1996 Summer Olympics Parade of Nations

During the Parade of Nations portion of the 1996 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, athletes from each country participating in the Olympics paraded in the arena, preceded by their flag. The flag was borne by a sportsperson from that country chosen either by the National Olympic Committee or by the athletes themselves to represent their country.

Parade order

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As the nation of the first modern Olympic Games, Greece entered the stadium first; whereas, the host nation of the United States marched last. Other countries entered in alphabetical order in the language of the host country (English), according with tradition and IOC guidelines.[1]

Whilst most countries entered under their short names, a few entered under more formal or alternative names, mostly due to political and naming disputes. Macedonia entered as "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia'" because of the naming dispute with Greece. The Republic of China (commonly known as Taiwan) entered with the compromised name and flag of "Chinese Taipei" under T so that they did not enter together with conflicting People's Republic of China (commonly known as China), which entered as the "People's Republic of China" under C. The Republic of the Congo entered as just "Congo" while the Democratic Republic of Congo entered under its former name, Zaire. Iran, Moldova, Laos, Brunei and the United States all entered under their formal names, respectively "Islamic Republic of Iran", "Republic of Moldova", "Lao People's Democratic Republic", "Brunei Darussalam" and "United States of America".

A record of 197 nations entered the stadium with a combined total of 10,318 athletes.[2] Twenty-three nations made their Olympic debut, including ten of the former Soviet republics, namely Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, that had previously competed as part of the Unified Team in 1992 and Soviet Union before that. Russia competed independently for the first time since 1912. Czech Republic and Slovakia attended the Games independently for the first time since the breakup of Czechoslovakia in 1993, whereas Cambodia returned officially after its 24-year absence under the Khmer Republic.[3]

Notable flag bearers in the opening ceremony featured the following athletes: weightlifter Pyrros Dimas (Greece); eventing rider Andrew Hoy (Australia); nine-time Olympian and Star sailor Hubert Raudaschl (Austria); 1984 Olympic middle-distance champion Joaquim Cruz (Brazil) in the 800 metres; track sprinters Charmaine Crooks (Canada) and Marie-José Pérec (France); defending Olympic long-distance champions Derartu Tulu (Ethiopia) and Khalid Skah (Morocco), both in the 10,000 metres; fencers Arnd Schmitt (Germany), Bence Szabó (Hungary), and Giovanna Trillini (Italy); rowing legend Steve Redgrave (Great Britain); swimmers Raimundas Mažuolis (Lithuania) in sprint freestyle and Rafał Szukała (Poland) in the butterfly; windsurfer Barbara Kendall (New Zealand); hurdler and world champion Brigita Bukovec (Slovenia); defending Olympic champions Jan-Ove Waldner (Sweden) in men's table tennis singles, and Andrey Abduvaliyev (Tajikistan) in the hammer throw; pole vaulter and world record holder Sergey Bubka (Ukraine); and super heavyweight wrestlers Alexander Karelin (Russia) in Greco-Roman, and Bruce Baumgartner (United States) in freestyle.[4]

List

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The following is a list of each country's announced flag bearer. The list is sorted by the order in which each nation appears in the parade of nations. The names are given in their official designations by the IOC.

