to this Media Guide Page 5
the Opening Ceremony.
A message from the ATHENS 2004 President Page 6
Any company o r media organisation (and all employees) o r individuals breaking this embargo will have its/his/her Games tim e accreditation removed. gjjj
A Message from the Producer Page 7
Past Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies - Some Facts Page 8

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Key C ontributors Page 12
Ife General Production Facts Page 14
Ë Overview o f the Olym pic Stadium Page 19
A Message from the Artistic D irector Page 20

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Opening Cerem ony Programme Summary Page
b The Opening Ceremony: Page 22
1. Preshow Page 23
b 2. C ountdown Page 24
3. W elcom e Page 25
b 4. Raising o f the Greek Flag Page 28
■ 5. Allegory Page 31
6. Clepsydra Page 36
7. The Book o f Life Page 48
s Page 50
8. The Olive Tree
9. The Athletes o f the W o rld Page 52
10. 'Oceania’ Page 55
II. Olympic Cities Tribute Page 56
12. Opening o fth e Games Page 59
13. Raising o f the Olympic flag Page 61
14, The Olympic Oaths Page 63
15. The Journey o f the Torch Page 64
16. The Lighting o fth e Cauldron Page 66
17. Finale Page 70
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An Introduction to this Media Guide A Message from the President o f the ATHENS 2004 Organising Committee fo r the Olympic
This guide has been produced in o rd e r to help the media understand and interpret every aspect o f the Opening Ceremony o f the Games o f the XXVIII Olympiad - both Ë Games, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki
protocol and creative - that might be o f interest and relevance to the public.
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In addition to providing you with the flo w o f proceedings from ‘Preshow1to ‘Finale’ the guide also offers general background information. W elcom e to Athens!
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The description o f each segment o f the ceremony begins on a new page and features segment specific information:
From o u r opening ceremony, on August 13, until August 29th, billions o f people around the w orld will experience the Olym pic Games through yo u r reports from Athens. Thank
The segment title
you fo r joining us and fo r playing such an im portant role in communicating this great celebration o f Olympism and this wonderful Olympic Homecoming.
A brief synopsis fc
Duration (may be subject to change)
Ë The Athens Olympic Games will be a compelling m ix o f ancient and modern. Ours will be a unique Games on a human scale, focused on the athletes w ho em body the ideals
Music credits that unite supporters and com petitors around the w orld: peaceful competition, the pursuit o f excellence, and o ur com m on humanity. These Games will offer athletes and fans
A breakdown o f the action
Ë the opportunity to return to the ground where the Games — and these ideals — w ere born.
Visual support (where relevant) Ë

Background notes But the Athens Games will offer m ore than history. Spectacular m odem venues will inspire extraordinary performances, while delighting fans. Athens has become a modern
Ë metropolis - m ore liveable, and m ore sophisticated than ever. A nd the people o f Greece are eager to welcom e the w orld w ith th e warm th and philoxenia that have always
Also included is a list o f the competing countries in Greek alphabetical o rd e r - as they will enter the stadium. 6 defined our hospitality.
Ê The opening ceremony will set the stage fo r the first Olympic Games o f the 21st Century - while honouring traditions that began many centuries before. It will also set the stage
Ë fo r a productive collaboration between ATHENS 2004 and the global press.
g This Media Guide will help you commentate on the Opening Cerem ony and describe to the global audience the creative concept, th e symbols and the artistic approach o f w hat
g will be a re-introduction o f Greece to the world.
W e look forward to working w ith you to make it a success.
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Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki
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A Message from the Producer Past Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies - Some Facts
August 2004 1896 - Games o f the I Olympiad Athens, Greece,
• Following a parade o f athletes representing 13 teams, the Games w ere declared open by King George o f Greece.
Dear Broadcasters,
• The Olympic anthem w ritten by Kostis Palamas and composed by Spyros Samaras was performed fo r the first time.
• James B. Connolly (USA) w on the triple jump com petition (the first com petition final o f the event) and so became the first O lym pic Champion o f the modern Olympic
an^ ! ea; ^ t0 Pro v'de y ° u w 'td this media guide, which w e hope will prove helpful to you as you describe and interpret the events o f the Opening Ceremony - the first act Games.
of the 2004 Olympic Games - fo r yo u r audiences. r e /
• This was the first tim e the marathon race was run - and it was w on by Greek; Spiros Louis.
1900 - Games o f the II Olympiad, Paris, France

Greece has so much to say fo r itself; so much to be proud of; so much that makes it distinct from any oth e r place. O f course, it is the birthplace o f the Olympic Games. It is also
the birthplace o f so many ideas, discoveries and inspirations. • There was no Olympic Games Opening Ceremony because the Games w ere held in conjunction w ith the Universal Paris Exposition o f 1900.
1904 - Games o f the III Olympiad, St Louis, Missouri, USA

The Opening Ceremony explores universal themes and presents them on a human scale. It is imbued w ith both a profound depth o f thought, and a joy o f life that has
characterised Greek civilisation fo r millennia, • There was no Olympic Games Opening Cerem ony because the Games were held in conjunction w ith the Louisiana Purchase Exposition o f 1904.
1908, Games o f the IV Olympiad, London, England

O u r C erem ony also contains many surprises. W e respectfully ask th a t yo u r com m entary allow these to occur w ith o u t p rio r warning o r comment; that you indulge o u r dramatic
• The Games w ere declared open by King Edward VII,
intent and allow yo u r audience to 'discover' o u r stories as th e y unfold. W e w ould like to thank you fo r yo u r consideration o f this request.
• The Opening Ceremony reinstated the parade o f athletes and w ritten p ro to co l.
W e have w orked hard to produce an Opening Ceremony that will inspire and delight your audiences. W e hope you enjoy it. 1912 - Games o f the V Olympiad, Stockholm, Sweden
• The Games w ere declared open by King Gustav o f Sweden.

David Zolkwer, D ire cto r o f Jack M orton Public Events • Crown Prince Gustav Adolf, President o f the Swedish Olympic C om m ittee delivered an address.
1916 - Games o f the VI Olympiad
• The Games w ere not held due to W o rld W a r I.
1920 - Games o f the VII Olympiad, A ntw erp, Belgium
• The Games were declared open by King A lb ert I.

• The O lym pic oath, the O lym pic flag, known as the ‘A ntw e rp Flag', and the release o f the doves o f peace w ere all introduced fo r the first time.

1924 - Games o f th e VIII Olympiad, Paris, France
1952 - Games o f th e X V Olympiad, Helsinki, Finland
• The Games w ere declared open by President Gaston Doumerge.
• The Games were declared open by President Juho Kusti Paasiviki.
• For the first time, the Athletes' Oath was transmitted by m icrophone so that everyone could hear it. ■
• Just before the Oaths w ere to be delivered, a pacifist from Germany, Barbara Rotraut-Pleyer attem pted to reach the speakers on the podium in o rd er to make a statement
1928 - Games o f the IX Olympiad, Amsterdam, Holland
1956 - Games o f th e XVI Olympiad, Melbourne, Australia
• The Games w ere declared open by HRH Prince Hendrick.
• The Games were declared open by HRH, The Duke o f Edinburgh.
• The alphabetical Hne-up fo r the Parade o f N ations was established, but w ith the Greek delegation first and the host country last.
• Australian miler, Ron Clark, brought the Olym pic Flame into the stadium, the finalrunner in the longest torch relay in history up to that time.
• The O lym pic fam e was lit fo r the first tim e and burned fo r the duration o f the Games.
I960 - Games o f the XVII Olympiad, Rome, Italy

1932 - Games o f the X Olympiad, Los Angeles, USA
• The Games were declared open by President Giovanni Gronchi.

• The Games w ere declared open by Vice President, Charles Curtis.
• A loudspeaker system was used fo r the first time. • Athletes paraded in tim e to 12 marches played by military bands.
1936 - Games o f the XI Olympiad, Berlin, Germany 1964 - Games o f th e XVIII Olympiad, Tokyo, Japan
• The Games w ere declared open by A d o lf Hitler. • The Games were declared open by Emperor Hirohito.
• The flame was lit by a young student - Yoshinori Sakao - w ho was born on the same day Hiroshima wasbombed.
• The torch rela y was run fo r the first time. It passed through 7 countries and travelled 3000km before arriving in Berlin.
1940 - Games o f the XII Olympiad 1968 - Games o f the X IX Olympiad, Mexico City, Mexico
• The Games were not held due to W o rld W a r 2. • The Games were declared open by President Gustavo Diaz Ordaz.
• Enriqueta Basiilo Sotalo became the first woman to light the Olympic Flame.
1944 - Games o f th e XIII Olympiad
1972 - Games o f th e X X Olympiad, Munich, Germany
• The Games w ere not held due to W o rld W a r 2.
• The Games w ere declared open by President Gustav Heineman.
1948 - Games o f the X IV Olympiad, London, England • Heidi Schuller became the first woman to pronounce the A thletes’ Oath.
• The Games were declared open by King George VI. 1976 - Games o f the X X I Olympiad, Montreal, Canada
• Placards bearing the names o f the parading teams were carried by senior members o f the Boy Scouts Association.
• The Games were declared open by HM Queen Elizabeth II.
• T w o people simultaneously lit the Olym pic Flame - Sandra Henderson and Stéphane Prefontaine - to represent the joining o f French and English Canadians. (The couple
later married).

1980 - Games o f the X X II Olympiad, Moscow, USSR
Key Contributors
• The Games w ere declared open by President Leonid Brezhnev.
• The ceremony paid homage to ancient Greece. CREATIVE P R O D U C T IO N
1984 - Games o f the XXIII Olympiad, Los Angeles, USA O pening C erem ony conceived, visualised and directed by: O pening C erem ony produced by:
Dimitris Papaionnou jack M orton W orld w id e
• The Games w ere declared open by President Ronald Regan.
• The finale emphasised American and Olympic multiculturalism w ith representatives from every Olympic nation performing. C o-creation & music concept creator President, Jack M orton, International
Yorghos Koumendakis Lois Jacobs
1988 - Games o f the X X IV Olympiad, Seoul, Korea
Production Designer D ire c to r o f Jack M orton Public Events
Lili Pezanou David Z o lkw er
• The Games w ere declared open by President Roh Tae-W oo.
• The them e was “The Fate o f Traditional Culture In A Post M odem W o rld ".
Lighting Designer and D ire cto r Executive Producer
Eleftheria Deko A ndrew Walsh
1992 - Games o f the X X V Olympiad, Barcelona, Spain
Co-Lighting Designer and D ire cto r Producer

• The Games were declared open by King Juan Carlos I. Robert Dickinson Celia Smith
• Paralympian archer A ntonio Rebollo shot a flaming a rro w 230 feet from the flo o r o f the stadium to light the cauldron.
Associate to the Co-Lighting Designer and Co-Lighting D ire cto r Producer
1996 - Games o f the X X V I Olympiad, Atlanta, USA Ted W ells A ntony Spanbrook
• The Games w ere declared open by President Bill Clinton. Moving Light D irector Senior Coordinating Producer - ‘Clepsydra’
• The Ceremony featured a tribute to Rev. Martin Luther King. A ndy O ’ Reilly Clare Amsel
2000 - Games o f th e X X V II Olympiad, Sydney, Australia Choreographer Coordinating Producer - Protocol & Parade o f Athletes
Angeliki Stellatou Steve Boyd
• The Games w ere declared open by Sir W illiam Deane,G overnor General o f Australia.
• Gold medal w inner Cathy Freeman lit the cauldron. Field Choreographer & Chartist Coordinating Producer
W anda Rokicki Richard Mullen
Mass Choreographer - Parade o f A thletes Music Producer

