Salt Lake City 2002 Opening Ceremony | Salt Lake City 2002 Replays 

20 years ago tonight, I was one of the snowflakes in the snow storm segment and a prairie girl in the American West segment. One of the top three best nights of my life. Not enough words to describe how amazing this entire ceremony was, and what a privilege and an honor it was to be have been chosen to be part of it.

Now this is how you put on an Olympic opening ceremony. I am emotional watching this again. Love the inclusion of the native tribes, the pioneers, and the audience.

Who is here after Utah is getting the 2034 Olympics

I don't know if they intended to, but it was so cool that the announcement for SLC's return to the Winter Olympics was on Pioneer Day, thus making the holiday extra special for everyone in Utah. Either way, congratulations, Salt Lake City, to having the Winter Olympics back in 2034 and like in 2002, let's light the fire within.

About 6 months after 9/11. This was great for the US to come together.

The Indian Tribes Tribute is awesome. The magnificent and beautiful adornment doesn't make their plight easy to go away and it shouldn't. God Bless ALL of them and my hopes for a wonderful better future for us all.

This gave me chills. The national anthem, the flag, the silence when it was carried in... incredible. Never forget 9/11. May God have mercy on America once more.

I'm here after the 2034 announcement and the Paris Opening Ceremony, and I must say, I miss these types of performances. So fun and unique!

The version of the USA national anthem used here was so heartfelt in the beginning and so powerful at the end! I love it!

I was lucky enough to attend this. I’d forgotten how spectacular the program was, yet nothing impacted me more than the juxtaposition of sound and silence during the flag ceremony. Quiet enough to hear a pin drop in the stadium, but above, chopper blades whirling in the dark; offering a sad reminder our world had changed forever. Airspace security for this event was unprecedented.

That roar from the American crowd for the entrance of my Australian Team was amazing!! Goes to show the deep love and unity between our two countries!

its interesting how as time passes the ceremony usually gets more and more extravagant. yet nothing can replace the simplistic and joyful olympic walk where all the teams enter the stadiums in a procession. classic.

A moment with a flag and a national anthem is so touching. I was watching this on TV 18 years ago, I remember it like it was yesterday.

By far, the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics was the best Winter Olympics ever. The pageantry, choreography, and respect for ALL nations was shown. If Salt Lake City ever puts in a bid for the Olympics again, it would be the winner hands down.

From Atlanta 1996 to Salt Lake 2002 From Los Angeles 2028 to Salt Lake 2034 Congratulations, Salt Lake City!

This was by far THE best openning ceremony I've ever seen. I enjoyed from beginning to end. The presenting of the 9-11 flag made me cry in 2002 when I first saw this and again now. Loved it!

No doubt why its on the top in ranking for winter. This whole show proves that Salt Lake 2002 is the best winter olympic opening so far. The National Anthem, Tabernacle Choir and overall production are very spiritual and mesmerizing. Great job!

I'm not american, but when they carried in the flag that flew on the world trade center was such a painfully beautiful moment wow

This brings back so many fond memories. I was living in Salt Lake and was present at Washingn Square when the IOC President opened the envelope to announce Salt Lake had won. We heard him say "Salt..." and that was it, all those emotions burst forth. I lived in SLC during the run to the Games and saw the 1996 Torch Relay come through including the overnight stop in Washington Square. I was honored to be a volunteer for Salt Lake (go Team 2002!), the first of three Olympics that I was a volunteer for. The 2002 Opening Ceremony had all everything you need for a great opener and it delivered. As a Native American, the section honoring Utah's Five Nations always brings tears. I will carry those positive vibes with me when it's my turn to pass on.

Binge watching the Beijing, Athens, Atlanta, Salt Lake City and London Olympics Opening Ceremonies again, after watching the Paris 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony.

This opening ceremony won seven Emmy Awards

I was in that stadium and it was truly magical. The Olympics and its tradition is something the world needs now. These games I can say without a doubt changed my life!

We are very grateful to Olympic Channel making our quarentine happier with amazing ceremonies

It's been 20 years now and I still remember those wonderful times. As if it were yesterday, it's a pity you can't turn back time. It was one of the best Olympic Games.

