Barcelona_Spain

[|Opening Ceremony]

Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony Barcelona had bid to host the Olympic Games several times in 1924, 1936, and 1940, without success. Barcelona was elected over Amsterdam, Belgrade, Birmingham, Brisbane, and Paris in Lausanne in Switzerland, during the 91st IOC session in 1986. When the IOC awarded the 1992 Olympic Games to Barcelona, it was considered by many to be in honor of IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch, as he was a native of Barcelona. But the Barcelona Olympics became the Games of the New World Order, and they were the most highly attended Olympics in history, both in terms of countries and athletes attending. Facts about Barcelona: · Barcelona is the capital and the most populous city of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain. · Barcelona is located on the Mediterranean coast. · It is recognized as a global city because of its importance in finance, commerce, media, entertainment, arts and, international trade.

Facts about the Barcelona Olympic Games: Opening Date: July 25th, 1992 Closing date: August 9th, 1992 Official opening of the Games by: **His Majesty King Juan Carlos I** Lighting the Olympic Flame by: **Antonio Rebollo (paralympic archer)** Olympic Oath by: **Luis Doreste Blanco (sailing)** ** Official Oath **** : Eugeni Asencio (water polo) ** Barcelona: 1992 Olympic Games By: Jenny Bencomo​
 * The official mascot was Cobi, a Catalan sheepdog in cubit style designed by Javier Mariscal. **
 * · **** The 1992 games were the most successful modern Olympics.  **
 * · **** More than 9,300 athletes representing 169 countries participated.  **
 * · **** The dramatic political changes across Eastern Europe had a tremendous impact on the games.  **
 *  1. ** ** Several countries such **** as **** Lativa, Lithuania, Estonia, and Croatia competed as independent countries. **
 *  2. ****  With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the German team competed once again united.  **
 *  3. ****  Even though Yugoslavia was banned, athletes from Serbia and Montenegro were allowed to compete as individuals.  **
 *  4. ****  The former Soviet Union Republics competed for the last time as a team.  **
 *  5. ****  The list of sports was expanded to include badminton, baseball, and women’s judo.  **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontweight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msolist: Ignore;"> 6. ****  The games were characterized by the increased presence of professional athletes. One of the most important teams was the U.S men’s basketball called “Dream Team” including Michael Jordan.  **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontweight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msolist: Ignore;"> 7. ****  There was a fantastic and welcome return of South Africa after the collapse of the Apartheid regime. After 28 years in exile, Elana Meyer won gold medal in 10,000 meters.  **