Olympic opening ceremonies from Paris to Beijing – in pictures

Paris 1924: a scene during the parade at the opening ceremony Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images

London 1948: a view of the opening ceremony in Wembley Stadium
Photograph: S&G/EMPICS

London 1948: the torchbearer, the last of the runners bringing the flame from Greece, arrives at Wembley Stadium Photograph: Getty Images

Montreal 1976: a general view of the opening ceremony in the Canadian city Photograph: Tony Duffy/Getty Images

Moscow 1980: hundreds of Russian gymnasts take part in a display Photograph: Heinz Kluetmeier/Getty Images/Time & Life Picture

Moscow 1980: the crowd creates a portrait of Lenin while a hammer and sickle and human pyramids are formed on the ground Photograph: Tony Duffy/Getty Images

Los Angeles 1984: a performer wearing a jetpack flies around the stadium Photograph: Tony Duffy/Getty Images

Los Angeles 1984: the man in a jetpack floats above the crowd Photograph: Popperfoto

Barcelona 1992: the crowd at the opening ceremony
Photograph: Sporting Pictures

Atlanta 1996: Muhammad Ali holds the torch before lighting the Olympic flame Photograph: Michael Cooper/Getty Images

Atlanta 1996: the US city's Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Sydney 2000: a torchbearer lights a flaming ring
Photograph: Frank Baron for the Guardian

Beijing 2008: drummers perform at the opening ceremony Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Beijing 2008: dancers in illuminated suits
Photograph: Tony Duffy/Getty Images