"An era can be said to end when its basic illusions are exhausted." - Arthur Miller

Sunday, August 12, 2012

NBC Olympics Opening Intro and Closing Ceremony Credit Montages

Update: Updated post for 2014 Sochi Olympics is here.

I love watching the Olympics. I like the drama of it, I like seeing the close races, the victories and more. While I feel for those that lose, what I really love about the Olympics is the pure joy of victory and pride. If you think about it, how much real joy do you see in life each day, month or even year? During the Olympics for two weeks we get to see that expression of pure joy over and over and over again. I am not ashamed to say it brings tears to my eyes, especially when see the athletes' family and friends react with their own moments of joy. It is a wonderful to watch and just makes me look forward to the next Olympics two years later.

In the United States, the Olympics Games television rights are owned by NBC (starting in 1988 for Summer Games, 2002 for Winter Games). Their many hours of coverage always begins with a poetic introduction that shows off the host country and ends with their Olympics Closing Ceremony credit montage that summarizes the games in spectacular fashion. The credits montage is something I look forward to as Olympics fatigue sets in. With the 2012 London Olympic Games coming to a close today, it seemed like a good time to look at NBC Olympic intros and closing montages over the years in reverse order.

NBC Olympic Closing Credit Montages
2012 London Summer Olympics Closing Credit Montage
Not online yet.
Music Credits: "Finale" by Randy Edelman from movie "Dragonheart"; "Titan's Spirit" by Trevor Rabin from movie "Remember the Titans"

2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Closing Credit Montage
Music Credits: "Finale" by Randy Edelman from movie "Dragonheart"; "Titan's Spirit" by Trevor Rabin from movie "Remember the Titans"

2008 Beijing Summer Olympics Closing Credits Montage
"Finale" by Randy Edelman from movie "Dragonheart"; "Titan's Spirit" by Trevor Rabin from movie "Remember the Titans"

2006 Turin Winter Olympics Closing Credits Montage
Embed disabled by uploader, click link above to view.
Music Credits: "Finale" by Randy Edelman from movie "Dragonheart"; "Titan's Spirit" by Trevor Rabin from movie "Remember the Titans"

2004 Athens Summer Olympics Closing Credits Montage
Music Credits: "Finale" by Randy Edelman from movie "Dragonheart"; "Titan's Spirit" by Trevor Rabin from movie "Remember the Titans"

2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics Closing Credits Montage
Embed disabled by uploader, click link above to view.
Music Credits: "Finale" by Randy Edelman from movie "Dragonheart"; "Titan's Spirit" by Trevor Rabin from movie "Remember the Titans"

2000 Sydney Summer Olympics Closing Credits Montage
Unable to find

1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics Closing Credits Montage
Music Credits: "Ode to Joy" by Beethoven; "Main Title" by Randy Edelman from movie "Gettysburg"

NBC Olympic Opening Ceremony Intros
2012 London Summer Olympics Opening Intro
Unable to embed (goes from 0:00 to 5:30)
Music Credits: unknown

2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Opening Intro
Music Credits: "Fatal Fantasy" by Lorne Balfe (Oswin MacKintosh)

2008 Beijing Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony Intro
Music Credits: "Reunited" by Alan Silvestri from movie Van Helsing; "Sector 6" by Steve Jablonsky from movie The Island; "The Brave Shall Rise" by Immediate Music

2006 Torino Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony Intro
Music Credits: "Onward to Glory (Choir)" by The Immediate; "My Name is Lincoln" by Steve Jablonsky from movie "The Island"

2004 Athens Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony Intro
Music Credits: "End Credits" by John Williams from movie "Jurassic Park"

2002 Salt Lake City Opening Ceremonies Intro
Music Credits: first part unknown; "Suite from Forrest Gump" by Alan Silvestri from movie "Forrest Gump"

2000 Sydney Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony Intro
Music Credits: "The Decision to Turn Around" by James Horner from movie "The Perfect Storm"; "Bugler's Dream" by John Williams

1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony Intro
Music Credits: "America" by Neil Diamond; "Bugler's Dream" by John Williams

7 comments:

  1. Do you know what piece(s) played just before the final montage, while Costas was narrating his thoughts on the Games?

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  2. Sorry no idea. Have a link so can here it again, might get lucky and be familiar to me.

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  3. Add that I only heard it once. The replay got cut off so didn't get it a second time. #NBCFail

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  4. Do you have any of the opening sequences that NBC plays with Bugler's Dream playing in the background? I remember one showing Barcelona, and it was sweet. Same for the one for Beijing. But I can't find them anywhere on the net.

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    1. Nope sorry. NBC guards that stuff with a little too much zealotry. I am surprised I was able to find what I did for this post at the time.

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  5. Do you know the music played during the 2nd half of this opening video for the 2004 Summer Olympics http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW02t94W6Mg

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    1. I have now able to identify the music for 2004 Opening: "Salvation For A Proud Nation" by Immediate Music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-i8Le-bicI

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