Which one has been your favorite opening ceremony of the Olympic Games and why?

i'm 13 i only saw this one!

I couldn't give you a completely straight answer. Each has its amazing moments.

I loved the Stockmen of Sydney 2000 - but the Tai Chi masters of Beijing were breath taking surrounded by those huge LCD Panels. If I were to pick a torch lighting it would be Barcelona - which was phenomenal, but Beijing's would come a fantastic second in aesthetics.

Even then, some of the much older ones without all the technology were special in their own way - and all of them have that same problem, both having brilliance and not so brilliant. I could not possibly pick one from all of them as the best because they were all so very different and unique to their origins.

Edit: Karen, I've had a lot of experience with the "Athens Groupies" on YouTube. Apparently the world revolves around Greece and we are all 'jealous' of them and their 'magnificent show that is second to none'. Don't dare disagree with them, lest ye be an 'unintelligent, uneducated clown'.

And try as I might, I simply could not bring myself to put in their spelling mistakes there.

They are probably the reason that I cant think of one thing I liked about Athens *shrugs*.

I liked the Athens Olympics the best. They gave a tribute to the ancient Olympics and emphasized the ancient spirit of competition. The Beijing Olympics didn't even mention ancient Greece or the ancient Olympics in any way, shape or form. What a disgrace. I think the Beijing Olympics should be known as the LED Olympics. How selfish of China to discuss their ancient history and mention nothing of Greece!! Giving some credit to Greece is necessary because Greece created the Olympics. This is common courtesy and respect, and has nothing to do with pleasing the viewer like Karen C. thinks. Obviously she needs a History lesson.

Opening ceremonies are always impressive but I would have to say this Olympics has had my favorite ceremony because of just how much it put me in awe. Like when they had the "type-press" show with all the moving "buttons" and it turned out to be people controlling them to make the patterns. Moments like that just bewildered me on how they choreographed everything made this opening ceremony my favorite.

With technology advancing at warp speed, each opening ceremony will be more technically advanced than the one before it. What makes them all so memorable is the history and culture of the hosting city and country. It also makes each one unique so it becomes impossible to pick a favourite but easier to pick favourite moments I think. I have favourite moments from each one I have seen. With all the political wrangling that we are subjected to, it is easy to forget that people outside our own borders are just a lot like we are - artistically talented, and capable of being good hosts to the world.

I have to wonder at people like Blue Surf - had the Chinese done a part on Greece, would he have been in here asking why they are highlighting something that is not Chinese in nature. Somehow, I think he would have. Some people can never be pleased. Fortunately for those who can be pleased, the various nations of the world have not let us down. Each one has given us a fabulous show.

China's by far! Absolutely amazing as far as synchronized and perfect presentation goes! I've never seen such an amazing opening ceremony and the fireworks are always amazing, after all China was the first to invent them ;]

i watched 2004 athens and 2008 beijing.

i liked the beijing one the best, not just because i'm chinese, but because i think they did a great job of meshing together their ancient history with modern day aspects

i dont remember the previous ones