benhamin3d Says:

Aug 8, 2008 - this is for me by far the best opening of all olympics games i have seen.

7olusegun Says:

Aug 8, 2008 - This Olympics ceremony is grande and colorful; but I dont think it's as coordinate as the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

mpt1993 Says:

Aug 9, 2008 - beijing 2008 was fab, whooped every one. i love the chinese

Xone7 Says:

Aug 9, 2008 - I agree. Beijing was AMAZING. The best yet.

atlwareagle Says:

Aug 9, 2008 - i was one.. "Green Tribe!" Wacky and funny indeed.. thats what head to toe costumes in the peak of mid-summer Atlanta heat coupled with the fact we were coming off of several 13 hour dress rehearsals (noon to 1 am.. we ran the show twice.. TWICE! during all that time!) Anyway, we had like 2 or 3 of them during the last 5 or 6 days before the ceremony. It was exhilarating and exhausting all at once. Very special experience, for sure. Ill never forget it.. esp. with vids like this! :)

IloveSEANTAYLOR Says:

Aug 11, 2008 - Im so sorry but After Seing The Beijing Ceromony, Atlanta ceromony was horrible. Pure Garbage. We could ahve done better!!

CyborgNinja7 Says:

Aug 11, 2008 - You're a bit confused, biglittlekid. When your country or city hosts the Olympics, you should be honored and do your absolute best to entertain the world with a brilliant opening ceremony. Crap like this doesn't cut it. I wonder, how DO those ridiculous costumes represent American culture? Spending only TWO WEEKS to rehearse is inexcusable.

CyborgNinja7 Says:

Aug 11, 2008 - Hollywood has a lot of material that could make a brilliant and tasteful performance (not that it belongs in the Olympics). However, there was little "Hollywood" to find in this ceremony, if any. Queenmusicfreak is just equating America with Hollywood.

blackkittycat Says:

Aug 12, 2008 - lucky you. very very lucky. :)

dav242 Says:

Aug 12, 2008 - beijing had performers on an exponential level and was very clean/grandiose. but, altogether, i found it very dry - there's something beautiful about how human atlanta's opening ceremony was. it felt personal and real rather than clinically perfect, which beijing's was.

julius923 Says:

Aug 13, 2008 - I agree. It was great performance in Beijing. I think it was like comparing the parades at Walt Disney World from 1975 to 2008.

MasterSanders Says:

Aug 15, 2008 - I agree. China was trying to intimidate the world (especially with their countdown). Atlanta was Ideal for the Centennial because of it's Southern heritage. The South is part of what I call the "Cultural Axis" (meant possitively)with Italian, in which the Earth revolves around culturally. :)

sportysocrchik98 Says:

Aug 15, 2008 - Guys- this was 12 yrs ago... It was great for that time and an honor for those of us in the American South to host it- I was in school in GA at this time and had lots of friends in Olympic honours band and choir... They had to put in lots of work - some for yrs, so I think of their hardwork and sacrifice and still think of this as great... Plus seeing it in person at Olympic Stadium (Turner) was cool!!!!

queenmusicfreak86 Says:

Aug 16, 2008 - My friend i was just using the word "hollywood" to make a symbolism. I wasnt using it in strict sense. Of course there wasntindiana jones and titanic in the ceremony. I was trying to mention that this ceremony was nothing but an empty cheerful show, a parade made up only to catch the eye and not the soul or the mind. I thin i made myself more clear now.

muriel74 Says:

Aug 16, 2008 - Hi there...I was in the "Black Tribe". It was one of the greatest experiences I've ever had and I treasure each moment even the 13 hour rehearsals. It was sooooo much fun.

atlwareagle Says:

Aug 16, 2008 - Yeah it was. I do admit, though, that I have selective memory about the whole experience. I remember all the good but don't think about the bad too often. Like how we volunteered countless hrs to practice & perform, but then when a lot of us cast members started asking about whether or not we'd get some sort of video of the OC itself, practices maybe, etc.. well, NOPE! And a tshrit? HA! That was asking A LOT. Remember the crappy white shirts they gave us to shut us up about it? So cheap & ugly.

atlwareagle Says:

Aug 16, 2008 - And don't even get me started on how I couldn't even look at another bottle of Aquafina or Powerade after the OC. And how about how we had to be bussed into metro parking lots when they closed down ATL streets like a wk or 2 before the show. Then we'd get bussed from those lots into the DOME. Where we'd sit for HOURS, just to get on another bus to take us to the Olympic Stadium for practice. Then reverse and repeat that process at end of practice to go home. Plus, the 2 or 3 bomb threats we had.

atlwareagle Says:

Aug 16, 2008 - But, as much as that kind of stuff wore on my last nerve back then, its the kind of stuff that I now look back on and laugh.. it was just as much a part of that crazy "adventure" as any of the good stuff. So, muriel74, do you still have your costume? I do. I've thought about selling it if I could find a collector somewhere that would want to buy it. Haven't tried yet though. Oh, and how did you get involved? Were you part of a group or team that tried out and made it? Where are you from? :)

CyborgNinja7 Says:

Aug 18, 2008 - I think "Broadway" is better.

ugahush Says:

Aug 21, 2008 - I loved every minute of it, mostly b/c I made so many international friends. Atlanta had its critics for some reason. It was the underdog, and I think the city did very well in hosting the events.

muriel74 Says:

Aug 23, 2008 - Yes, I still have my costume. I was in a college dance company that auditioned. Some of the people in my group exchanged their masks for the hats the Australians had on during the parade of athletes (talk about stupid). I don't think I'll ever sell mine. I love it too much. I remember the powerade (which I hate) and the water being Crystal not Aquafina...stale cold cut sandwiches and granola bars and rehearsals at Tri-Cities High School. I'm from Savannah, GA and I own a dance studio.

C3H2P8 Says:

Sep 4, 2008 - I remember this part of the opening ceremony, seemed like we sat there forever waiting for it to start. I think we were there over 2 hours before they began, but well worth the experience.

newmindandsoul Says:

Sep 13, 2008 - this and the temple of zeus were the only thing good about this olympics. they were terrible. cheerleaders, and stuff a big no no

yokowich Says:

Sep 21, 2008 - Beijing the best

newmindandsoul Says:

Sep 25, 2008 - agree