Doug jack Julian Scott
Costum e Designer Associate Producer - Cast

Sofia Kokossalaki Michael Foley

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Video D ire cto r and Producer V olunteer Manager
General Production Facts
Athina Tsangari Polly Kelekis ft
Olym pic Stadium
Texts • The Opening Cerem ony is being held in the Olympic Stadium w ithin the Athens Olym pic Sports Com plex (O A K A ) located in Maroussi, N orthern Athens.
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Lina Nikolakopouiou Adam W ildi • The stadium was built in 1982 and completely renovated from 2000 to 2004.
• The stadium seats 72,000.
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Pyrotechnic Design Technical D ire cto r - Systems • The new ro o f o f the stadium was designed by Santiago Calatrava.
Christophe Berthonneau Nick Eltis • The ro o f weighs 18,700 tonnes.
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• The ro o f covers a total area o f 25,000 square meters.
Visual C oncept and direction - ‘Clepsydra’ Technical D ire cto r - Staging
Angelos Mendis M ikAukland ft
W a te r
• The main performance area is filled w ith 2162 cubic metres o r 2,162,000 litres o f water.
Costum e and Set Supervisor - ‘Clepsydra’ Technical D ire cto r - 'Clepsydra' ft
Eleni Manalopoulou Costas Charalabidis • This expanse o f w ater covers an area o f 9645 square metres.
• It takes 6 hours to fill the space w ith water.
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Painting Designer and Supervisor - ‘Clepsydra’ Operations D irector • It takes 3 minutes to drain the water.
Maria Ilia Mike Kent • There are ten drainage valves, each 0,5 metres in diameter.
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• The drainage valves can em pty 3000 litres o f w ater per second,
Stadium O perations D ire cto r
ft • W hen drained from the arena the w ater is stored in a circular ‘doughnut’ reservoir that forms a ring around the pit 41 metres in diameter.
Ronald Cameron
• The underground reservoir is capable o f holding 2,300,000 litres o f water.
W a rd ro b e Supervisor ft
The Cable N e t (aerial flying system)
Jason Vaughan
• ■The cable net is 36,5m metres above the stadium floor.
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Costume Supervisor • 37km o f steel w ire rope is used to make-up the cable net.
Paula Ryan ft • There are 24 independent trajectories along which scenery can travel; each radiating outwards from a single hub set above the centre o f the space,
• 72 com puter-controlled steel w ire winches m ounted on 18 platforms move the various scenic elements around the space,
Designer o f Costume Structure - ‘Clepsydra’ • The winches control 72 cables, which together can lift 22,500kg o f scenery.
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Christa Bartels
• The cable net deploys 180,000 kg o f moving counterv/eights.
Props Supervisor ft
John Sadler
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Rings o f Fire
V olunteer Perform er Rehearsals
• Each ring is 17.5 metres in diameter, o r 58 meters in circumference.
• The first volunteer rehearsal was on Friday May 28th.
• It takes 290 metres o f piping to create the five rings.
• There have been over 600 hours o f rehearsals fo r the Opening Cerem ony spread over 85 days.
• Approxim ately 1km o f piping is required to feed the gas to the rings,
• The average rehearsal com m itm ent from each volunteer perform er has been 12 rehearsals.
• It will take 450 cubic meters o f naturai gas to create the burning rings.
• 3.5km o f rope was used to represent the length o f the teams during rehearsals fo r the Athletes’ Parade.
• The burners are set 30cm under the water.
• 700,000 bottles o f w ater were consumed during rehearsals.
• O u r rehearsal site (on the outskirts o f Athens) featured 2km o f painted lines to describe the fo o tp rin t o f the stadium to o u r cast.
Cham ber (Pit) & Tunnel • Some 6700 coach journeys have been required to ferry cast groups to and from rehearsals.
• The chamber beneath the centre o f the performance space is 23 metres deep and 25 metres in diameter.
• 15,000 cubic metres o f earth were removed to create the chamber.
‘Allegory’
• It to o k over 500 lorry journeys to remove the earth from the site.
• The height o f the Cycladic head is 17.3 metres.
• The elevator stage built into the chamber is 10 metres in diameter.
• The height o f the Kouros is 9 metres.
• The elevator stage can lift 45,000kg.
• The height o f the classical figure is 5 metres.
• 3 x HOkw lifting m otors drive the elevator stage,
• The combined weight o f the three statues is 10.5 tonnes.
• The tunnel beneath Gate 2 leading to the chamber (it travels under the running track and across the field) is 40 metres long.
‘Clepsydra’
V olunteer Performers
• Clepsydra features II independently operated rolling platforms.
• There are 2428 volunteer performers participating in the Opening Ceremony.
• Each rolling platform comprises a tra cto r unit and up to 6 trailers.
• W hilst the vast majority o f o u r volunteer performers are Greek nationals, ou r cast also includes volunteer performers from 14 other countries; Australia, Belgium, • The total combined length o f the procession platforms is 307 metres.
Canada, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom & USA,
• The rolling platforms have a combined weight-bearing capacity o f 120,000kg,
• The oldest volunteer perform er is 70 years old.
• The rolling platforms run on a total o f 146 tyres.
• The youngest volunteer perform er is just 7 years old.
• The tra cto r units fo r each train run on batteries. Once fully charged, each unit can run fo r up to 4 hours.
• O ve r 270 hours o f auditions w ere conducted in o rder to cast the Opening Ceremony.
• 51,443 telephone calls w ere made in the cause o f volunteer perform er recruitm ent fo r the Ceremonies. The Cauldron
• The cauldron was designed by Santiago Calatrava.
Support Volunteers
• The cauldron is 31m in length and 4.7 metres in circumference.
• Some 2200 members o f the public support backstage activities in costume, lighting, props, scenery, cast coordination etc.
• The cauldron is made o f steel, th e to p 1.5 metres is made o f stainless steel.
• The oldest support volunteer is 75 years old.
• Suspended on tw o arms, the tip o f the cauldron sits 47m o ff the performance space.
• O ve r 700 hours o f interviews were conducted in o rder to recruit the ceremony's support volunteers.
• A t its lowest point (when being lit), the cauldron tip is just 12.7 metres o ff the performance space.
• W hilst the vast m ajority o f o u r support volunteer team are G reek nationals, w e also have volunteer's representing 31 other countries: Australia, Austria,Bangladesh,
• The cauldron flame is 6,5m high and has a diam eter o f 1.5m
Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary,India, Italy, Mexico,Moldova,Netherlands, Nigeria!
Norv/ay, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom & USA.
Music
• The music to o k 320 hours to record.
• 18 composers have contributed to the Opening Ceremony.

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Lighting ^ Costumes
• There are 1838 theatrical lights o f which 1592 are automated (moving) fixtures, jg • 10,000 metres o f fabric.
• There are 26 foilow-spots. • 2000 litres o f glue.
• The periphery wall surrounding the performance space contains 180 moving lights. j| • 15km o f thread.
• 24km o f multicore, 5,5km o f fibre-optic cable and 2.2km C A T 5 Ethernet cabling is required to pow er and control the lighting rig. • 150 gallons o f paint.
• 6 primary desks control the theatrical lighting system. Data is distributed on a backbone o f fibre optic cable, then by C A T 5 Ethernet cable and finally out to the ^ • 300 costume racks.
instruments using 5-pin D M X cable. • 2500 clothes hangers.
• Around the venue (on the plaza concourse level) there are eight dimmer/switch rooms that drive the ro o f and balcony rail lighting positions. These supply both 400a i| • 7152 pairs o f socks.
and 300a three-phase supplies. Four alsoprovide a further 125a three-phase supply as well. There are a further five distribution points in the moat to feed all the fixtures
• 4000 pairs o f shoes.
on the field o f play and these provide a 300a three-phase supply.
\ The Project Team
Projection
] • There are over 390 people on the creative and production team.
• 8 Barco XLM projectors provide a combined total o f 216,000 lumens o f light.
• Aside from Greek team members, eight oth e r countries are represented on the Jack M orton Public Events production team.
• These are cu rre n tly th e m o st p o w e rfu l p ro je c to rs in the w orld.
H • There is an additional (international) technical crew o f some 550.
Sound
• >370 loudspeakers. 1
• 859,900-watt loudspeaker system.
• 480 p o w e r amplifiers. 3
• 20,000 metres o f audio cable.
• 360 input channels. 3
Communications: 3
• 575 tw o-w ay radios.
• 337 noise reduction headsets. 3
• 2970 in-ear monitors.
• 84 radio frequencies, 3
• 8km o f audio and data cable.
• 1000 metres o f ‘tactical’ fibre optic cable. 1
• 2 high-speed laser' data links.
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Power
• 16 generators w ith a capacity o f 21,200 KVA provide the p o w e r fo r the ceremony.
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• The total p o w e r available is equivalent to that required to run 202,600 x 60 w att domestic light bulbs.
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A Message from the Artistic Director
The Opening Ceremony is a unique opportunity fo r modern Greece to share it's joy in and pride o f the centuries o f it's history; a history that gave birth to ideas, values and
2. Cauldron
principals which still enlighten us all today. Democracy, Philosophy, Theatre, Sport itself, the Olympic Games - ali w ere born in Greece.
3. Gate 1
4. Gate 2
W e use images to tell o u r stoty. Images derived from the rich history and diversity o f Greek A rt. W ithin this guide can be found the interpretation keys o f the symbols we use.
5. ViP/Tribune area
All the artists that have w orked fo r this ceremony believe that above symbolism lies fascination, beauty and the emotional intensity o f images that unfold in the stadium.
6. The media
7. Gate 3
You are our partners. Each one o f you will become the bridge fo r ou r Ceremony to reach the hearts o f your viewers. O u r wish is that our Cerem ony reaches your heart first,
8. Greek flag pole
and guided by your own em otions to choose when and w hat can be said and when it is preferable to just let the images roll w ith o u t commentaries.
9. Choir stage
10. Video screen 2

II. Olympic flag pole Dimitris Papaioannou, C oncept C reator & Artistic D irector
12. Parade track
13. W a te r

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Opening Ceremony Programme Summary ft
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Segmentt Tim e
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Duration
N B ; Stadium gates open 17:30:00 ft
1. Preshow 19:45:00
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00:59:18
2. C ountdow n 20:44:22 00:00:41
3. W elcom e 20:45:03 00:04:31
ft The Opening Ceremony
4. Raising o f the G reek Flag 20:49:34 00:07:16
5. Allegory 20:56:50 00:07:52 ft
6. Clepsydra 21:04:42 00:11:17
7. The Book o f Life 21:15:59 00:03:23 ft
8. The Olive Tree 21:19:22 00:02:40
9. The Athletes o f the W o rld 21:22:02 01:45:30 ft
10. Oceania 23:07:00 00:03:00
II. Olympic Cities Tribute 23:10:00 00:02:45
12. Opening o f the Games 23:12:45
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00:08:10
13. Raising o f the Olym pic flag 23:20:55 00:09:50
14. The Olympic Oaths 23:30:45 00:01:57
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15. Journey o f the Torch 23:32:42 00:01:48
16. The Lighting o f the Cauldron 23:34:30 00:07:10 ft
17. Finale 23:41:40 00:09:10
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1. Preshow (Duration: 00:59:I8) MUSIC 2. C o u n td o w n (Duration: 00:0:41) MUSIC
• ‘Breathless’, composed by Michalis Hatzigiannis
Synopsis: The audience is entertained, audience pa rticip atio n stunts are rehearsed and the fin a l countdow n commences. and Eleni Zioga. Synopsis: The final seconds leading up to the C erem ony are marked, The countdow n is b u ilt around the them es o f running
• ‘Pass the Flame’, composed by T revor H orn with and the human heartbeat.
Greek Lyrics by Lina Nikolakopoulou.
• ‘N ever on a Sunday’, composed by Manos
Hatzidakis
BACKGROUND NOTES
BACKGROUND NOTES
Running
A ction (Outline):
M anos Hatzidakis 11925-19941 Running was the first and only sport fo r the first 13
Manos Hatzidakis is an iconic G re e k c o m p o s e r o f m o de rn Greece ancient Olympic Games. Each Olympiad was named
(The stadium gates open to the public at 17.30), and is internationally kn ow n as th e A ca d em y A w a rd w inning
after the w inner o f a single race known as the ‘stade’.
c o m p o s e r fo r th e film 'N e v e r on a Sunday.
I. An announcer welcomes the live audience and introduces the Prelude hosts; Nikos Aliagas and Thalia P rokopiou. N iko s Aliagas A stade was the unit o f measurement (about 600 feet)
N ikos Aliagas is a well-established journalist and broadcaster, w orkin g that also became the name o f the footrace because it
1. The hosts introduce Michalis Hatzigiannis. extensively both here in A thens and in France. H e is perhaps best
was the distance run. Since the track fo r the stade
know n as th e host o f th e v e iy successful French ta le n t show, 'Star
A ca d em y’ w hich has already be running fo r th re e years. (race) was a stade (length), the location o f the race was
2. Michalis Hatzigiannis performs ‘Breathless1. named the stadium.
T h a lia P ro k o p io u .
3. The hosts introduce the Audience Leaders and the first audience participation m om ent is rehearsed, Thalia P ro kop iu o has w o rk e d w ith th e N ational T h e a tre o f G reece as
Heartbeat
w ell as starring in various television series. She was th e ’High I. A countdow n video runs on the stadium video 2. The video features runners passing a baton
Priestess' w h o lit th e O lym p ic T o rch in a m oving C e re m o n y at The use o f the heartbeat sound and rhythm that exists
4. The hosts introduce Giannis Kotsiras. screens. (As it is the X X V ill Olympiad, the between them as w e hear the sound o f a human
O lym pia on March 25th, She p e rfo rm e d th e same ritual fo r b o th th e within all o f us represents the ATHENS 2004 them e o f
O ly m p ic Games o f Sydney 2000 and th e W in te r O ly m p ic Gam es o f countdown begins w ith 28 counts remaining), heartbeat.
‘ Unique Games on a human scale’.
5. Giannis Kotsiras performs ‘Pass th e Flame'. Salt Lake City, 2002.
Michalis Hatzigiannis
6. The hosts introduce and rehearse the second audience participation moment. Michalis Chatzigiannis is an award w inning singer and s o n g w rite r very
w ell know n on th e G re e k music scene. T h re e o f his releases have
7. A fte r a short video looking at how Athens has prepared fo r the Games, Nikos Aliagas interview members o f the audience. achieved platinum status and his live perform ances have received
exceptional reviews,
8. The hosts introduce and rehearse the third and fourth audience participation moments. G iannis Kotsiras
Yiannis Kotsiras began singing professionally in 1990. His firs t album
9. The hosts pay tribute to the volunteers supporting the Ceremonies. ('In n oce n t G u ilty’) was released in 1996. O th e r successful album s
fo llo w e d in 1997 (‘Just A Kiss'), 1999 (‘Guardian A n g el’), and 2000
(’O u r Life is O u rs ’). In 2002 he released his acclaimed Live D o u b le
10. The hosts introduce A re ti Ketime. C D (’Giannis Kotsiras Live’).
11. A reti Ketime performs ‘N ever on a Sunday'. Pass th e Flame1