This table is sortable by country name (in English), the flag bearer's name, and the flag bearer's sport.
Order Country Flag bearer Sport
1   Greece (GRE) Pyrros Dimas Weightlifting
2   Afghanistan (AFG) Muhamed Aman Boxing
3   Albania (ALB) Mirela Manjani Athletics
4   Algeria (ALG) Karim El-Mahouab Handball
5   American Samoa (ASA) Maselino Masoe Boxing
6   Andorra (AND) Aitor Osorio Swimming
7   Angola (ANG) Palmira de Almeida Handball
8   Antigua & Barbuda (ANT) Heather Samuel Athletics
9   Argentina (ARG) Carolina Mariani Judo
10   Armenia (ARM) Aghvan Grigoryan Weightlifting
11   Aruba (ARU) Isnardo Faro Weightlifting
12   Australia (AUS) Andrew Hoy Equestrian
13   Austria (AUT) Hubert Raudaschl Sailing
14   Azerbaijan (AZE) Nazim Huseynov Judo
15   Bahamas (BAH) Frank Rutherford Athletics
16   Bahrain (BRN) Mohamed Al-Sala Sailing
17   Bangladesh (BAN) Saiful Alam Shooting
18   Barbados (BAR) Obadele Thompson Athletics
19   Belarus (BLR) Aleksey Medvedev Wrestling
20   Belgium (BEL) Jean-Michel Saive Table tennis
21   Belize (BIZ) Eugène Muslar Athletics
22   Benin (BEN) Laure Kuetey Athletics
23   Bermuda (BER) Brian Wellman Athletics
24   Bhutan (BHU) Jubzhang Jubzhang Archery
25   Bolivia (BOL) Policarpio Calizaya Athletics
26   Bosnia & Herzegovina (BIH) Islam Ðugum Athletics
27   Botswana (BOT) Justice Dipeba Athletics
28   Brazil (BRA) Joaquim Cruz Athletics
29   British Virgin Islands (IVB) Keita Cline Athletics
30   Brunei Darussalam (BRU) Jefri Bolkiah Shooting
31   Bulgaria (BUL) Dimo Tonev Volleyball
32   Burkina Faso (BUR) Franck Zio Athletics
33   Burundi (BDI) Dieudonné Kwizéra Athletics
34   Cambodia (CAM) To Rithya Athletics
35   Cameroon (CMR) Georgette Nkoma Athletics
36   Canada (CAN) Charmaine Crooks Athletics
37   Cape Verde (CPV) Manuel Jesús Rodrígues Volleyball (official)
38   Cayman Islands (CAY) Carson Ebanks Sailing
39   Central African Republic (CAF) Mickaël Conjungo Athletics
40   Chad (CHA) Kaltouma Nadjina Athletics
41   Chile (CHI) Sebastian Keitel Athletics
42   People's Republic of China (CHN) Liu Yudong Basketball
43   Colombia (COL) Marlon Pérez Arango Cycling
44   Comoros (COM) Faissoil Ben Daoud Athletics (coach)
45   Congo (CGO) Léontine Tsiba Athletics
46   Cook Islands (COK) Sam Nunuke Pera Weightlifting
47   Costa Rica (CRC) Henry Núñez Judo
48   Côte d'Ivoire (CIV) Jean-Olivier Zirignon Athletics
49   Croatia (CRO) Perica Bukić Water polo
50   Cuba (CUB) Rolando Tucker Fencing
51   Cyprus (CYP) Antonakis Andreou Shooting
52   Czech Republic (CZE) Václav Chalupa Rowing
53   Denmark (DEN) Thomas Stuer-Lauridsen Badminton
54   Djibouti (DJI) Hussein Ahmed Salah Athletics
55   Dominica (DMA) Jérôme Romain Athletics
56   Dominican Republic (DOM) Joan Guzmán Boxing
57   Ecuador (ECU) Felipe Delgado Swimming
58   Egypt (EGY) Hosam Abdallah Handball
59   El Salvador (ESA) Juan Vargas Judo
60   Equatorial Guinea (GEQ) Gustavo Envela Mahua Athletics
61   Estonia (EST) Jüri Jaanson Rowing
62   Ethiopia (ETH) Derartu Tulu Athletics
63   Fiji (FIJ) Jone Delai Athletics
64   Finland (FIN) Mikko Kolehmainen Canoeing
65   The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (MKD) Vladimir Bogdevski Handball (referee)
66   France (FRA) Marie-José Pérec Athletics
