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A look back: Opening ceremony at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta

19 Jul 1996: Silhouettes of ancient greek athletes during the Opening Ceremony of the 1996 Olympic G 19 Jul 1996: Silhouettes of ancient greek athletes during the Opening Ceremony of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. \ Mandatory Credit: David Taylor /Allsport (David Taylor/Getty Images)

85,600 people packed Centennial Olympic Stadium.

Another 3.5 billion watched around the world.

19 Jul 1996: Children form the Olympic Rings and the figure 100 to represent the Centennial Olympic 19 Jul 1996: Children form the Olympic Rings and the figure 100 to represent the Centennial Olympic Games during the Opening Ceremony of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. \ Mandatory Credit: John Gichigi /Allsport (John Gichigi /Allsport/Getty Images)

Atlanta welcomed the world’s best athletes to the Peach State on July 19, 1996 for the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics.

Memorable Moments:

19 Jul 1996: Juan Antonio Samaranch, left, President Clinton and Billy Payne, right, President of A 19 Jul 1996: Juan Antonio Samaranch, left, President Clinton and Billy Payne, right, President of ACOG, during the Opening Ceremony of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. \ Mandatory Credit: Ross Kinnaird /Allsport (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

President Bill Clinton officially opened the 1996 Summer Olympics. He wasn’t the only President in attendance. Former President Jimmy Carter was there. Future President Donald Trump was, too.

Evander Holyfield & Voula Patoulidou 19 Aug 1996: A general view of Boxing Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield of the United States and Voula Patoulidou of Greece running together with the torch during the Opening Ceremony of the 1996 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Evander Holyfield carried the Olympic flame into the stadium. After entering, he was joined by Greece’s Voula Patoulidou. The pairing represented a bridge between the first Olympic Games in Greece and the Summer Games in Atlanta. The duo passed the torch to swimmer Janet Evans.

Olympian Janet Evans remembers 1996 torch handoff to Muhammad Ali Janet Evans won almost everything there was to win in swimming, including five Olympic medals. To her though, the highlight of her career came 25 years ago to the day when she passed the Olympic torch to boxing legend Muhammad Ali. (Getty Images)

Evans took a lap around the track before passing the flame to boxing great and former Olympic gold medalist Muhammad Ali who lit the Olympic cauldron.

No. 10 - Muhammad Ali holds the torch before lighting the Olympic Flame during the Opening Ceremony of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 19, 1996. (Mandatory Credit: Michael Cooper/Allsport)

Ali was the 10,000th and final person to carry the Olympic torch on its journey from Los Angeles to Atlanta.

Celine Dion 19 Aug 1996: A general view of the festivities going on during the Opening Ceremony of the 1996 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Singers Celine Dion and Gladys Knight were among those singing at the opening ceremony. Knight sang “Georgia On My Mind.”

Olympics Opening Ceremony 19 Jul 1996: The team from the USA enter the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Mandatory Credit: Simon Bruty /Allsport (Simon Bruty/Getty Images)

The United States delegation included 700 athletes and was the final country to enter the stadium. Wrestler Bruce Baumgartner, a four-time Olympic champion, served as flagbearer.


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