T h e song, ‘Pass th e Flame’ w ritte n especially fo r th e International
O lym p ic T o rch Relay has accom panied th e flam e o n its global
Ì2. The hosts introduce and rehearse the fifth and final audience participation m om ent before then closing the prelude. jo u rn e y o f peace around th e w orld .
13. The preshow concludes and the performance area is cleared in preparation fo r the Opening Ceremony, A r e ti K etim e
O ve r the ensuing minutes before the final countdow n the stadium screens occasionally come to life w ith a runner in She began studying th e dulcim er (santouri) w hen she was ju s t six.
animation.
H e r collaboration w ith G eorge Dalaras m ade h e r p op u lar at th e age 3. As the countdow n video reaches “0 ” , both 4. The screen ‘bum o u t’ triggers a successive
o f 12. In 2003 she released her first C D , "A re ti1 s Song", video screens ‘bum o u t’. ■ pyrotechnics effect, which travels quickly
Page 24
along the edges o f the stadium roof.

3. W elcom e (Duration: 00:04:31)
MUSIC 3. W e lc o m e (Duration: 00:04:3I)
MUSIC
Synopsis: The O lym pic Games are w elcom ed hom e and the O lym pic sym bol is p re se n te d to the world. 'Zeimbekiko 2004’, composed by Stavros Xarhakos Synopsis: The O lym pic Games are w elcom ed hom e and the O lym pic sym bol is p re sen te d to the w orld. • ‘Zeimbekiko 2004', composed by Stavros Xarhakos
‘Olympia - Athina’ (Percussion Dialogue), composed by
• 'Olympia - Athina' (Percussion Dialogue), composed by
Yorghos Koumendakis
Yorghos Koumendakis
BACKGROUND NOTES BACKGROUND NOTES

W a te r
Zeim bekiko
For the Greeks, the sea is everything - a means o f
Zeim bekiko is a Greek dancing rhythm in nine counts
travel and trade; a source o f food and joy. It
and eight steps. It is an improvisational, lonely and
represents both the source and the possibility o f life.
solely male dance.
T o the Greek philosopher Thalis (c.640 - c.540 BC),

The w o rd Z e i’ means Zeus (Jupiter) God o f Olympus,
w a ter was the first element o f the world.
and represents ‘spirit’.
Fire
‘Bekos’ is the other ro o t o f the w o rd meaning Bachus
Fire symbolised the divinity o f the soul and the spirit. In
(Dionysus) God o f Sacred Ecstasy, representing
ancient times it symbolised knowledge and the pow er
‘m atter’.
5. In Olympia, we discover a single percussionist o f man to determine his own fate,
I. 400 percussionists flo w down the aisles o f the 6. In the stadium in Athens, a second solo
2. 50 musicians are revealed on the choir stage playing a rhythm evocative o f a heartbeat.
low er terrace behind the choir stage and onto Thus the dancer o f Zeimbekiko balances his body musician (stage-left) steps forward to the edge
playing bouzouki. In ancient times every home kept a flame burning
the performance area. O ve r the rhythm o f the between pure spint and matter. o f the water. The Olympia musician alters his
continuously as a constant rem inder o f this message,
heartbeat, they play zeimbekiko. rhythm as if challenging the stadium musician
The ‘heavy’ nature o f Zeim bekiko expresses the to respond. The tw o musicians ‘interact’ until
A s sources o f heat and hu m id ity fire and w a te r are
struggle to move forward; the human confrontation eventually both are perfectly synchronised.
necessary fo r life to exist
w ith deep emotional and Intellectual thoughts.
Olym pic Rings

Olympia
The five interlocking rings are believed to represent the
Dedicated to the ancient god, Zeus, Olympia was a
five m ajor regions o f the world: Africa, the Americas,
sacred place, and the birthplace o f the Olym pic Games
Asia, Europe and Oceania.
which w ere first held here in 776 BC.
Every flag in the w orld features at least one o f the five

Olympia is approximately 350 kilometres from Athens.
colours that make up the Olympic emblem.
As fo r every Olympic Games, it was here that the
Olympic Torch was lit. During a ceremony on the 25th
The flag bearing the Olympic rings was first introduced
March 2004, the rays o f the sun w ere ‘captured’ in a
during the 1920 A ntw e rp Olympic Games.
parabolic bowl, in order to light the torch before it
then embarked on its journey around the world.
The ancient stadium o f Olympia will also play host to

3, As the playing musicians form up around the 4, The musicians stop playing as they look towards the shot put com petition during the Games.
7. The rest o f the musicians join in once m ore as 8. As it does so, it triggers the successive formation
waters edge, the Narrators welcom e the video screen I which features a super-fast ...a pyrotechnic ‘com et’ is launched from o f the O lym pic rings, which are inscribed in fire
w orld to Athens. journey to the ancient stadium o f O lym pia. video screen 1 and falls on the water. Page 26
Page 25 on the surface o f the w a te r. (It is as i f this is a
signai from the ancient stadium granting us
perm ission to begin o u r cerem ony).

3. W elcom e (Duration: 00:04:31) MUSIC 4. Raising o f the Greek Flag (Duration: o c lo tió ) MUSIC
Synopsis: The O lym pic Games are w elcom ed hom e and the O lym pic sym bol is p rese n te d to the world. 'Zeimbekiko 2004’, composed by Stavros Xarhakos • 'N ychterin os Peripatos’ (‘N ig h t S tro ll’), com posed by Manos
’Olympia - Athina1(Percussion Dialogue), composed by Hatzidakis. arranged bv N ikos Kvpourgos.
Synopsis: The Presidents o f the IO C and A TH EN S2 0 0 4 are Introduced. Then the President o f the hfellenic Republic is
Yorghos Koumendakis • 'Fanfare 1’, co m posed by John Psathas.
announced. Finally the G reek flag is raised to the accom panim ent o f the G reek N a tio n a l Anthem .
Manos Hatzidakis (1925 -1994)

Manos Hatzidakis is an iconic Greek composer o f
modern Greece and is internationally known as the
Oscar winning com poser o f the soundtrack fo r the film
‘N ever on a Sunday’.
Boat
For generations the paper boat has been a simple and
enduring to y fo r children all over Greece; representing
the affinity all Greeks have w ith the sea.
9. As the musicians iris outwards, the audience The tiny scale o f the boat set in such a large expanse o f
10. The musicians finally exit through the aisles o f I. A ‘paper’ boat is discovered sailing across 2. A Navy band o f musicians is revealed playing as
adds to the final moments o f the musical build w ate r represents Greece, a small country; birthplace o f
the low er terrace. the w ater from stage right to left. O nboard the it marches along the edge o f the water.
by clapping to the rhythm. boat is a boy. big ideas.
Everyone is un ite d b y one heartbeat rhythm ; Navy Band

everyone welcom es and celebrates the opening The Hellenic Navy Band is commanded by Lieutenant
o f the Games o f the X X V III Olym piad. Com m ander Constantines Katopodis and Lieutenant-jg
Gerasimos Vassilakis.
3, The boy on the boat waves a small Greek flag. 4. The band and the boat ‘m eet’ on the vertical
(central) axis o f the stadium and simultaneously
stop.
Page 27

4. Raising o f the Greek Flag (Duration: 00:07:I6) M U S IC
4. Raising o f the Greek Flag (Duration: o t o t i 6) M U S IC
• 'Fanfare I’, com posed by John Psathas

Synopsis: The Presidents o f the IO C and A THEN S200 4 are introduced. Then the President o f the H ellenic Republic is • N ational A n th e m - 'Ym nos is tin Eleftherian’ (‘H ym n T o F reedom ’)
• 'Fanfare fo r th e President o f th e Hellenic Republic', com posed by
announced. Finally, the G reek flag is raised to the accom panim ent o f the G reek N a tio n a l Anthem . com posed by N ikolaos Mantzaros, lyrics by Dionysios Solomos,
D im itrio s Dighenis. Synopsis: The Presidents o f the IO C and A THENS 200 4 are introduced. Then the President o f the H ellenic R epublic is arranged by John Psathas.
• N ational A n th e m - ‘Ym nos is tin Eleftherian’ (‘H ym n T o
announced. Finally, the G reek flag is raised to the accom panim ent o f the G reek N a tio n a l A nthem . • C h o ir co nducted by A n to n is Kontogeorgiou,
F reedom 1), com posed by N ikolaos M antzaros, lyrics by Dionysios
Solomos, arranged by John Psathas. • 'Lefko kai galazio’ ( W h ite and Blue’), com posed by N ikos
Kypourgos,
• C h o ir conducted by A n to n is K ontogeorgiou.
BACKGROUND NOTES
BACKGROUND NOTES
The President o f the A TH E N S 200 4 Organising Com m ittee fo r the Olympic
Games, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki G r e e k fla?
Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki studied Law at the Aristotelian University of T h e nine blue and w h ite stripes o f th e G re e k flag repre se n t th e
Thessaloniki. In 1986, she was elected Councillor in the Municipality o f Athens.
syllables in th e phrase: ‘Eleftheria I Thanatos' (Freedom o r D eath);
She was twice elected M em ber of Parliament in the Athens first Region
Constituency for the N e w Democracy Party in 1989 and 1990.
th e m o tto o f th e fighters during th e G re e k re vo lu tio n o f 1821.
In 1990, she resigned as a M ember o f Parliament after her marriage to
businessman Theodore Angelopoulos. Since then she has been actively T h e striped pattern was chosen because o f its evocation o f th e sea
involved in the shipping business and is a member o f the Athens Bar th a t surrounds th e shores o f G reece and th a t has played such a
Association. p o w e rfu l ro le in th e e volu tio n o f G re e k culture and consciousness.
In 1996 Mrs Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, was appointed President o f the ATHENS

T h e square cross placed a t th e to p left-hand c o m e r o f th e flag
2004 Olympic Games Bid Committee and since May 2000, she has served as
President o f the ATH EN S 2004 Organising Committee fo r the Olympic alludes to th e respect and d e vo tio n th e H ellenic p eo p le have fo r th e
Games. G reek O r th o d o x Church.
The President o f the International Olympic Committee. Dr. lacques Rogge Flap Party
5. The Narrators announce the entrance o f the 6. The Narrators announce the entrance o f the Jacques Rogge is the eighth IO C President. In the course o f his sporting career, T h e flag p arty com prises C aptain Stelios M arkou, C o m m a n d e r
he competed in the yachting competitions at the Mexico, Munich and Montreal 9. The Flag Party hoists the G reek flag as a male- 10. As the flag raising concludes, the screens display Emanuel Bourtzonis and m em bers o f th e H ellenic N avy General Staff.
President o f A T H O C and the President o f President o f the Hellenic Republic w ho enters Olympics. He was also a member o f the Belgian national rugby team.
voice choir sings the National A nthem w ithout an animation reveal o f the ATHENS 2004
the IO C Both are discovered descending via Gate 2, as the Presidential Fanfare is played He served as President o f the Belgian National Olympic Comm ittee from 1989
T h e N a tio n a l A n th e m
to 1992. H e became President o f the European Olympic Committee in 1989, musical accompaniment (a cappella). emblem - the cotinos
down the steps from the VIP area to the by the Navy Band. IO C member in 1991 and Executive Board member in 1998. The lyrics t o th e G re e k N ational A n th e m w e re w ritte n around 1822
space in fro n t o f Gate 2. by th e G re e k p o e t D ionyslos Solom os, The m usic was com posed in
The President o f the Hellenic Republic. Constantines Stephanopoulos 1865 by N ikolaos Mantzaros, Rudyard Kipling translated th e "H y m n to
Constantinos Stephanopoulos was elected President of the Hellenic Republic Freedom " into English in 1918 as follows:
on 8 March 1995. His political career began in 1964, when he was first elected
to the Greek Parliament. He was subsequently re-elected to the same position
Hvm n to Freedom
four times. From 1974 through 1981, Mr. Stephanopoulos held four cabinet
posts. In August 1985 he left the N e w Democracy Party and founded the
W e knew thee o f o ld
Democratic Renewal Party. Four years later, he was elected to the Parliament Oh, divinely restored,
with the Democratic Renewal Party, this time representing the Greater Athens By the lights o f thine eyes
region. In February o f 2000, he was re-elected President o f the Hellenic A n d the lig h t o f th y S w ord
Republic by the Hellenic Parliament From the graves o f o u r stain
Shall th y valour p re va il
Democracy
A s we g re e t thee again-
W hen Greeks referto the President o f the Republic they call him T h e
Hait, Libe rty! H ail!
President o f Democracy’. This is because Democracy was effectively bom in
Athens in 478 BC. (‘Demos’ means ‘people’, ‘Kratos’ originally meant ‘strength’
but was later used to mean ‘state’).
T h e E m b lem o f A T H E N S 2 0 0 4 - t h e C o tin o s
T h e em blem o f th e A T H E N S 2 00 4 O lym p ic Gam es is a circular
The first votes in human history were cast by writing on fragments o f broken
pottery, which were then counted up. w rea th ('co tino s') m ade fro m th e branch o f an o live tre e .
In ancient tim e s th e o live w re a th was th e ultim ate prize fo r a