67   Gabon (GAB) Roger Oyembo Chef de mission
68   Gambia (GAM) Dawda Jallow Athletics
69   Georgia (GEO) Giorgi Kandelaki Boxing
70   Germany (GER) Arnd Schmitt Fencing
71   Ghana (GHA) Moro Tijani Boxing
72   Great Britain (GBR) Steve Redgrave Rowing
73   Grenada (GRN) Jason Charter Athletics (coach)
74   Guam (GUM) Patrick Sagisi Swimming
75   Guatemala (GUA) Attila Solti Shooting
76   Guinea (GUI) Joseph Loua Athletics
77   Guinea-Bissau (GBS) Talata Embalo Wrestling
78   Guyana (GUY) John Douglas Boxing
79   Haiti (HAI) Adler Volmar Judo
80   Honduras (HON) Darwin Angeles Boxing
81   Hong Kong (HKG) Chan Sau Ying Athletics
82   Hungary (HUN) Bence Szabó Fencing
83   Iceland (ISL) Jón Arnar Magnússon Athletics
84   India (IND) Pargat Singh Field hockey
85   Indonesia (INA) Hendrik Simangunsong Boxing
86   Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) Lida Fariman Shooting
87   Iraq (IRQ) Raed Ahmed Weightlifting
88   Ireland (IRL) Francie Barrett Boxing
89   Israel (ISR) Lydia Hatuel Fencing
90   Italy (ITA) Giovanna Trillini Fencing
91   Jamaica (JAM) Juliet Cuthbert Athletics
92   Japan (JPN) Ryoko Tamura Judo
93   Jordan (JOR) Walid Al-Awazem Judo (referee)
94   Kazakhstan (KAZ) Yermakhan Ibraimov Boxing
95   Kenya (KEN) Paul Tergat Athletics
96   Korea (KOR) Choi Cheon-Sik Volleyball
97   Kuwait (KUW) Abdullah Al-Rashidi Shooting
98   Kyrgyzstan (KGZ) Sergey Ashihmin Swimming
99   Lao People's Democratic Republic (LAO) Thongdy Amnouayphone Athletics
100   Latvia (LAT) Einārs Tupurītis Athletics
101   Lebanon (LIB) Mohamed Al-Aywan Weightlifting
102   Lesotho (LES) Jassie Mathunta Chef de mission
103   Liberia (LBR) Kouty Mawenh Athletics
104   Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (LBA) Mehdi Abdulkheirat Official
105   Liechtenstein (LIE) Birgit Blum Judo
106   Lithuania (LTU) Raimundas Mažuolis Swimming
107   Luxembourg (LUX) Anne Kremer Tennis
108   Madagascar (MAD) Dally Randriantefy Tennis
109   Malawi (MAW) John Mwathiwa Athletics
110   Malaysia (MAS) Nor Saiful Zaini Field hockey
111   Maldives (MDV) Ahmed Shageef Athletics
112   Mali (MLI) Monique Ross Envoy
113   Malta (MLT) Carol Galea Athletics
114   Mauritania (MTN) Noureddine Ould Ménira Athletics
115   Mauritius (MRI) Khemraj Naïko Athletics
116   Mexico (MEX) Nancy Contreras Cycling
117   Republic of Moldova (MDA) Vadim Vacarciuc Weightlifting
118   Monaco (MON) Thierry Vatrican Judo
119   Mongolia (MGL) Dolgorsürengiin Sumyaabazar Wrestling
120   Morocco (MAR) Khalid Skah Athletics
121   Mozambique (MOZ) Maria de Lurdes Mutola Athletics
122   Myanmar (MYA) Soe Myint Shooting
123   Namibia (NAM) Friedhelm Sack Shooting
124   Nauru (NRU) Marcus Stephen Weightlifting
125   Nepal (NEP) Tika Bogati Athletics
126   Netherlands (NED) Nico Rienks Rowing
127   Netherlands Antilles (AHO) Sergio Murray Judo
128   New Zealand (NZL) Barbara Kendall Sailing
129   Nicaragua (NCA) Walter Martínez Shooting
130   Niger (NIG) Abdou Manzo Athletics
131   Nigeria (NGR) Mary Onyali-Omagbemi Athletics
132   Norway (NOR) Linda Andersen Sailing
133   Oman (OMA) Khalaf Al-Khatri Shooting
134   Pakistan (PAK) Mansoor Ahmed Field hockey
135   Palestine (PLE) Majed Abu Maraheel Athletics
136   Panama (PAN) Eileen Coparropa Swimming
137   Papua New Guinea (PNG) Subul Babo Athletics