SLC '02 has been the the high standard of ceremonies to me. The spirit, visuals, and music are on point!

The Salt Lake 2002's emblem consisted of a snowflake, which consisted of three separate sections. The yellow top section symbolizes the Olympic Flame, and represents the athletes' courage. The orange centre section symbolizes the ancient weaving styles of Utah's Native Americans, and represents the region's culture. The blue/purple bottom section symbolizes a snow-capped mountain, and represents the contrast of Utah's mountain and desert areas. The orange/yellow colours above the blue/purple bottom section also gave the appearance of a sun rising from behind a mountain. The text "SALT LAKE 2002" in black, with the Olympic rings below the wordmark.

One of my favorite ceremonies... Salt Lake 2002 had been so much anticipated for me that year, but sadly in my country, they didn't broadcat the ceremony live and just aired some 30 minutes highlights. That was so frustrating for me!!!... Years later . Thanks RU-vid, I could watch the full ceremony... And I still think that Salt Lake was for the Winter Games what Barcelona was for the Summer Games... The closing ceremony also is one of my favorite closing ceremonies ever, for both summer and winter games (hope you to upload the closing ceremony, too)... In my country the closing ceremony was broadcasted live when it had already started... so, we missed the first 20 minutes or so... it was aired almost complete and live...

It's interesting to see the difference in the performances of the U.S. anthem pre and post-9/11. It was a unique position where the U.S. played host to a Summer and Winter Olympic Games, separated by six years and that something between drastically changed the scope of the event. Looking back on the Atlanta 1996 opening ceremony, it was the complete opposite of the word "restraint". There were red, white and blue banners, fireworks cracking between verses and the Blue Angels flying overhead. Extravagant, but most definitely the America we all know and love. The World Trade Centre attacks effectively levelled the context of American pride for a while after. The event showed that even the lofty heights of the United States could be made vulnerable, and the nation was in dire need of healing. The presence of the flag flown at Ground Zero gave some real gravitas and context for what happened in just the months prior. The entrance of the flag to complete silence and the fact it was carried in by athletes and not military members sold the impact it had on American society. The ripped, but still whole condition of the Ground Zero flag also represented the state of America around this time too; a nation grieving and in distress, but still united and unwilling to allow victory to those who seek out deliberate harm to others and the destruction of peace for their own agenda. Otherwise, the two ceremonies had the same variant of the anthem and the hand-over-heart salutes. So, the basic structure of the anthem was still solid. Looking back, It's pretty fascinating to see how just six years of context can change how the two ceremonies started.

Anyone here because of the 2034 bid ?

Who’s here after the announcement?

I live in Southern Utah next to Zion's national park when this all happened, when i was 10 years old we watched the Olympic torch go through Zions nation park i was next to one of the handoff areas and after the flame was passed on to the next runner the previous runner saw me who still had the torch and gave it to me to hold not sure why but i had a picture taken of me holding it and my parents tried to hold it too but the officials intervened and wouldn't let them touch it nobody but me. I had no idea how rare of an opportunity i just had that few people ever have on this earth, what a crazy thing to think about now that i am 29 almost 30.

1:54:52 I feel that of all his Olympic themes, John Williams wanted to uplift the nation after 9/11 as much as celebrate the champions. It always gives me such chills hearing this performance.

I barely got to watch this ceremony when it was originally broadcast. It was at a noisy party where half the attendees didn't even care about what was going on. Finally being able to not only relive the opening ceremony from my home city's games in its entirety (including all the parts the party made me miss) but see it presented with no commercial breaks, no cuts and no obnoxious NBC commentary is something I never thought I'd see in my lifetime... So to the IOC member that approved this upload, *THANK YOU...*

I forgot how beautiful this opening ceremony was.

Congratulations Salt Lake City 2034!!!

This without a doubt was the most beautiful, emotional opening ceremony of any winter olympics I have ever seen. For once we acknowledged our Native brothers and sisters and let them chant, dance, and sing their hearts out. And at 1:16:14 the magic begins.

This opening ceremony has it all. Solemnity, tradition, music, symbolism, brotherhood, artistic drama, patriotism, sports, culture, and fun. It was also stunning while being very simplistic. A really, really excellent job.

