EntertainmentOlympics: Relive the performances that marked the opening ceremonies of the GamesFrom Gilberto Gil to Arctic Monkeys, discover some of the performances that marked the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Gamestoday at 14:44

The opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games are always eagerly awaited, not only by the athletes and competitions, but also by the artistic performances that celebrate the host country’s culture. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Lady Gaga and Celine Dion delighted the audience, following a tradition of remarkable performances.

Check out some of the most iconic performances that made history at the Olympics:

Celine Diondespite being Canadian, was invited to sing at the opening of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. She moved the audience with The Power of the Dreama ballad that became emblematic of the event. Dion donated the fee she received to a fund supporting Canadian athletes, and the song became the unofficial anthem of that year’s Games.

You London Olympicsin 2012, celebrated the best of British music. Arctic monkeys represented the new generation of artists with a unique version of Come Togetherof the Beatles. The event also featured the iconic participation of Paul McCartneywho closed the ceremony with Hey Jude.

Brazil brought a mix of cultures and rhythms to the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Gamesin Rio de Janeiro. Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso and Anitta led a celebration of Brazilian musical diversity. The performance of Here, What Is It? and the tribute to Joao Gilberto were some of the highlights of the night, which also featured the iconic model Gisele Bundchen parading to the sound of Garota de Ipanema. Ludmilla was also part of the lineup.

In 2018, during the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchangthe K-Pop group EXO delighted the audience with an energetic performance of Growl. The performance highlighted the growing impact of South Korean pop culture on the global stage, combining music and dance in an impressive way.

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You Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games had an atypical opening ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a limited audience and fewer live performances from international artists. The ceremony was marked by a more restrained approach, without large traditional musical performances as in previous years.

However, one of the musical highlights was the performance of the iconic song imagine in John Lennonperformed by a children’s choir in different locations around the world, including the singer Angelique Kidjo representing Africa virtually.