Opening ceremony of Athens Olympic

2004-08-14  

The opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games starts at 20:45 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004.(Xinhua Photo)

The opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games starts at 20:45 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004.(Xinhua Photo)

The opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games starts at 20:45 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. The Olympic Games returned to their ancient birthplace and the city of their revival. (Xinhua Photo)

The opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games starts at 20:45 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004.(Xinhua Photo)

The opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games starts at 20:45 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004.(Xinhua Photo)

The opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games starts at 20:45 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004.(Xinhua Photo)

The Olympic rings are lit by the pyrotechnic 'comet' which flew to the water pool during the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. (Xinhua Photo)

The Olympic rings are lit by the pyrotechnic 'comet' which flew to the water pool during the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. (Xinhua Photo)

The Olympic rings are lit by the pyrotechnic 'comet' which flew to the water pool during the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. (Xinhua Photo)

Fireworks are shown at the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games starts at 20:45 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. (Xinhua Photo)

The Olympic rings are lit by the pyrotechnic 'comet' which flew to the water pool during the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. (Xinhua Photo)

The Olympic rings are lit by the pyrotechnic 'comet' which flew to the water pool during the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. (Xinhua Photo)

Centaur, a Greek half-man half-house mythological creature, throws a javelin towards the center of the water pool during the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. The Olympic Games returned to their ancient birthplace and the city of their revival. (Xinhua Photo)

Centaur, a Greek half-man half-house mythological creature, throws a javelin towards the center of the water pool during the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. The Olympic Games returned to their ancient birthplace and the city of their revival. (Xinhua Photo)

Eros(God of Love) flies over the Clepsydra parade during the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. The Olympic Games returned to their ancient birthplace and the city of their revival. (Xinhua Photo)

Eros(God of Love) presents a flower to the Kore at the Clepsydra parade during the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. The Kore and her male equivalent the Kouros are eternal symbols of youth and beauty. The Olympic Games returned to their ancient birthplace and the city of their revival. (Xinhua Photo)

Fireworks are shown at the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games starts at 20:45 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. (Xinhua Photo)

Clepsydra parade during the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004.(Xinhua Photo)

Clepsydra parade during the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004.(Xinhua Photo)

Clepsydra parade during the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004.(Xinhua Photo)

Clepsydra parade during the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004.(Xinhua Photo)

The Olympic Delegation of the People's Republic of China parades into the stadium during the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. The Olympic Games returned to their ancient birthplace and the city of their revival. (Xinhua Photo)

Fireworks are shown at the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games starts at 20:45 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. (Xinhua Photo)

Fireworks are shown at the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games starts at 20:45 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. (Xinhua Photo)

The Olympic rings are lit by the pyrotechnic 'comet' which flew to the water pool during the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. (Xinhua Photo)

Chinese famous basketball player Yao Ming holds Chinese national flag after the Olympic Delegation of the People's Republic of China parades into the stadium during the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. The Olympic Games returned to their ancient birthplace and the city of their revival. (Xinhua Photo)

Fertility Goddess is shown at the Clepsydra parade during the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. The Olympic Games returned to their ancient birthplace and the city of their revival. (Xinhua Photo)

Constantinos Stephanopoulos, president of the Hellenic Republic, is shown on the screen while announcing the opening of the 28th Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. The Olympic Games returned to their ancient birthplace and the city of their revival. (Xinhua Photo)

Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, president of Athens Organizing Committee of 2004 Olympic Games, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. The Olympic Games returned to their ancient birthplace and the city of their revival. (Xinhua Photo)

Atlanta Mistral gold winner Nikolaos Kaklamanakis lights the pivoted down Olympic flame cauldron near the end of the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. The Olympic Games returned to their ancient birthplace and the city of their revival. (Xinhua Photo)

The Olympic cauldron is lit near the end of the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. The Olympic Games returned to their ancient birthplace and the city of their revival. (Xinhua Photo)

The Olympic cauldron is lit near the end of the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. The Olympic Games returned to their ancient birthplace and the city of their revival. (Xinhua Photo)

Jacques Rogge, president of International Olympic Committee, delivers a speech while Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, president of Athens Organizing Committee of 2004 Olympic Games, looks on at the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. The Olympic Games returned to their ancient birthplace and the city of their revival. (Xinhua Photo)

The opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games closes in fireworks blossoms at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. (Xinhua Photo/Wang Yan)

The opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games closes in fireworks blossoms at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. (Xinhua Photo)

A torchbearer is shown before the Olympic cauldron is lit at the end of the opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. The Olympic Games returned to their ancient birthplace and the city of their revival. (Xinhua Photo)

The opening ceremony of the 28th Olympic Games closes with fireworks blown at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, Aug.13, 2004. The Olympic Games returned to their ancient birthplace and the city of their revival. (Xinhua Photo)