You can hear a pin drop when the flag from the World Trade Center was being carried into the stadium.

Found out recently that my uncle was one of the drivers who drove the morman tabernacle choir to the opening ceremony!!!

0:52 Began in Above 1:30 Memorial Olympic From Charmonix 1924 to Salt Lake City 2002 3:21 2002 Salt Lake City 7:59 National Anthem of USA Star Spangled Banner 1:08:15 USA 2:07:09 Inauguration 2:29:34 Obor On 2:35:59 Formation 2:37:17 Ending

So nice to finally see the full version of the opening ceremonies!! I was at these games but was very disappointed in the US network's water downed and edited version of these ceremonies. I can finally relive the entire ceremonies as like when we were there!! thanks Olympic channel!

This is the best winter Olympics opening I have ever watched. So moving

Those were the last olympic games that took place in the US so far. USA is the nation that hosted the most of the olympiads throughout history (4 summer games in 1904,1932,1984,1996 and 4 winter games in 1932,1960,1980,2002) with a total of 8 Olympic games. If the 2028 olympiad thakes place (in the times we're living, we're never sure), USA will be the only country to have hosted 9 olympiads, and the only country to have hosted 5 summer olympiads. The other countries that had the most olympiads are the following: -France: 5 olympiads (2 Summer in 1900,1924 and 3 Winter in 1924,1968,1992). This number will reach 6 if the 2024 Paris games does take place. -United Kingdom: 3 Olympiads (3 summer in 1908,1948,2012) -Italy: 3 Olympiads (1 summer in 1960, 2 winter in 1956,2006). This number will reach 4 if the 2026 Milan/Cortina winter games takes place. -Japan: 3 Olympiads (1 summer in 1964, 2 winter in 1972,1998). This number will reach 4 if the 2020 Tokyo games eventually takes place next year. -Canada: 3 Olympiads (1 summer in 1976, 2 winter in 1988,2010). -Germany: 3 Olympiads (2 summer in 1936,1972, 1 winter in 1936). -Grece: 2 or 3 Olympiads depending if you consider the intercalated games official or not... (2 summer in 1896,2004 and 1906 for the Intercalated games) -Switzerland: 2 Olympiads (2 winter in 1928,1948) and 1 Youth Olympic Winter Game in 2020. -Norway: 2 Olympiads (2 winter in 1952,1994) and 1 Youth Olympic Winter Game in 2016. -Austria: 2 Olympiads (2 Winter in 1964,1976) and 1 Youth Olympic Winter Game in 2012. -South Korea: 2 Olympiads (1 summer in 1988, 1 winter in 2018). South Korea will also host the 2024 Youth Olympic Winter Games. -Russia: 2 Olympiads (1 summer in 1980, 1 winter in 2014) -Australia: 2 Olympiads (2 summer in 1956,2000) -China: 1 Olympiad (1 summer in 2008) and 1 Youth Olympic Game in 2014. If the 2022 Beijin Winter Games are organized, then China will have hosted 2 olympiads and 1 YOG. Countries who only hosted 1 Summer olympiad: -Brazil (2016) -Spain (1992) -Mexico (1968) -Finland (1952) -Netherland (1928) -Belgium (1920) -Sweden (1912) Country who only hosted 1 Winter olympiad: Bosnia Herzegovina (formerly part of Yugoslavia) (1984) Countries who only hosted 1 Youth Olympic games: -Singapore (2010) -Argentina (2018) And Senegal (first african country to ever host and olympic event!) if the 2022 Youth Olympiad does take place! When you think about it, the countries that organizes the olympics are a very narrow group of nations!

