Barcelona Olympics begins

1992

- A blazing arrow fired 70 yards across the Montjuic Stadium in Barcelona to light the Olympic flame opened the 25th Games, the most comprehensive gathering of nations and athletes in history. Doves of peace and the sensuous sound of Spanish opera launched the opening ceremony of the biggest and richest Olympics. More than 10,000 athletes from 172 teams began gathering at the hilltop stadium, readying themselves for the 90-minute parade. With the sport getting under way, these will be the first truly competitive Olympics in 32 years, without the boycotts that plagued Moscow and Los Angeles and with the return of a united Germany and a multi-racial South African team. Cuba’s leader Fidel Castro and South Africa’s Nelson Mandela joined King Juan Carlos of Spain to watch a flamboyant display of Latin talent by 20,000 artists.