7. The three Presidents then walk towards the victo rio u s athlete.
8, The child from the boat meets the Presidents as
choir stage, (The boat continues its journey Page 29 II. A blue and w hite pyrotechnics burst... 12. .. .celebrates the conclusion o f the sequence.
the Narrators announce the raising o f the Greek
Page 30
and reaches the stage-left edge o f the water). flag accompanied by the Greek National Anthem,

5. Allegory (Duration: 00:07:52) 5. Allegory (Duration: 00:07:52) MUSIC
MUSIC
Synopsis: This allegoric sequence takes us on a jo urn ey through tim e using three iconic periods o f Greek sculpture to symbolise the grow th • Tasted tou Vorria’ (‘Northern Star'), composed by Manos
Synopsis: This allegoric sequence takes us on a jo u rn e y through tim e using three iconic periods o f Greek sculpture to symbolise the 'Langsam' from Symphony No. 3, part 6, composed by
grow th and evolution o f Greek civilisation and human consciousness. The G reek civilisation discovered and established so Gustav Mahler, arranged by Yorghos Koumendakis.
and evolution o f Greek civilisation and human consciousness. The Greek civilisation discovered and established so many Hatzidakis and arranged by Nikos Kypourgos.
fundam ental ideas - across the arts and sciences, and politics and philosophy - that continue to resonate even today. many fundam ental ideas - across the arts and sciences, and politics and philosophy - that continue to resonate even today.
• ‘Langsam’ from Symphony No. 3, part 6, copmpsed by
Gustav Mahler, arranged by Yorghos Koumendakis.
in the tem pie o f Apollo, G od o f Light a t D elphi are inscribed the words “Man. Know thyself. in the tem pie o f Apollo, G od o f Light a t D elphi are inscribed the words "Man, Know th y se lf'.
BACKGROUND NOTES
BACKGROUND NOTES
M ath em atical fo rm u la e and g e o m e tric shapes
'poem' Science was a vital means th ro u g h w hich th e ancient Greeks
'Mythistorema 3’ by George Seferis. endeavoured t o understand th e w orld .
/ woke with this marble head in m y hands; This sequence pays trib u te to th e great physicists and m athematicians
it exhausts m y elbows and / do n't know where to p u t it o f ancient G reece w h o have provid e d m any o f th e m athematical
down. th e o re m s th a t serve as th e basis o f w estern scientific practice even
today.
it was falling in to the dream as / was coming ou t o f the
dream
Pythagoras (c.560 BC) was a Greek philosopher and mathematician. He
So o u r life became one and it w ill be very difficult fo r it to believed that "a t things are num bers’. This generalization stemmed from certain
separate again observations in music, mathematics, and astronomy. And o f course, he gave the
world the Pythagorean Theorem: The sum o f the squares o f tw o sides o f a
rig h t angle is equal to the square o f its hypotenuse.
George Seferis n900-l97h
In 1963 George Seferis became the first Greek Nobel D em ocritus (460 BC) was a Greek philosopher, who developed the atomic
Laureate for literature “for his eminent lyrical writing, inspired 5. Once the head is fully revealed resting on the 6. The Cvcladic head lifts into the air. theory o f the universe. According to Democritus ail things are composed of
. A woman, Lvdia Koniordou is reveaied standing 2. These w ords express the fate o fa ll Greeks
by a deep feeling for the Hellenic world of culture". surface o f the water, mathematical formulae and minute, invisible, indestructible particles o f pure matter, which move eternaily in
at the waters edge. In her hands she holds the w ho are, from the day they are bom , infinite empty space. He called these elements "atoms". (The Greek word
geometrical shapes are inscribed over it's surface.
head o f a Greek marble statue. W e hear her Inextricably linked to th e ir ancient heritage. 'atom a'm eans Indivisibies’ or'non-dividable')
Lvdia Koniordou
voice as she recites a poem by George Seferis. The highly respected Lydia Koniordou is one of the world's Euciides (c.330 BC), one of the most famous of the Greek mathematicians was
foremost authorities on classical Greek drama. known as' the father o f geometry. His hugely influential w ork - ‘Elements1- is
one o f the most read books in history.
Centaur K ouros f6th C e n tu ry B Q

The Centaur was a Greek mythological creature, half man, T h e Kouros marks th e first tim e th e sculpted m arble b o d y was
half horse; a representation o f the duality of man as part released fro m it’s background, so th a t th e statue sto o d alone in a
intellectual, part physical. The ancient Greek heroes were space.
educated and trained by Centaurs (Hercules, the
mythological father of the Olympic Games was taught music, T h e figures w e re always naked, yo uth fu l and o f natural prop o rtio ns.
medicine and athletics by the Centaur).
Follow ing th e Egyptian m odel, kouri a ie frontal, rigid, and
sym m etrical. T h e y hold th e ir arm s a t th e ir sides w ith th e le ft fo o t set
Cvcladic Head (7700 BQ slightly forw ard.
Originating from the group o f islands known as the Cyclades,
Cycladic sculptures are distinct by their white, iridescent This innovation arose fro m and expressed th e b ro a d e r G re e k
marble* and simple, minimalist appearance. Cycladic figures preoccupation w ith th e n o tio n o f individuality and e m o tio n and th e
were the first representations of the human form to be cut b irth o f lyrical poetry.
from marble. The smoothness o f their texture has been
compared to that o f sea worn stone. 7. It then slowly breaks apart into 8 pieces, which the figure o f a Kouros is revealed beneath.
travel outwards through the air as...
3. A Centaur is revealed standing in the water. He 4. From the w a te r a huge Cycladic Head slowly * The Greek word ‘marmaro’ [marble] means iridescent stone Page 32
throws a javelin, towards the centre o f the space. emerges.

5. Allegory (Duration: 00:07:52)
MUSIC
5. Allegory (Duration; 00:07:52) MUSIC
• ‘Langsam’ from Symphony No. 3, part 6, copmosed by
Synopsis: This allegoric sequence takes us on a jo urn ey through tim e using three iconic periods o f G reek sculpture to symbolise the Gustav Mahler, arranged by Yorghos Koumendakis. Synopsis: This allegoric sequence takes us on a jo urn ey through tim e using three iconic periods o f Greek sculpture to symbolise the grow th
grow th and evolution o f Greek civilisation and human consciousness. The Greek civilisation discovered and established so and evolution o f Greek civilisation and human consciousness. The Greek civilisation discovered and established so many 'Langsam' from Symphony No. 3, part 6, composed by
many fundam ental ideas - across the arts and sciences, and politics and philosophy - that continue to resonate even today. fundam ental ideas - across the arts and sciences, and politics and philosophy - that continue to resonate even today. Gustav Mahler, arranged by Yorghos Koumendakis.
In the tem pie o f A pollo, G od o f Light a t D elphi are inscribed the words "Man. Know thyself. in the tem pie o f Apollo, G od o f Light a t D elphi are inscribed the words "Man, Know thyself.
BACKGROUND NOTES
BACKGROUND NOTES
Cube
Classical figure fC ontra Postoi r.Sth C entury B Q
From a perception o f existence based on myth (the
For the first time, the human figure o f marble stands
Centaur), man has now evolved into a logical, spiritual
naturally, animated and full o f life. It no longer reminds
being, searching fo r knowledge.
us o f the stone from which it came.
According to Pythagoreans, the cube was a symbol o f
The Greek artists o f the Classical period w ere the first
the earth. It is a perfect geometrical shape; one that
to explore how the human body actually moves in does not appear in nature.
space and how it expresses m ood and character.
The movement o f the cube represents the rotation o f
Democracy was bom in Athens during this tim e (478 the earth on its own axis and around the sun.
BC), ‘Demos' means ‘people’, ‘Kratos’ originally meant 13, Revealed at the core o f this image Is a male 14. As if ‘evolving’ before ou r eyes, the man
9. The Kouros to o breaks apart into 6 pieces, ‘strength’ but was later used to mean ‘state’, figure crouching on to p o f a perfect w hite stands and begins to waik; the cube
10. .. .a Classical statue is revealed beneath.
which also travel outwards through the air as, cube. twisting and rotating beneath his feet.
The classical figure was therefore effectively the first
true ‘citizen’ o f a democratic society.
15. The ‘galaxy’ o f floating rocks surrounding the 16, .. .and the outward faces o f the largest rocks
Finally, the classical statue breaks apart into 4 12, The movem ent o f the 18 rock fragments
Page 33
cube gently rises... are transformed through video into images o f
pieces, which again travel outwards through slows and comes to a halt floating just a few Page 34
the air. human faces and bodies - a celebration o f
metres above the w a ter like celestial bodies
floating in space. the beauty and diversity o f humanity.

5, Allegory (Duration: 00:07:52)
MUSIC 6. Clepsydra (Duration: 00:II:I7) MUSIC
Synopsis: This allegoric sequence takes us on a journey through tim e using three iconic periods o f Greek sculpture to symbolise the • ‘Langsam’ from Symphony No. 3, part 6, composed by
• ‘Passage’, composed by Constantines Vita (based upon
Gustav Mahler, arranged by Yorghos Koumendakis. Synopsis: “G enerations o f p e o p le com e one a fte r another; changing tike the leaves o f the tre es” -H o m e r.
grow th and evolution o f Greek civilisation and human consciousness. The G reek civilisation discovered and established so
Greek traditional music themes).
many fundam ental ideas - across the arts and sciences, and politics and philosophy - that continue to resonate even today. • ’Erastes’ (Lovers') composed by Yorghos Koumendakis,
G lepsydra ' is a dream -iike and co lo u rfu l oarade deoictinp stv/ised futures th a t lo o k as thnuuh th e v have been
in the tem pie o f A pollo, G od o f Light a t D elphi are inscribed the words “Man, Know thyself. b rou g h t to life from G reek frescoes, mosaics, sculptures and paintings, i t is a chronological procession ofim ages
ranging fro m p re h isto ric to m odern ffmes.
BACKGROUND NOTES
The G reek Islands
BACKGROUND NOTES
There are over 1500 islands in the Greek seas.
Clepsvdra
Eros (The God o f I ove) ■ Clepsydras w ere ancient docks that utilized the steady
‘Eros’ is the unlimited strength o f attraction that brings flo w o f w ater o r sand to measure units o f time.
opposites together. M M — I f « M M 1 -, asm W ' The simple hour-glass still 'used today is in fact a
clepsydra - i t measures units o f tim e w ith o u t actually
The Greeks w ere the only people to turn the notion o f ‘telling’ the time.
love —and m ore importantly —the yearning and desire 6. 5. 4. 3. 2, I.
that comes with lo v e - into a deighty. ... .. p, Prehistoric- M inoic(Crete) and Theran (Santorini)
(2000-I400 BC)
17. Finally the rock fragments gently low er ... This was a tim e marked by the love o f nature and life,
18. ... and come to rest in the w ater to become Scene I: Prehistoric - Minoic (C rete) and Theran (Santorini) (2000-I400 BC)
o f imagination and great technological achievements.
the Greek islands.
Individuality is born and art becomes inspired by nature

1. Fertility Goddess
w ith o u t being obliged to copy it.
2. Prince w ith Lilies

Fertility Goddess
The first figure carrying snakes in her hands is a
3. Griffin C hariot with Goddesses
Goddess o f Fertility.
4. Ayia Triada Sarcophagus

Leaping Bull
The leaping bull represents an ancient rite o f passage.
5. W restlers
A fte r confronting and defeating the bull, boys became
men.
6. Leaping Bull
19, T w o lovers ‘spontaneously’ run into the 20. Eros (The God o f Love) emerges from the Page 35
irresistible water, throw ing o ff th e ir w a te r and flies above the lovers and o u t towards
clothes to play and swim. the track area, before Gate 2, where he interacts
w ith the procession that follows.