21:11 The Parade of Nations starts it always begins Greeks First Host Nation Last. 21:40 here comes The Greeks they started it all. 22:22 Andorra, Argentina 22:47 Armenia 23:12 Australia 23:43 Austria 24:15 Azerbaijan 25:29 Belarus 25:57 Belgium 26:43 Bermuda 27:07 Bosnia and Herzegovina 27:32 Brazil 27:53 Bulgaria 28:25 Cameroon 28:57 Canada 29:10 Chile 30:30 China 30:53 Croatia 31:46 Cyprus 32:12 Czech Republic 32:39 Denmark 33:41 Estonia 34:05 Fiji 34:35 Finland 34:59 North Macedonia 35:46 France 36:12 Georgia 37:27 Germany 37:46 The Brits 39:08 Hong Kong 39:55 Hungary 40:17 Iceland 40:57 India 41:24 Iran 41:45 Ireland 42:13 Israel 42:55 Italy 43:24 The Jamaican Bobsled Team 44:23 Japanese Empire 44:53 Kazakhstan 46:05 Kenya 46:42 South Korea 47:02 Kyrgyzstan 47:38 Latvia 48:03 Lebanon 48:54 Liechtenstein 49:13 Lithuania 49:49 Mexico 50:15 Republic of Moldova 50:49 Monaco 51:28 Mongolia 51:58 Nepal 52:27 Netherlands 52:52 New Zealand 53:23 Norway 54:01 Poland 55:09 Puerto Rico 56:15 Romania 56:46 57:18 Federation of Russia 58:37 San Marino 59:08 Slovakia 59:57 Slovenia 1:00:29 South Africa 1:00:52 The Spanish 1:01:15 Sweden 1:02:17 The Swiss 1:03:29 Taiwan 1:03:57 Tajikistan 1:04:14 Thailand 1:04:36 Trinidad and Tobago 1:05:04 The Turks 1:05:27 Ukraine 1:06:13 Uzbekistan 1:06:45 Venezuela 1:07:13 The Virgin Islands 1:07:42 Yugoslavia 1:07:58 Ladies and Gentlemen TEAM USA!

I'm so excited to finally have a chance to re-watch this wonderful ceremony in its entirety without having to worry about transfers from a degrading VHS tape. Thank you *so* very much for sharing this online for posterity!

FINAL APPEARANCE OF YUGOSLAVIA AT THE WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES IS IN SALT LAKE CITY IN 2002

Still is, an always has been, my favorite Winter Olympic Opening Ceremony (London takes it for Summer). 1000% better than whatever it was that Paris was trying to pull off.

1:16:08 Always loved this part. It’s like you can feel all the different cultures meeting at one place

6:16 the Ground Zero flag enters the stadium in complete silence. Lost one of my cousins that day when the south tower collapsed, he was FDNY, both his father and brother died from 9/11 cancer in the years since. I'm just here to torture myself on the evening before.

Opening and closing ceremonies always make a wonderful spectacle.

Better than Paris 2024

Best olympics ever, congratulations USA, great job, greetings from Mexico

I love the Native American part and the drum groups

I love how Team Andora were holding up and waving both the Andoran and American flags during their entrance.

Thank you for posting this, Olympic Channel! The original NBC broadcast didn't include portions shown here.

Would love to see the olympics back in America. The Winter Olympics in Salt Lake was just a giant success.

My GOD! You have no idea how often this opening ceremony pops into my mind. It was the first one I ever watched as a kid, thank you for uploading the hole thing!

In 2028, after over 25 years, the Olympics will return to the United States

1:39 1929 St. Moritz and 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen: Sonja Henie's costumes. 2:35 1976 Innsbruck: Dorothy Hamill's famous pink costume.

Okay, hands up if you wanted one of those Roots Team USA berets. (I wanted one so badly. It took me several years, but I did eventually get one - and I still wear it whenever the Winter Olympics are going on.)

7:39 Ladies and Gentlemen The National Anthem sung by my favorite group The 400 Strong Voices of Tab Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square

real Americans being honored... I love it

Impactful today just like 20 years ago. I was there with my Husband and parents. ❣️❣️❣️

One of the more emotional opening ceremonies ever. I remember the torch relay passing through my neighborhood in L.A. and I remember how many people had tears on their faces. Salt Lake City DELIVERED. Now, almost 30 years later, Los Angeles is once again Olympic host city for the 2028 Summer Games and I for one CANNOT WAIT!!!

Thank you so much for uploading all these ceremonies. I enjoyed watching Barcelona 92! Please upload the closing ceremony of Barcelona.

