Essay About Opening Ceremony

.2. Role of the Opening Ceremonies

The role of the opening ceremony is plural and has evolved over the centuries. In a general manner, one can consider that the role of opening ceremonies commonly has various historical, social, political, ideological and economic dimensions. Above all, its main purpose is to officially welcome and mark the beginning of each Olympic games, by on the one hand conveying an Olympic welcome and on the other hand entertaining the audience while giving “something truly unique about the host city and nation” .

The investigation that we carried out brought out three major objectives aimed by the Olympic opening ceremonies. They have namely an economic, political and national dimension.

2.2.1. Economic Objectives

The process lasts three years before the host city is elected by secret ballot by the IOC, hence seven years before the Games. The bid process consists in three phases, namely the invitation phase, the applicant phase and the candidature phase. Each phase lasts for approximately one year. During the first phase of the bid, the cities and National Olympic Committees present their main interest in hosting the Olympic games, and therefore set up a project that corresponds to the long-term development of the city. As the outcome of that first phase, the cities and NOCs enrol in the bid process and thus become official applicants. The applicant phase invites the cities and NOCs to provide details with reference to their vision and concept of the Olympics, and to submit the application file in order to be elected and become candidates. For that phase, sustainability and legacy are considered two major aspects not to be put aside by the IOC. Upon the final and candidature phase, potential future host cities propose a more detailed plan to be examined further on. After a final evaluation report made by the IOC, the host city is eventually elected by a secret ballot vote, seven years ahead of the Olympic Games.

3.1.2. London’s