1984 Summer Olympics opening ceremony

A countdown clock was used in the stadium to announce the commencement of the ceremony. Church bells and cannons rang thru-out the city to announce the start of the games.

The official ceremony started with the first segment titled "Welcome", a song written by Marvin Hamlisch and Dean Pitchford. Over 1000 volunteers held large five foot balloons with a large ribbon banner each attached with the word Welcome written in over 100 languages spoken in Los Angeles. Bill Suitor by means of the Bell Aerosystems rocket pack (also known as a Jet Pack) flew from the peristyle to the track on the south end. The performers formed the word "welcome" on the field, sky writers typed the word welcome in the sky and various (flower girls) volunteers passed out flowers to the crowd in the aisles.[2]

After the song, the balloons were released into the air. Dignitaries were introduced.

• IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch and the President of the United States. Hail to the Chief was played to introduce President Reagan followed by The United States National Anthem.

Los Angeles produced an artistic interpretation of the American lifestyle and music called Music of America. The first sequence opened with American Suite performed by an 800-member marching band consisting of local colleges. They performed American style marching sequences and marching precision.[1]

The second segment depicted the American west at the turn of the 20th century. The segment called Pioneer Spirit consisted of 410 member ballet group performing a Hoe-Down dance sequence with props depicting wagons, old west towns and varies props.

The third segment called Dixieland Jamboree depicted a traditional southern U.S., 300 member gospel choir led by Etta James singing "When the Saints Go Marching In".

The fourth song played and depicted in the program was Urban Rhapsody'. Music played was George Gershwin's American classic "Rhapsody in Blue". From the Coliseum's peristyles, 85 grand pianos appeared. Followed by the orchestra and over 200 dancers.

Followed immediately by The World Stage, a 1940s big band orchestra medley featuring songs mostly from Broadway, the movies and pop charts. Among the songs heard in this segment were "Sing, Sing, Sing", "Steppin' Out with My Baby" from Easter Parade, "One" from A Chorus Line, the theme from Fame, and the Michael Jackson hit "Beat It". Joining the orchestra were 1500 dancers.

The fifth and final segment ends with the entire cast dancing and forming the outlined map of the United States to the strains of "America the Beautiful".[1][3]

The coliseum seats each had a card placed under the seats of the crowd. At the count of three, each attendant flipped the card to the sky and the crowd produced a card stunt, showing all the participants flags.

John Williams performed his dedicated theme to the games. Olympic Fanfare and Theme. Volunteer performers enter the stadium marching with white Olympic flags. They perform the 1984 Olympic logo. Stars in Motion outline on the field.

The Antwerp flag was then present to Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley as Bradley was not present at the closing ceremonies of the 1980 Moscow games four years earlier.

The parade of 140 National Olympic Committees began with Greece, as tradition.[1] Speeches are made by LAOOC President Peter Ueberroth and IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch.

The first time a sitting US president officially opened the games in person. President Ronald Reagan declared the competition officially open.

The Olympic Flag entered the stadium. The Olympic Hymn is played with the instrumental version. Homing Pigeons were released.[1][4]

The same cauldron was used as in the 1932 Summer Games. The orchestra played The Olympian composed and conducted by Philip Glass.[5] The torch entered the stadium carried by Rafer Johnson, he completed a lap as mechanical steps rise from the center of the peristyles. He climbed the stairs and stood and faced the crowd as The Olympian was still being played. After a minute, he lit the gas powered Olympic rings that connect with the Olympic cauldron. The flame was lit to the cheers from the crowd. The athlete and judges oaths were taken and a children's chorus appeared. They performed Ode to Joy.[1]

All athletes were requested to sing along as the words were displayed on the screens surrounding the stadium. A local teacher Vicki McClure led the crowd in Diana Ross song Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand). All the volunteers, athletes, the audience in attendance, and cast members dressed in traditional native dress from all over the world joined in. On the big screens, various children are seen also joining in hand to hand gestures singing along to the song in Japan, Australia, Africa, and Latin America. A large fireworks finale followed.[1]