The first Winter Olympics of the 21st Century that was ahead of its time, and with higher security, since this was five months after the September 11th attacks. (2:05:50)

Top 10 largest delegations 01. USA (202) 02. Germany (157) 03. Russia (151) 04. Canada (150) 05. France (114) 06. Italy (112) 07. Switzerland (110) 08. Japan (103) 09. Sweden (102) 10. Finland (98)

I am in love of this opening ceremony because it’s like a movie to me. I was born on 1994. I love it so much. I’m in Texas USA 🇺🇸 1994 is when Lillehammer hosted the Olympic Winter Game. I always love this video so much. I was born three days after the Lillehammer 1994 opening ceremony. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I live in Utah and remember this this was incredible

Salt Lake City is going to host it again in 2034. I so can’t wait for it already

6:20 20 years, never forget 😢

Since the IOC declared on march 24th that the Tokyo games were postponed untill next year, the olympic channel has been releasing on each monday a full upscaled video of an opening or closing ceremony of a past olympiad. So far we had: -30th of march: PYEONGCHANG 2018 (Opening) -6th of april: SYDNEY 2000 (Opening) -13th of april: TORINO 2006 (Opening) -20th of april: PYEONGCHANG 2018 (Closing) -27th of april: ATHENS 2004 (Opening) -4th of may: BARCELONA 1992 (Opening) -11th of may: NAGANO 1998 (Opening) -18th of may: ATLANTA 1996 (Opening) -25th of may: SALT LAKE CITY 2002 (Opening) What are your bids for the ceremony we'll get on the 1st of june?

Show of hands who’s excited for 2034

Anddddd Salt Lake will be hosting it again in 10 years, especially that it now has an NHL team.

It's wonderful to see most nations getting a loud applause from the crowd as they walk in

Every Four Years the World has to remind us that we are from the same Human Race. We can come together and enjoy each other in the competition. It doesn't have to be any other way.

One of my adopted Uncle's was a volunteer for Salt Lake City 2002. He was a bus driver. He was responsible for getting the tenors from the Mormon Tabernacle choir to this very ceremony.

bro, that ode to joy is lit! 🔥 the live orchestra makes this olympics grand. hoping that the next olympics has this.

懐かしい。この頃はちょうどハリーポッターシリーズも始まり、大振りのマフラーが流行していた。9.11からまだ半年も経ってないし、相当の厳戒態勢だったろうな。

i legit almost cry while they sing the national anthem. So solemn and beautiful that I sing along.

Beautiful! We had a party that evening to watch the opening ceremony missed a lot things- now So Happy to get to see it again! Spectacular!

1:54:20 and now Call of the Champions preformed by the 400 Strong Voices of Tab Choir and conducted by John Williams.

I think that was the first opening ceremony I actually watched on TV as a child.

A lot better than the one we had this year in Paris!!

My Brother Just sent me the link to this. We grew up in Utah, in 2001/2002 i was living in another state, but have since moved back... i have seen parts of this, but i don't think i've ever seen the whole thing (don't remember why i couldn't watch it live, I know i would have wanted to!!). Today is Pioneer day here in UTah, a state holiday where we celebrate our heritage and freedom, seems kinda aprop to be watching this today!!

I'm enjoying this nonstop and it still less than 2 hrs in.

I just dont think anyone will ever top that LeAnn Rimes brilliant performance and the Flaming Rings on the ice to end things

This is my favorite Winter Olympics

This has inspired me to resume training starting tomorrow morning.. here's to 2026 and 2030!

I was 3 so i might have watched but not remember it too much This is lovely thank you very much 💓 The flag and the eagle flying over a symbol of hope 🤝

I’m from Utah I remember my parents were at the opening ceremony and I remembered I was 1 year old when this happened thanks for uploading Greetings From Utah

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ very powerful goosebumps. I love the native Americans beautiful history

we will always remember what happened 22 years ago. it's important to never forget.

18 Años esperando a que esto se subiera a internet GENIAL !!!

So nice to finally watch this without the always annoying NCB commentators.

I was 4 (turning 5 on June) when I watched the opening ceremony.

Wow the last time the US hosted an Olympics! Can’t wait for 2028!!!!🇺🇸

Thanks very much for your work

SLC2034!!!!!!

2:37:50 and now ladies and gentlemen the piece of music you are hearing is Ode To Joy written by Ludwig Van Beethoven on of my favourite pieces of classical music that Beethoven wrote