6. Clepsydra (Duration: 00:11:17) MUSIC 6. Clepsydra (Duration: 00:11:17) MUSIC
Synopsis: “G enerations o f p e o p le com e one a fte r another; changing like the leaves o f the tr e e s " - H om er. • ‘Passage’, composed by Constantines Vita (based upon Synopsis: “G enerations o f p e o p le com e one a fte r a n o th e r changing like th e leaves o f the tr e e s " - H om er. Passage', composed by Constantines Vita (based upon
Greek traditional music themes). Greek traditional music themes).
G iepsydra’ is a dream -like and co lo u rfu l parade depicting stylised figures th a t lo o k as though they have been Giepsydra ' is a dream -iike and co lo u rfu l parade depicting stylised figures th a t lo o k as though they have been
b ro u gh t to life from G reek frescoes, mosaics, sculptures and paintings. It is a chronological procession o f images b ro u g ht to life from G reek frescoes, mosaics, sculptures and paintings. I t is a chronological procession o f images
ranging from p re h isto ric to m odern times. ranging fro m p re h isto ric to m odem times.
Saffron gatherers Scene 3: G eom etric - G eom etric 0050 - 700 BC)
Saffron gathering was a right o f passage fo r girls. Young This period marked a preoccupation w ith abstract
wom en w ould leave th e ir homes to gather saffron as a shapes and geometrical patterns based on
t i l t 1 1 1 I l f • , T ? iT » y. •
I w G * W É i 1 f
T if { ■ j S w gift fo r the Gods. Their return home marked the mathematical rhythm, symmetry and precision.
transition into womanhood.
G eom etric Dolls (Mascots)
4. 3. 2. 1. W arriors The geometric dolls w ere the inspiration fo r Phevos
6. 5. 4. 3. 2, I.
------------- p. This was the age o f copper and military/war. and Athena - the ATHENS 2004 Mascots. The
►
mascots are named after tw o gods: Phevos, god o f light
Scene 2: Prehistoric - Mvcenaic & Theran (1700-1200 BCÌ Agamemnon and music (known as A pollo) and Athena, goddess o f
In Greek mythology Agamemnon was King o f Mycenae
Scene 3: Geometric - Geometric (1050 - 700 BQ wisdom and patron o f the city o f Athens.
1. Fishermen and the leader o f the Greek army during the Trojan
War. Potnia Theron
2. Mycenean W om en 1. Centaur & Geom etric Shield Potnia was the most im portant goddess in Greece
during the Dark Ages. H er name means ‘Mistress o f
3. Saffron Gatherers 2. Geom etric walls & G eom etric Dolls (Mascots) W ild Animals’.
4. W a rrio rs & Agamemnon mask 3. Potnia Theron Potnia is the pro te cto r o f nature, vegetation and
fertility. She is sometimes depicted armed, wearing a
4. D oors & A rm y & Spinning Top helmet, and accompanied by a griffin.
5. Geom etric Legs & W aves' G eom etric Ribbons

The artists performing w ithin the geometric ribbons
6. G eom etric Ribbons sequence are the Greek Rhythmic Gymnastics Team
that w on the Bronze medal at the Sydney 2000
Olympics.

6. Clepsydra (Duration: 00:11:17) MUSIC 6 . C le p s y d r a (Duration: 00:II:I7) MUSIC
Synopsis: "G enerations o f p e o p le com e one a fte r another, changing like the leaves o f the tre e s "-H o m e r. • ‘Passage’, composed by Constantinos Vita (based upon Synopsis: “G enerations o f p e o p le com e one a fte r another; changing tike th e leaves o f the tre e s "-H o m e r. • ‘Passage’, composed by Constantinos Vita (based upon
'Clepsydra' is a dream -like and co lo u rfu l parade depicting sty/ised fgures th a t lo o k as though they have been 'Clepsydra' is a dream -iike and co lo u rfu l parade depicting stylised fgures th a t lo o k as though they have been
b ro ug h t to life fro m G reek frescoes, mosaics, sculptures and paintings. It is a chronological procession o f images b ro ug h t to life fro m G reek frescoes, mosaics, sculptures and paintings, i t is a chronological procession o f images
ranging from p re h isto ric to m odem times. ranging fro m p re h isto ric to m odern times.

Pegasus Epidaurus
In Greek mythology Pegasus was a winged horse; the Built in 350 - 300 BC, Epidaurus is the m ost famous
son o f Poseidon, god o f the sea. ancient Greek theatre and performances o f the Greek
Ii
classics are still regularly staged there.
Korai & Kouroi
These idols, each smiling benignly, w ere dedicated to In addition to theatre itself, the term s w e use to
God. describe the elements o f a theatre space - 'scenery',
5. 4. 3. 2. I. 'proscenium ', 'orchestra', ‘chorus'and ‘m achinery’ - all
The kouros and his female equivalent the kore (he ► originate from this time.
naked, she ciothed) are eternal symbols o f youth and
beauty. Satyrs
Scene 4 - Archaic (700 - 480 B O Scene 5 - Classical Theatre (534 - 260 BC^ Satyrs were w oo d-dw elling creatures, w ith the head
and body o f a man and the ears horns and legs o f a
1. Pegasus 1. Epidaurus & Melpomene (The Muse o f Theatre)
goat. T heir lives w ere dedicated to wine and lust.
2, Korai 2. Satyrs. Birds & O ld Men From the feast dedicated to Dionysus, theatre
emerged.
3. Kouroi 3. Knights & Horses
Maenads
4. Maenads
Maenads w ere w om en w ho belonged to the ancient
cult o f Dionysus (the god o f wine) and to o k part in
5. Hercules and the hvdra. ecstatic rituals o f worship in his name.
Hercules and the hvdra

Hercules is the mythological father o f the Olympic
Games. Here he is depicted fighting the Lemea Hydra,
one o f the 12 tasks - the famous ‘Labours o f Hercules',

6, Clepsydra (Duration: 00:11:17)
MUSIC
r
6 , C le p s y d r a (Duration: 00:11:17) MUSIC
Synopsis: “G enerations o f p e o p le com e one a fte r another; changing like the leaves o f the tre e s" ~ H om er.
e
• 'Passage', composed by Constantinos Vita (based upon
Synopsis: “G enerations o f p e o p le com e one a fte r another; changing like the leaves o f the tre e s" - H om er. • ’Passage’, composed by Constantinos Vita (based upon
Glepsydra ' is a dream-Hke and co lo u ifu lp a ra d e depicting stylised figures th a t lo o k as though th e y have been Ë
Glepsydra ' is a dream-Hke and co lo u rfu l parade depicting stylised figures th a t lo o k as though th e y have been
b ro u g ht to life from G reek frescoes, mosaics, sculptures and painting. It is a chronological parade o f images
b ro u g h t to life from G reek frescoes, mosaics, sculptures and paintings. It is a chronological procession ofim ages
ranging from p re h is to ric to m odern times. Ë ranging from p re h isto ric to m odem times.

Scene 6 - Classical (480-323 BC)
Scene 7 - Hellenistic - Classical Sports (480-30 BC)
The classical period was a golden era; bright and pure.
The ideal o f the human form became a preoccupation.
Man was becoming more self-reliant, more self-empowered.
Athena A rt still served to glorify religion and athleticism.

Was the daughter o f Zeus and one of the most important
goddesses in Greek mythology. She was goddess of Greek The Olym pic Games were introduced and athletes
cities, industry and arts and patron o f the city of Athens. She competed in the nude.
was also the goddess of war.
15. 14. 13. 12. 10. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. N ike
Zeus
Scene 7 - Hellenistic - Classical Sports (480-30 BQ N ike was the goddess o f victory ('nike' is the Greek
Scene 6 - Classical r480-323 BQ Zeus was the father of the Olympian gods and o f humanity
w o rd fo r Victory’).
(in the sense that he was a protector and a ruler).
1. Athena w ith shield Hera A lexander th e Great
2. Zeus 1. Nike & W in n e r A lexander the Great (356-323 BC) was tutored by
Hera was the Queen of the Gods, the wife o f Zeus.
3. Hera Aristotle, became King o f Macedonia, and was one o f
4. Iris Apollo 2. Runners the greatest military geniuses o f all times.
5. A phrodite& Eros Apollo was the son of Zeus and was the God of prophesy,
6. Artem is light and truth. 3. Javelin Throw ers
7. A p o llo
8. Poseidon Caryatids 4. W restlers
The famous Cariatids are columns in the shape o f a draped
9. Igiso and female attendant
female figure, supporting a structure such as a frieze or the
10. Urn Bearers 5. Discus throw ers
roof o f a classical Greek temple.
11. Theano and Ktesileus
12. Eupheros Parthenon 6. A lexander th e Great
13. Veil Bearers The Parthenon, the temple built on top o f the Acropolis and
14. Caryatids dedicated to the Goddess Athena, looks down onto the city 7. A rm y (Macedonian Phalanx)
15. Charioteer of Athens. Although partly in ruins today, the Parthenon
16. Parthenon remains a masterpiece o f Greek architecture and one of the 8. Tanagraies & Cupid
world’s most famous architectural landmarks.
Page 41

6. Clepsydra (Duration: 00:11:17) MUSIC 6 , C le p s y d r a (Duration: 00:II:I7) MUSIC
Synopsis: “G enerations o f p eo p le com e one a fte r another; changing like the leaves o f the tre e s" - H om er. • ‘Passage’, composed by Constantinos Vita (based upon Synopsis: “G enerations o f pe o p le com e one a fte r another; changing like th e leaves o f the tre e s” - H om er. • 'Passage', composed by Constantinos Vita (based upon
G lepsydra’ is a dream -iike and c o lo u rfu l parade depicting stylised figures th a t lo o k as though they have been G lepsydra' is a dream -iike and co lo u ifu lp a ra d e depicting stylised figures th a t lo o k as though they have been
b ro ug h t to life from G reek frescoes, mosaics, sculptures and paintings. It is a chronological procession o f images b ro u gh t to life fro m G reek frescoes, mosaics, sculptures and paintings. I t is a chronological procession o f images
ranging from p re h isto ric to m odem times. ranging from p re h isto ric to m odern times.

Scene 8 - Byzantine (324 BC - I453AD) Greek heroes
This is the art o f the Christian O rth o d o x Church and a Karaiskakis, Kolokotronis and Makryiannis w ere three
tim e when man was preoccupied w ith the struggle heroes o f the Greek fight fo r independence in 1821.
between good and evil; between heaven and hell.
The m o tto o f the revolutionaries was 'freedom or
Stylisation gave way to romanticised portraiture. The death’ and the nine stripes o f the Greek flag are said to
expression o f the intangible and the invisible was the represent the 9 syllables o f this statement in Greek
challenge fo r the artist. 5. 4. 3. 2. I. (‘Eleftheria I Thanatos’),
►
Tsoliades
The pleated skirt (foustanela) w orn by the fighters o f
Scene 8 - Byzantine (324 BC - I453AD) Scene 9 - Traditional (1453-1832) the 1821 revolution today serves as the official uniform
o f the Evzones, the Presidential Guard. The skirts have
1. Greek heroes 400 pleats, one fo r each year o f Greek suppression
1. Angel before the revolt.
2. Folk Dancers
2. Hell
3. Men o f Crete
3. Paradise
4. Tsoliades
4. N obility
5. Men o f Pontos
5. St George & the dragon

