Part 2 - LA84 Foundation

13. Opening, Closing and
Victory Ceremonies
406
"These Olympics are a milestone for
Koreans who have accomplished
great things and for all the peaceloving
people of the world as we head
toward the 21st century. All people of
all nations that cherish the noble spirit
of the Olympics, share with us the
glory of these Games.
"I wish to express my heartfelt
gratitude to the Korean people and to
the entire Olympic family who have so
diligently supported the Seoul Olympic
Games. These Games will serve as a
sign of the wonders we can accomplish
together as we build a better
future for all nations.
"Now, it is my great honor to introduce
the President of the International
Olympic Committee, Mr. Juan Antonio
Samaranch, a true leader of the
Olympic movement and a champion of
world peace."
Park Seh-jik, President of the Seoul
Olympic Organizing Committee
Welcoming address
"Welcome to the athletes of the world!
"After seven years of preparation,
difficulties and hope, we are finally
gathered in this wonderful Olympic
Stadium to celebrate together the
solemn opening of this great festival of
friendship and peace: The Olympic
Games.
"One hundred and sixty National
Olympic Committees, a record number
in the history of Olympic participation,
and 25 International Federations, are
here today in the City of Seoul demonstrating
once more to the world the
strength and unity of our Olympic
Movement.
"May these Games be held in the true
spirit of sports and Olympism, that is
fraternity, friendship, and fair play.
Peace and understanding are wishes
shared by many around the world. Let
me thank you all, athletes, officials,
media representatives and spectators,
both here and at home, for the part
you have played in making the Olympic
Movement one of the most effective
forces in this regard.
"Finally, on behalf of everyone, I
should like to express our most
sincere thanks to all members of the
Organizing Committee who have
spared no efforts to ensure the perfect
staging of these Games, and our
warmest appreciation to the people of
Korea for their hospitality and
generosity. Kamsa Hammida!
"It is now my great honor to invite His
Excellency Roh Tae Woo, President of
the Republic of Korea, to proclaim the
Games of the XXIVth Olympiad in
Seoul open."
Juan Antonio Samaranch, President of
International Olympic Committee
At 12:11 p.m. President Roh Tae Woo
stood up smiling and declared the
Games open: "I hereby declare the
Seoul Olympic Games, the 24th
Games of the modern Olympiad, to be
open." After the declaration, a placard
section, in which all the spectators
participated, followed, showing
"Harmony" and "Progress."
At 12:13 p.m. eight Korean gold
medalists from in the previous Olympic
Games entered the stadium holding
the Olympic Flag, led by a 103member
Chuitadae, an ancient Korean
military band. The Olympic Flag was
handed over to six persons and was
hoisted high to the Olympic Anthem.
At that time, 2,400 white pigeons
soared to the sky as symbols of freedom
and peace.
The 100,000 spectators who were
watching the Olympic Flag and the
pigeons spotted the Olympic torch
bearer who was just coming in through
the South Gate and burst into cheers
and applause. It was 12:21 p.m. The
torch made a debut at the Opening
Ceremonies after a long trip which
started at 11 a.m., August 23, in
Greece. The torch was lit at the
Temple of Hera in Olympia, the birthplace
of the ancient Olympics, by the
solar heat. The torch was relayed from
Athens to Bangkok air-borne and
landed on Cheju Island at 11 a.m.,
August 27, and after running 4,167.8
kilometers across the country for 21
nights and 22 days appeared at the
Opening Ceremonies.
The 75-year-old, former Olympic gold
medalist Sohn Kee-chung brought in
the torch into the stadium and handed
it over to Im Chun-ae, a woman
sprinter and triple gold medalist in
Seoul Asian Games. After running the
track once, Im passed the torch to Kim
Won-tak, Chong Son-man and Son Mijong.
They stood under the cauldron.
At a height of 22 meters the stand
stood without having any steps or
stairs that might help the torch carriers
reach it. While the spectators were
curious about the method of lighting,
the three people were carried slowly
up by a lift. The spectators were
happily surprised by the selection of
the three less-known young torch carriers
and the operation of the lift and
shouted hurrahs and cheers. An overflowing
feeling of excitement filled the
air as the spectators' cheers mingled
with the music created by a computerized
system whose sound effect was
very much like the simultaneous playing
of 7,000 trumpets.
Then athletes Huh Jae and Son Mi-na
and judge Lee Hak-rae took Olympic
oaths. At 12:31 p.m. the whole
audience stood up and sang the
national anthem of Korea together.
From 12:33 p.m. the athletes exited
fast through the South and North
Gates.
Epilogue
(post-official ceremony events)
After the official ceremony, seven
performances were staged offering the
spectators another wonderful set of
entertainment and thought-provoking
events. The seven works were titled "A
Great Day," "Chaos," "Beyond All
Barriers," "Silence," "New Sprouts,"
"Harmony" and "One World."
At 12:48 p.m. a recreation of "A Great
Day" when the world of human beings
dawned and when all people on earth
lived happily in peace was performed
by 800 dancers. At that time, the skies
were studded by colorful dots of
parachutes. Fifty-two foreign
parachutists belonging to the International
Parachutists Association and 22
Korean parachutists were falling from
a height of 4,000 meters to the
Olympic Stadium which is only 830
meters round, presenting the viewers
with a thrilling circus. At the stadium,
the music "Korea Fantasia"
composed by the late Ahn Ik-tay was
played as if welcoming the
parachutists.
The parachutists were received by 800
performers of "Cha-il" (Tent) Dance
and were turned into sunshades
surrounded by the dancers' blue
cloths. At 12:55 p.m. the scene
changed to a fantastic stage of Flower
Dance performed by 1,450 students of
Taedong Commercial High School and
Yomgwang Girls Commercial High
School, expressing the yearning for
peace created by the harmony of the
heaven and earth.