6 . C le p s y d r a (Duration: 00:11:17) MUSIC 6 , C le p s y d r a (Duration: 00:11:17)
MUSIC
Synopsis: “G enerations o f p eo p le com e one a fte r another, changing like the leaves o f the tre e s" - H om er. • ‘Passage’, composed by Constantinos Vita (based upon
Greek traditional music themes). Synopsis: 'G enerations o f pe o p le com e one a fte r a n o th e r changing like the leaves o f the trees” - H om er. • ‘Passage’, composed by Constantinos Vita (based upon
Giepsydra is a dream -iike and co lo u rfu l parade depicting stylised figures th a t lo o k as though they have been
Giepsydra ' is a dream-Hke and co lo u rfu l parade depicting stylised figures th a t lo o k as though th e y have been
b ro u gh t to life from G reek frescoes, mosaics, sculptures and paintings It is a chronological procession o f images
ranging fro m p re h isto ric to m odem times. b ro ug h t to life from G reek frescoes, mosaics, sculptures and paintings. It is a chronological procession o f images
ranging from p re h is to ric to m odern times.
BACKGROUND NOTES
BACKGROUND NOTES
Scene 1 0 - Modern (1832 onwardsi
1 o'AC>i , " 'i. * î ’i- i N s ?* £ T ^ i *"H?§ A ffy <* j * «. »%‘Gu" * Nike/Spiro Louis
Images inspired by black and w hite photographs o f the
first Olympic Games o f the m odem era, revived in Inspired by a w atercolour poster depicting the
Athens in 1896. Goddess Nike presenting Spiros Louis - the w inner o f
1 'SS ill? Hl] T A the 1896 Olympic marathon race - w ith an olive
wreath.
Karagiozis/Nike
8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1.
-------------^ 4. 3. 2. I, A grotesque caricature o f the Nike/Louis image staring
^ Karagiozis in the role o f a victorious athlete.
Scene 10 - Modern (1832 onwards) Karagiozis is the comedic central character o f the
Scene 10 - Modern H832 onwards)
popular Greek shadow theatre. He represents the
1896 O lym pic Revival. ordinary but put upon Greek w ho despite
1. Nike/Spiro Louis
encountering misfortune proves himself to be a
1. Olympic Shield bearer survivor tim e and tim e again.
2. Karagiozis/Nike
2. Fencers Rembetiko
3. Sailors / Soldiers
The final tableau features a traditional rem betiko scene.
3, Parallel bars
4. Rembetiko
Originally perform ed in underground clubs in the 1920s,
4. Shot putter Rembetiko was eventually adopted and popularised by
the upper classes.
5. Horizontal Bar
The music o f rembetiko, dominated by the sound o f
6. Girls/bouquets the bouzouki, could perhaps best be described as the
Greek version o f the ‘blues’.
7. Discus th ro w e r
8. Runners

6. Clepsydra (D u ration : 00:11:17) MUSIC 7. The Book o f Life (Duration: 00:03:23)
MUSIC
Synopsis: "G enerations o fp e o p le com e one a fte r another; changing like the leaves o f the tre e s" - H om er. • Extract from A ct III o f Aida, the opera - ‘Qui radames Synopsis. A pregnant woman - a symbol ofn e w life and o f hope fo r the future - ente/~s the water. The Clepsydra performers shed their • ‘Double Helix’, composed by Nikos Kypourgos
verra.. .0 patria mia’, by Giuseppe Verdi. œstumes (their history) and follow the pregnant woman into the water. AH then look towards the 'image o f a spiralling strand o f
G tepsydra’ is a dream-Hke and co lo u rfu l parade depicting stylised figures th a t lo o k as though th e y have been
b ro ug h t to life from G reek frescoes, mosaics, sculptures and paintings, ft is a chronological procession ofim ages
Ultimately, no m atter where we come from, all our futures are locked within this simple b u t profound image - the double-helix
ranging from p re h isto ric to m odern times.
o f DNA. It is the s tu ff from which we are all made. A t the same time, it is what makes each o f us unique.
BACKGROUND NOTES
BACKGROUND NOTES
Maria Callas (1923 - I97A
Maria Callas was the epitome o f the operatic soprano. Galaxy
The stars in the sky w ere thought to be the milk (‘gala’
The passion and drama she brought to her
in Greek) o f the Goddess Hera, wife o f Zeus. She
performances, revealed the true origin o f opera in
awoke to discover that an unknown baby, the son o f
Greek tragedy.
Zeus, had been breastfeeding. The baby grew up to be
the hero Hercules and Hera’s milk nurtured his
Even today, Callas still represents the pinnacle o f
immortality. This is the ro o t o f the expression ‘the
operatic achievement.
Milky W ay’ - the galaxy which is home to o u r solar
system.
. Symbolizing the future, the last figure o f the 2. To the voice o f Maria Callas.
parade is a pregnant woman (the first was the I. As the pregnant woman walks towards the water, 2. The pregnant woman enters the w ater and her
Fertility Goddess). the parade figures shed th e ir costumes belly gently glows w ith light.
(their hi sto 17) and also step dow n to the ground.
3. Beneath the w a ter is revealed an image 4. .as all the performers enter the water. Page 48
3, .. .Eros removes her dress. 4. The pregnant woman steps down to the Page 47 evocative o f a galaxy. It radiates outwards
ground. from the pregnant w o m a n ,..

V
7. Book o f Life (Duration: 00:03:23) MUSC 8. The Olive Tree (Duration: 00:02:40) MUSIC
E
Synopsis: A pregnant woman - a symbol o f new life and o f hope fo r the future - enters the water. The Clepsydra performers shed their Double Helix, composed by Nikos Kypourgos
Synopsis: The cast assemble on stage as the sculpture fragm ents rise o u t o f the w a ter and converge o v e r the centre. • 'Karpos' (‘Fruit’), composed by Giorgos Trandalidis,
costumes (their history) and follow the pregnant woman into the water. AH then look towards the image o f a spiralling strand o f % A s they do so, an olive tree emerges and com es to re st above them. featuring T Asteri tou Voria' CNorth Star’i. composed bv
DNA. Manos Hatzidakis, with lyrics by Nikos Gatsos.
Ultimately, no m atter where we come from, all our futures are locked within this simple but profound image - the double-helix
o f DNA. It is the stu ff from which we are at! made. A t the same time, it is what makes each o f us unique.
6
BACKGROUND NOTES
Ë
BACKGROUND NOTES T Asteri to u Voria'
È N o w / am b o u n d fo r life'S celebration.
n o w I am fo r m y festival o f jo y
DNA
M y bygone m oons
D N A is essentially a means o f transmitting genetic
m y n ew -fou n d birds
information, it is w hat makes each o f us unique. It was
chase from the m ountain sun and day
decoded in June 2000.
and y o u ’l l see m e pass b y
like lightning in the sky.
fc Translated by D a vid C o n n o lly
is Olive Tree
The Olive tree is one o f the m ost powerful symbols o f
I. All the performers w ho have participated in 2. As they do so, the rocks set in the w ater Greece. It has been a sacred tree fo r Mediterranean
ë the Cerem ony up to this point assemble to rise... nations fo r thousands o f years, as well as the ancient
surround the water. symbol o f the Athenian City State.
5 . The audience activate th e ir own lights in a 6. A large mist screen set in the centre o f the is
sequence that ripples upwards from the performance space rises o u t o f the water.
Poseidon and Athena competed fo r the city. W ith a
low er tie r to the to p o f the stadium.
strike o f her lance the Goddess Athena made an olive
tree appear o u t o f the Acropolis rocks and the Gods
is awarded her the land. The citizens loved the Goddess
and named th e ir city —Athens - after her. They
Is inscribed her image, com plete w ith an olive wreath
around her helmet, on th e ir coins.
is
In ancient times athletes w ould rub olive oil into their
skin before exercising.
is
The olive wreath was the ultimate prize fo r a victorious
is athlete.
m The olive branch is also a global symbol o f peace and

freedom.
7. O n this screen - occupying the same 8 . This image concludes the sym bolic jo u rn e y is 3. ... and retract back tow ards the centre 4. As the cast sing ‘Asteri to u Voria’, the rocks
space the Cycladic Head occupied earlier — fro m man's firs t a tte m p t to understand h im se lf o f the space. form a mountain in the centre. An olive tree
‘stars’ float upwards, to form a spiralling strand (the Cycladic H ead) to his m o st re ce n t and lì rises up to hover above them, to complete Page 50
o f DNA. p ro fo u n d discovery - the decoding o f D N A , the picture.

A n e w jo u rn e y begins...

8. The OllVe Tree (Duration: 00:02:40) MUSIC 9. The Athletes o f the W o rld (Duration: o ia s to ) MUSIC
Synopsis: The cast assemble on stage as the sculpture fragm ents rise o u t o f the w ater and converge o v e r the centre. • ‘Karpos’ (‘Fruit’), composed by Giorgos Trandalidis, • ‘Athletes', composed and arranged by Tiesto
Synopsis: The parade and assembly o f the team s o f athletes.
A s they do so, an olive tree emerges and com es to re st above them. featuring T Asteri tou Voria’ (‘North Star’),
• Greek Team’, composed by Nikko Patrelakis
composed by Manos Hatzidakis, with lyrics by Nikos
Gatsos. "B ut betw een us and Goodness the gods have placed the sw eat o f o u r b ro w s... "
H esiod: W orks and D ays,translated b y H ugh C. E velyn-W hite
BACKGROUND NOTES
BACKGROUND NOTES
O pening C erem ony Procession O rd e r

Traditionally, as the birthplace o f the Olympics, the
team from Greece has the honour o f entering the
stadium first, followed by all the otherteam s in
alphabetical o rd er (according to the language/alphabet
the host country), except fo r the last team, which is
always the team o f the host country. O n this unique
occasion, as the Games are being held in Greece, this
means that the Greek flag opens and closes the Parade
o f Athletes,
The Narrators announce the entrance o f the Tiesto

2. The Greek flag bearer enters through Gate I
athletes and a pyrotechnics cue triggers the In 2002 Tiesto w on almost every dance related award
and walks past the VIP/Tribune area in an
start o f the Parade. including being voted the num ber one Dj in the w orld
anti-clockwise direction.
by ‘DJ Magazine’. He received the same accolade in
2003 making him the first and only DJ to receive the
award tw o years running.
7. The cast exits as. 8. ., .the athletes marshals take th e ir positions 3. A DJ - Tiesto - is located stage right and plays 4. The teams - each announced by the
throughout the parade. Narrators - then enter the stadium in Greek
ready to greet and guide the athletes.
alphabetical order. Page 52

9. Athletes o f the W o rld (Duration: o m s g o ) MUSIC
Synopsis: The parade and assembly o f the team s ofathletes. • 'Athletes', composed and arranged by Tiesto
9. Athletes o f the W orld (Duration: 01:45:30) MUSIC
• 'Greek Team’, composed by Nikko Patrelakis
Synopsis: The parade and assembly o f the teams o f athletes. ‘A th le te s ', c o m p o s e d and a rran g e d b y T ie s to .
'G re e k T e a m ’, c o m p o s e d b y N ik k o Patrelakis.
46 DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE C O N G O LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC A 181 CHINESE TAIPEI
1 2 [SAINT LUCIA 1 47 [DOMINICA LESOTHO 1 137 (SOUTH A F R IC A ............—— ij 82 [UNITED REPUBLIC OF TA N ZA N IA
EM»>J8llilW8
48 D O M IN IC A N REPUBLIC -'
BACKGROUND NOTES I 4 [SAN MARINO ^ | 49 ]EL SALVADOR BELARUS p B 9 d N E h ERLAN PS ANTI [THAILAND
m m
1AZERBAIJAN ’ sMERmtEA* LIBERIA r i4 i [DJIBOUTI
Placard Bearers LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA mm 187 TIMOR-LESTE
r ~ 8 ~ [ETHIOPIA................ ssA z a m b i a LITHUANIA ~ 3 [ U G A N D A ......................................... ~.................... 1
Ancient Greek vases inspire the costumes o f the
placard bearers. iio [CAPE VERDE 55
■ wsm
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES f 100
IISBBSSSeusì
LUXEMBOURG P l4 5 [UKRAINE ............... f 1
L56f- ^ UNITED
« ia iiiî ï STATES O F AMERICA HO MADAGASCAR 191 TURKMENISTAN
Spiral
r c [ALBANIA 57 llAPAN p02 MALAYSIA [147 [PAKISTAN [TRI NI DA D A N D T O BAGO
ISSI
The spiral is an image that constantly recurs in nature - [ T [AMERICAN SAMOA 59PND ” ls iÂ r 104 MALDIVES [PALAU ..........................^ [CZECH REPUBLIC
in the structure o f D N A , in shells, in the flow o f w ater
I 16 [ANTIGUA A N D BARBU
EVlPraBTfli
61 [IRAQ
m BEBKtÊ V.’ll'M)'
106 MALTA 151 [PAPUA N E W GUINEA
in weather patterns and in the form ation o f galaxies. 62 ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN iMaaw WSSËÈ 197 PHILIPPINES
[ARMENIA 63 [IRELAND MAURITIUS 153 jT R G N h S L A N D S — — — » i| [FINLAND
This is the first tim e athletes have taken a spiral route 64 EQUATORIAL GUINEA B H f
[20 [AUSTRALIA 65 IECUADOR 10 [GREAT BRITAIN "155 [POLAND
into the stadium and onto the ‘field o f play’. tT T H w h m 201 H O N G KONG, CH IN A
5. The teams are led in by a placard bearer 6. The athletes follow a fluid spiral route onto the 22 [AFGHANISTAN 67 ISPAIN FI FEDERATED STATES O F MICRONESIA 157 IPUERTO [GREECE
carrying the name o f the team in Greek, performance area.

m HESI
24 Ib e l g iu m ~69 IiT A D T p i MOZAMBIQUE 159 [R W A N D A ............ 1
French and English. 70 KAZAKHSTAN s16 ■REPUBLIC
S B O F M OLD OVA
T berM u d a 71 [CAMEROON " MONACO 161 '[RUSSIAN FEDERATIO N...................................... |
Greece is the first and last team to enter.
Ü
\~2Q I b o l iv ia ' - 73 [CANADA 18 BARBADOS 163 [SAMOA h
1 30 [BULGARIA
s
75 ICAYMAN ISLANDS 165 [SAUDI ARABIA |
B76
S■a-.Sa
S B S■ifiF
CENTRAL-ó AFRICAN REPUBLIC
132 [BRITISH [SERBIA À N D M O N T E N E G R O ........................... |
78 PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CH IN A m BO TSW A NA »
I 34 [GERMANY A M C trllY Z S fÂ N I 124 BURKINA FASO [s ir C A P O R E ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ n
jjiM i
|3 6 [GAMBIA 81 [COLOMBIA 1126 BHUTAN 171 [ T o v a k ia
138 [GHANA
1933 m H B BDARUSSALAM
BRUNEI
[1281 M YAN M AR
LLTPt v
83 IC O N G O 173 [SOLOM ON IS A N D S |
[4 0 85 [COSTÀ RÌCA pLBO] NAURU 175 [S W A Z IA N D [

IBIaÜa;
N E W ZEALAND 'Y'-.TV-
1 42 [GUINEA 87 [KUWAIT [ l 3 2 ] NEPAL 177 [SWEDEN
WESI l-MMtf»' -
C O O K ISLANDS ISIMjtH ; 1 i
[4 4 |GRENADA 89 [CROATIA 3- NIGERIA 70 [SRI A N K A I
45 DENMARK 90 CYPRUS 135 NICARAGUA 180 SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC
7. A t the end o f the parade, the Narrators call

fo r the acknowledgement o f the assembled Page 53
athletes.

IO. ‘Oceania’ (Duration: 00:03:00) MUSIC II. Olympic Cities Tribute (Duration: 00:02:45) MUSIC
Synopsis: / I song com posed fo r the occasion and dedicated to the athletes is p e rfo rm e d as they are covered b y a vast image • 'Oceania’, composed by Bjork, lyrics by Sigurjon Birgir. Synopsis: A re m in d e r o f the m odern h is to ry o f the O lym pic Games. • '28', composed by Konstantinos Vita.
o f the globe.

Biork Pierre de Coubertin 0863-1937)
Born in Reykjavik Iceland in 1965, Bjork has staked a unique Pierre de Courbertin was the principal organiser o f the
place fo r herself in the world of pop. First with the band The modem Olympic Games. In the late 1880s Coubertin was
Sugarcubes and, since 1992, in her four extraordinary and commissioned by the French government to form a universal
eclectic albums, Bjork has become acknowledged as one o f sports association, and his vision o f an amateur championship
the w orld’s most exciting and original voices. She takes to fo r the world's athletes began to take shape.
the stage at this year’s Olympiad on the verge o f the release
of her new album, 'Medulla', on which the only instrument is In 1894 whilst attending an international athletics, de
the human voice. Courbertin proposed the organization o f the Olympic
Games, which would be an international competition
'O ceania 1
modelled on the Olympic Games o f ancient Greece. The
These lyrics are as if sung by th e sea - th e 'p ro u d m o th e r o f
humanity':
proposal passed, and that same year the International
Olympic Committee (IOC), the governing body of the
I. A perform er - Bjork is revealed stage-right, H er 2. H e r dress reaches down to the ground. you have done g o o d fo r sw eet /ike a harm ony made I. A video runs on the stadium screens as w e hear 1. A runner carrying a flag bearing the image o f Olympic Games, was founded.
height is exaggerated; she stands tall; rising /ourselves flesh ‘in the late i9 hCentury, tw o m en had a dream. an olive branch is revealed in fro n t o f Gate 2.
above the athletes. She sings ‘Oceania’: since y o u le ft m y w e t embrace y o u dance b y m y side O ne was G reek the o th e r was French. Their dream was Coubertin served as the IOC's President from 1896 to 1925.
and craw led ashore
He runs a full circuit (anti-clockwise) o f the
children sublim e to revive the ancient Games o f O lym pia and to extend
them to the w hole w orld. The m en w ere P ierre de stadium along the tra c k surrounding the
Dimitrios Vikelas
one breath away from m o th e r you show m e continents C oub ertin and D im itrio s Vikelas’. Their dream came true in Athens. athletes. Demetrios Vikelas, (1835-1908), attended the international
Oceania - i see islands
Athletic Congress in Paris, in 1894, as a member o f the
y o u r nim ble fe e t make p rin ts you cou nt the centuries
in m y sands - i b lin k m y eyes
Panhellenic Gymnastic Society in Athens. It was he who
suggested that Athens should be the site o f the first Olympic
you show m e continents hawks and sparrow s race in Games o f the modem era. He later became the first
- / see islands m y waters President o f the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
yo u cou nt the centuries stingrays are floating
- / b lin k m y eyes across the sky Counting Olympiads
An Olympiad is a period o f four successive years. The
every' b o y is a snake is a lily little ones - m y sons and
Olympic Games celebrate each Olympiad. For the modern
every p e a r! is a iyn x daughters
is a g irl y o u r sw eat is salty
Olympic Games, the first Olympiad celebration was in 1896.
/ am why Every four years celebrates another Olympiad; thus, even the
Games that were cancelled (1916, 1940, 1944) count as
Map of the world Olympiads.
The image o f the globe captured on the cloth is made from
grains o f salt. Salt gives us life and reminds us the origins o f all Olive Branch
life from the primordial sea. The image o f the olive branch featured on the runner's flag
was created by Yiannis Moralis (1916 - ), one o f the leading
3. As she sings, a vast cloth, featuring a map o f 4. Eventually the cloth covers all the athletes figures o f contemporary Greek art.
The cloth covers an area o f 9270 square meters making this
th e w o rld is drawn out as if it w ere an extension assembled on the field o f play. the largest photograph ever printed. 3. The Narrators announce the name o f each 4. The runner stumbles and falls.
o f her dress. previous Olympic host city. W ith each "W o d d W ar J "...
announcement the runner breaks a w hite ribbon Page 56
spread before him: “1 8 9 6 -A th e n s "... "1900-P a ris "
... “1904 - S t L o u is"... "1908 —London .. "1912 — Stockholm

Olympic Cities Tribute (D u ra tio n : 0 0 :0 2 :4 5 )
MUSIC I. Olympic Cities Tribute (D uration: 00:02:45) MUSIC
Synopsis: / I re m in d e r o f the m odem h isto ry o f the O lym pic Games. • ’28’, composed by Konstantinos Vita. • '28’, composed by Konstantinos Vita.
Synopsis: / I re m in d e r o f the m odern h isto ry o f the O lym pic Games.
fi
BACKGROUND NOTES
BACKGROUND NOTES
5. The runner recovers and continues: 6. The runner stops

..."1920 - A n tw e rp "... "1924 - P aris"... W o rld W ar 2 " 9, The runner reaches the fo o t o f the protocol 10, A pyrotechnics burst punctuates the
"1928 - A m sterdam "... '1932 - Los A nge le s"...
‘1936 - B e rlin " stage on which the olive tree is planted’ and m om ent
waves his flag to the crowd.
7. T h e ru n n e r continues.
8. A s “ 2 0 0 4 " is being announced; th e ru n n e r com pletes his
‘1948 - London "... ‘1952 - H e lsin ki"...
circuit o f th e tra c k (in fr o n t o f G ate 2) and tu rn s inwards
"1956 - M elbourne " . . . "i960 - R om e"...
to w a rd s th e central stage, travelling along a pathway
‘1964 - T okyo".,. '1968 - M exico C ity "...
m arked by th e team Flag Bearers. H e breaks th e final ribbon
‘1972 - M u nich"... ‘1976 - M o n tre a l"... Page 57
as th e N arra to rs declare th e name "A thens",
"1980 - M o scow ".... "1984 - Los A nge le s"...
- S e o u l", ‘1992 - Barcelona", 20 0 4 ... '

12. Opening o f the Games (Duration: 00:08:I0) MUSIC 12. Opening o f the Games (Duration: 00:08:I0) MUSIC
Synopsis: Follow ing the o fficial speeches the Games are declared open. • ‘Fanfare II’, composed by John Psathas. Synopsis: Follow ing the o fficia l speeches the Games are declared open. • 'Kampanes' (Bells), composed by Yorghos Koumendakis.
BACKGROUND NOTES
BACKGROUND NOTES
The Games are declared open
This sequence o f speeches culminating in a formal
Bells
declaration pronouncing the Games open follows a
The sound o f ringing bells is a familiar element o f every
protocol set dow n in the Olympic C harter (rule 69,
im portant G reek celebration - both religious and
paragraphs 1.7, 1.8, 1.9).
secular.
I, The Narrators introduce the ATHENS 2004 & 2. The ATHENS 2004 President makes a short
!O C Presidents w ho make th e ir way to the central speech before then handing over to the 5. 5 bells set behind the choir stage are rung. 6. The audience ringing th e ir own small bells
stage via an avenue created through the athletes. IO C President. add to the celebratory sound as...
Each bell represents a continent o f the world.
3. The IO C President makes a short speech 4. Speaking from the VIP/Tribune area the
before inviting the President o f the Hellenic President o f the Hellenic Republic declares
Republic to proclaim the Games open. the Games open.

13. Raising o f the Olympic Flag (Duration: 00:09:50) MUSIC
13. Raising o f the Olympic Flag (Duration: 00:09:50)
Synopsis: The O lym pic flag is p araded aro u n d the stadium before being flo w n to the accom panim ent o f the O lym pic Hymn. • ‘Sta Pervolia' (‘In the Garden’) from the ballet ‘Zorbas’ Act 1
' scene VI, comoosed by Mikis Theodorakis. arranged and Synopsis: The O lym pic flag is paraded arou n d the stadium before being Town to the accom panim ent o f the O lym pic Hymn. ‘Olympic Anthem’, composed by Spyros Samaras, arranged
orchestrated by John Psathas. by John Psathas.
Choir conducted by Miltos Logiadis.
Olym pic Flag The O lym pic Hymn

According to the Olympic charter, the five ringed The music fo r the Olym pic Hymn was composed by
symbol “ represents the union o f the five continents and Spyros Samaras (1861-1917). Kostis Palamas (1859-1943)
the meeting o f Athletes from across the w orld at the added the words.
Olympic Games” .
The Olympic Hymn was first played at the 1896
Baron Pierre de C oubertin conceived o f the symbol, it Olym pic Games in Athens but w asn't actually
was adopted by the IO C in 1914 and was first flown at declared the official hymn by the IO C until 1957. It
the 1920 A ntw erp Games. was first incorporated at the Rome Olympics in
I960.
Traditionally eight people carry the flag into the
I. ...children enter the stadium via Gate 3. 2. .. .the Narrators announce the entrance o f the stadium during the Opening Ceremony. 6. The flag is raised to the accompaniment o f 7. ... performed by a combined adult and child The Olympic Hymn
They each carry olive branches - symbols o f O lym pic flag, which is then carried in through the O lym pic hym n. , choir.
peace as.... the children (Gate 3) and is paraded a full circuit Mikis Theodorakis
"A n cie n t im m o rta l spirit, unsullied fa th e r o f th a t which
anti-clockwise until it arrives at the Olympic Born in 1925, Mikis Theodorakis is undoubtedly one o f
beautiful, g re a t an true, descend, m ake th y se lfknow n
flagpole. Greece's greatest living composers. He has composed
an d shine here on this earth and b e lo w these skies,
over 1000 songs, 5 symphonies, ballets such as: 'Greek
witness o f th y glory.
Carnival', 'Elektra' and 'Zorba'; oratorios like: 'The
Illum inate the endeavour w rought in noble contests, in
March o f the Spirit' and 'Canto General'; operas like:
the running race, the w restling and the throwing. Piace
'Kostas Karyotakis', 'Medea', 'Elektra' and Antigone';
a w reath o f evergreen branch, creating the b o d y as o f
and the scores fo r films such as 'Phaedra', 'Elektra',
iro n and w orthy.
'Zorba the Greek' and 'Serpico1.
Vaies, m ountains and oceans shine w ith thee like unto a
g re a t tem pie o f w hite and porphyry. To w hich a ll
In 1992 the IO C commissioned M r Theodorakis to
peoples hasten to this tem pie to w orship thee, O h
compose a w o rk dedicated to the Barcelona Olympic
ancient im m o rta l s p irit.
Games - 'Canto Olympico'.
M r Theodorakis has also been a m em ber o f the Greek

Parliament several times and is com m itted to
heightening international awareness o f human rights,
environmental issues and peace.
3. As the flag makes its way around the stadium 4. The Narrators announce the raising o f Page 61
the names o f the eight flag bearers are the flag as it is passed t o the flag party.
announced.

14. The Olympic Oaths (Duration: 00:0I:57) MUSIC
15. The Journey o f the Torch (Duration: oo:oi:48) MUSIC
Synopsis: A n athlete and a judge dedare the O lym pic oaths on b e h a lf o f a ll com petitors and officiais. • ‘Fanfare III', composed by John Psathas. ‘Fanfare d'ouverture' (from King Lear), composed by
Synopsis :A representation o f the O lym pic T orch’s jo u rn e y aro u nd the w orld. Claude Debussy (1862-1918), arranged by John Psathas.
Doves
Olym pic Oaths:
A symbol o f peace, doves are ‘released’ at every
Pierre de Coubertin w ro te the oath fo r the athletes to
opening ceremony to remind people everywhere that,
recite at each Olympic Games.
as in ancient times, the Olympic Games should be held
in peace.
The Olympic oath was first taken during the 1920
A ntw erp Olympic Games by Belgian fencer Victor
Boin. (For humane reasons the release o f the doves is
symbolically represented)
A thletes’ Oath
The Torch Relay
“in the name o f a ll the com petitors I prom ise th a t we
The Olympic flame began its journey from Olympia on
shall take p a d In these O lym pic Games, I. A video depicting doves in flight runs on the 2. The Narrators tell the story o f the Global
respecting and abiding b y the rules which govern them, Thursday 25th March.
I. The Narrators introduce the O lym pic O aths. 2. The officials’ oath taker holds the corner video screens. Torch Relay. As they do s o ... a ‘runner’ is
O n the choir stage, the athletes’ oath taker o f the Olympic flag w ith his left hand and com m itting ourselves to a s p o d w ith o u t doping and revealed hovering in the air above the
It has travelled 78,000 km, 1,500 o f which in the hands
holds the corner o f the Olym pic flag w ith his raising his right hand pronounces the w ith o u t drugs, athletes. Fde ‘runs’ tow ards the centre w h e re ...
o f 3,600 torchbearers.
left hand and raising his right hand pronounces Officials’ Oath on behalf o f all the officiais. in the true s p irit ofspodsm anship, fo r the g io /y o f
the Com petitors' oath on behalf o f all the s p o d and the h o n o u r o f o u r teams ",
A total o f 260 million people have had the opportunity
athletes. to see the Flame in 26 countries and 34 cities.
Officials' Oath
For the first tim e in history the Olympic Torch Relay
“In the nam e o f a ll the judges and officials, i prom ise has taken the Flame to Africa and Latin America,
th a t we shall officiate in these O lym pic Games w ith making the ATHENS 2004 Torch Relay the first truly
com plete im padiality global torch relay.
respecting and abiding b y the rules which govern them,
in the true s p irit o f sportsm anship''. The Flame has also visited all past Olym pic cities and
has passed through cities w ith special symbolic
meaning, such as Brussels, heart o f the European
Union, Lausanne, seat o f the International Olympic
Com m ittee, and Beijing, host city o f the next
Olympiad.
O n its return to Greece, but before arriving in the

O lym pic Stadium, the Torch has travelled through
Page 63 3. .. .three large concentric rings representing 4. The ‘runner’ holds an illuminated baton. As he every region o f the country.
the globe are revealed. approaches the ‘globe’ he touches it w ith the
Page 64
baton and the w ord ‘Olym pia’ is illuminated.

15, The Journey o f the Torch (Duration: ooiohs) MUSIC 16. The Lighting o f the Cauldron (Duration: oo:07:io) MUSIC
• Finale from 'Pirogov', composed by Dmitri Shostakovich
Synopsis: / I representation o f the O lym pic T orch’s jo u rn e y a ro u n d the w orld. ‘Fanfare d’ouverture’ (from King Lear), composed by (1906-1975), arranged by John Psathas.
Synopsis: The flame, the O /ym pic sym bol o f peace, enters the stadium and ignites the cauldron.
Claude Debussy (1862-1918), arranged by John Psathas.
BACKGROUND NOTES
Cities BACKGROUND NOTES
1. Olympia, Greece
2. Sydney, Australia The O lym pic Torch
3. Melbourne, Australia The ATHENS 2004 Olympic torch is designed to
4. Tokyo, Japan resemble an olive leaf. Its form was drawn from the
5. Seoul, South Korea leafs lines and its harmonious shape.
M M
6, Beijing, China
7, Delhi, India W eighing 700 grams and standing at 68 cm, the T orch’s
8. Cairo, Egypt design was selected to enhance the Flame, the major
9. Cape Town, South Africa emblem o f the Games.
10, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
II. Mexico City, Mexico The tw o -toned sides and gentle stroke o f the olive leaf
5. Additional ’runners' rise out o f the athletes 6. The final runner travels outwards from the 12. Los Angeles, USA inspired the design. It is made o f metal and olive w ood
and also 'run' towards the globe, ce n tre .., 13. St. Louis, USA in th e ir natural colours.
. Torchbearer I enters the stadium via Gate 2, 2. A fte r a short (anti-clockwise) run Torchbearer I
The name o f every d ty the Olym pic torch has 14. Atlanta, USA steps onto the illuminated “Athens" graphic, passes the flame to Torchbearer 2.
visited is illuminated. 15. N ew York, USA The designer used the philosophy o f “ pan m etron
and holds the O lym pic Torch aloft.
16. Montreal, Canada ariston” (all things in moderation) to give the Torch its
17. Antw erp, Belgium structure and beautiful simplicity.
18. Brussels, Belgium
19. Amsterdam, Netherlands
20. Geneva, Switzerland
21. Lausanne, Switzerland
22. Paris, France
23. London, UK
24. Madrid, Spain
/ 4 0 HHK 25.
26.
27.
28.
Barcelon'a, Spain
Rome, Italy
Munich, Germany
Berlin, Germany
• * s s 29. Stockholm, Sweden
30. Helsinki, Finland
31. Moscow, Russia
32. Kiev, Ukraine
3, Torchbearer 2 continues around the track 4. Torchbearer 3 continues around the track
7. ... and descends to illuminate the w o rd As the w o rd pulses w ith the rhythm o f a 33. Istanbul, Turkey
before passing the flame to Torchbearer 3. before passing the flame to Torchbearer 4.
‘Athens’ set on the ground in fro n t o f Gate 2. heartbeat.. .The Narrators announce the 34. Sofia, Bulgaria Page 66
entrance o f the Olympic Torch into the 35. Nicosia, Cyprus

stadium. Page 65

* 16. The Lighting o f the Cauldron (Duration: o c k t io ) MUSIC
16. The Lighting o f the Cauldron (Duration: oo:07:io) MUSIC
• Finale from 'Pirogov', composed by Dmitri Shostakovich m Synopsis: The flame, the O lym pic sym bol o f peace, enters the stadium and ignites the cauldron. Finale from ‘Pirogov’, composed by Dmitri Shostakovich
Synopsis: The flame, the O lym pic sym bol o f peace, enters the stadium and ignites the cauldron. (1906-1975), arranged by John Psathas.
(1906-1975), arranged by John Psathas,
i
BACKGROUND NOTES m
BACKGROUND NOTES
m The Cauldron
m The Cauldron, designed by Santiago Calatrava. is 31

metres long and 4.7 metres in circumference.
'T m id m Santiago Calatrava

In addition to designing the cauldron and leading the
m redesign o f the entire O A K A complex, M r Calatrava
has impressive previous Olym pic experience, having
m w on fame fo r the stunning communications to w e r he

designed fo r the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games.
5. Torchbearer 4 continues around the track 6. Torchbearer 5 continues around the track
m The O lym pic Flame
In ancient Olympia, a flame was ignited by the sun and
before passing the flame to Torchbearer 5. before passing the flame to Torchbearer 6. m 9. Fde then runs along an avenue created down the
length o f the field o f play, through the athletes.
10. As Torchbearer 7 runs, the cauldron
pivots downwards. then kept burning until the closing o f th e Olympic
Games.
m The flame first appeared in the modern Olympics at
m the 1929 Amsterdam Olympic Games.
m In 1936, the chairman o f the organizing com m ittee fo r

the 1936 Olympic Games, Carl Diem, proposed w hat is
now the modern Olympic Torch relay.
m
A parabolic m irro r is used to catch the heat o f the su n
m light the Olympic flame at the ancient site o f Olympia.
The Olympic Torch is then passed from runner to
m runner from Olympia to th e Olympic stadium o f the
host city.
m The flame is then kept alight until the Games have
m concluded.
7. Torchbearer 6 continues around the track

before passing the flame to Torchbearer 7.
8. Torchbearer 7 located in fro n t o f the C hoir •
Stage presents the torch to the audience.
m . Torchbearer 7 ascends a staircase to m eet the
lowered cauldron.
12. He presents the flame to the crow d one last
time. Page 68
m
m

16. The Lighting o f the Cauldron (Duration: oo:07:io) MUSIC 17. Finale (Duration: 00:09:I0) MUSIC
Synopsis: The flame, the O lym pic sym bol o f peace, enters the stadium and ignites the cauldron. Synopsis: Pyrotechnics lig h t up the sky.
Finale from 'Pirogov’, composed by Dmitri Shostakovich • 'Fos' (‘Light’), variation in the Finale from ‘Pirogov’ by
(1906-1975), arranged by John Psathas, Dmitri Shostacovich, arranged by John Psathas.
• ‘Peristeri’ (‘Dove’) song remix o f ‘Eia Pare mou ti Lipi'
(‘Come to take away my sorrow') by Manos Hatzidakis,
lyrics by Nikos Gatsos. Composed and arranged by
Konstantinos Vita.
BACKGROUND NOTES
BACKGROUND NOTES
13. Then he approaches the cauldron and lights it, 14. The lit cauldron reverses its motion and the
creating a bridge between the ground and f]ame is i^ g d skywards,
the sky; between 'matter' and ‘spirit’.
I. As the cauldron reaches its final position a 2. The Cerem ony concludes,
pyrotechnics display fills the air.

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2004 Athens Opening Media Guide

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Games o f the XXVIII Olympiad

Friday August 13, 2004

Opening Ceremony Media Guide

Source : Centre d'études olympiques - bibliothèque

Unique Games on a Human Scale

Source : Centre d'études olympiques - bibliothèque

Past Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies - Some Facts Page 8

Ë Overview o f the Olym pic Stadium Page 19

A Message from the Artistic D irector Page 20

b The Opening Ceremony: Page 22

Source : Centre d'études olympiques - bibliothèque

Visual support (where relevant) Ë

Ë fo r a productive collaboration between ATHENS 2004 and the global press.

g will be a re-introduction o f Greece to the world.

W e look forward to working w ith you to make it a success.

Source : Centre d'études olympiques - bibliothèque

1900 - Games o f the II Olympiad, Paris, France

1904 - Games o f the III Olympiad, St Louis, Missouri, USA

1908, Games o f the IV Olympiad, London, England

• The Games w ere declared open by King Gustav o f Sweden.

1916 - Games o f the VI Olympiad

• The Games w ere not held due to W o rld W a r I.

1920 - Games o f the VII Olympiad, A ntw erp, Belgium

• The Games were declared open by King A lb ert I.

Source : Centre d'études olympiques - bibliothèque

I960 - Games o f the XVII Olympiad, Rome, Italy

• The Games were declared open by President Giovanni Gronchi.

Source : Centre d'études olympiques - bibliothèque

Co-Lighting Designer and D ire cto r Producer

Mass Choreographer - Parade o f A thletes Music Producer

Costum e Designer Associate Producer - Cast

Source : Centre d'études olympiques - bibliothèque

Source : Centre d'études olympiques - bibliothèque

Source : Centre d'études olympiques - bibliothèque

Source : Centre d'études olympiques - bibliothèque

10. Video screen 2

Source : Centre d'études olympiques - bibliothèque

Opening Ceremony Programme Summary ft

N B ; Stadium gates open 17:30:00 ft

Source : Centre d'études olympiques - bibliothèque

11. A reti Ketime performs ‘N ever on a Sunday'. Pass th e Flame1

Source : Centre d'études olympiques - bibliothèque

BACKGROUND NOTES BACKGROUND NOTES

T o the Greek philosopher Thalis (c.640 - c.540 BC),

Olym pic Rings

Every flag in the w orld features at least one o f the five

The ancient stadium o f Olympia will also play host to

Source : Centre d'études olympiques - bibliothèque

BACKGROUND NOTES BACKGROUND NOTES

Manos Hatzidakis (1925 -1994)

Everyone is un ite d b y one heartbeat rhythm ; Navy Band

Source : Centre d'études olympiques - bibliothèque

• 'Fanfare I’, com posed by John Psathas

In 1996 Mrs Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, was appointed President o f the ATHENS

In ancient tim e s th e o live w re a th was th e ultim ate prize fo r a

Source : Centre d'études olympiques - bibliothèque

Centaur K ouros f6th C e n tu ry B Q

Source : Centre d'études olympiques - bibliothèque

Source : Centre d'études olympiques - bibliothèque

Individuality is born and art becomes inspired by nature

2. Prince w ith Lilies

4. Ayia Triada Sarcophagus

Source : Centre d'études olympiques - bibliothèque

BACKGROUND NOTES BACKGROUND NOTES