138   Paraguay (PAR) Ramón Jiménez Gaona Athletics
139   Democratic People's Republic of Korea (PRK) Chae Ra-U Table tennis (referee)
140   Peru (PER) Juan Giha Shooting
141   Philippines (PHI) Reynaldo Galido Boxing
142   Poland (POL) Rafał Szukała Swimming
143   Portugal (POR) Fernanda Ribeiro Athletics
144   Puerto Rico (PUR) Ivelisse Echevarría Softball
145   Qatar (QAT) Ibrahim Ismail Muftah Athletics
146   Romania (ROM) Iulică Ruican Rowing
147   Russian Federation (RUS) Alexander Karelin Wrestling
148   Rwanda (RWA) Parfait Ntukamyagwe Athletics (coach)
149   Saint Kitts & Nevis (SKN) Diane Dunrod-Francis Athletics
150   Saint Lucia (LCA) Michelle Baptiste Athletics
151   Saint Vincent & the Grenadines (VIN) Eswort Coombs Athletics
152   San Marino (SMR) Manlio Molinari Athletics
153   São Tomé & Príncipe (STP) Sortelina Pires Athletics
154   Saudi Arabia (KSA) Khaled Al-Khalidi Athletics
155   Senegal (SEN) Ibou Faye Athletics
156   Seychelles (SEY) Rival Cadeau Boxing
157   Sierra Leone (SLE) Eunice Barber Athletics
158   Singapore (SIN) Lee Wung Yew Shooting
159   Slovakia (SVK) Jozef Lohyňa Wrestling
160   Slovenia (SLO) Brigita Bukovec Athletics
161   Solomon Islands (SOL) Joseph Onika Athletics (coach)
162   Somalia (SOM) Abdi Bile Athletics
163   South Africa (RSA) Masibulele Makepula Boxing
164   Spain (ESP) Luis Doreste Sailing
165   Sri Lanka (SRI) Sriyani Kulawansa Athletics
166   Sudan (SUD) Mahmoud Musa Abdullah Athletics (coach)
167   Suriname (SUR) Enrico Linscheer Swimming
168   Swaziland (SWZ) Daniel Sibandze Athletics
169   Sweden (SWE) Jan-Ove Waldner Table tennis
170   Switzerland (SUI) Stefan Schärer Handball
171   Syrian Arab Republic (SYR) Ghada Shouaa Athletics
172   Chinese Taipei (TPE) Tu Tsai-hsing Shooting
173   Tajikistan (TJK) Andrey Abduvaliyev Athletics
174   United Republic of Tanzania (TAN) Ikaji Salum Athletics
175   Thailand (THA) Vissanu Sophanich Athletics
176   Togo (TOG) Téko Folligan Athletics
177   Tonga (TGA) Paea Wolfgramm Boxing
178   Trinidad & Tobago (TRI) Gene Samuel Cycling
179   Tunisia (TUN) Iskander Hachicha Judo
180   Turkey (TUR) Derya Büyükuncu Swimming
181   Turkmenistan (TKM) Rozy Rejepov Wrestling
182   Uganda (UGA) Mary Musoke Table tennis
183   Ukraine (UKR) Sergey Bubka Athletics
184   United Arab Emirates (UAE) Nabil Abdul Tahlak Shooting
185   Uruguay (URU) Marcelo Filippini Tennis
186   Uzbekistan (UZB) Timur Ibragimov Boxing
187   Vanuatu (VAN) Tawai Keiruan Athletics
188   Venezuela (VEN) Francisco Sánchez Swimming
189   Vietnam (VIE) Nguyễn Hữu Huy Judo (coach)
190   Virgin Islands (ISV) Lisa Neuburger Sailing
191   Western Samoa (SAM) Bob Gasio Boxing
192   Yemen (YEM) Abdullah Al-Izani Wrestling
193   Yugoslavia (YUG) Igor Milanović Water polo
194   Zaire (ZAI) Lukengu Ngalula Basketball
195   Zambia (ZAM) Davis Mwale Boxing
196   Zimbabwe (ZIM) Tendai Chimusasa Athletics
197   United States of America (USA) Bruce Baumgartner Wrestling

References

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  1. ^ "Technical Manual on Ceremonies" (PDF). International Olympic Committee. November 2005. p. 40. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  2. ^ Longman, Jere (19 July 1996). "Atlanta 1996: The Games Begin; In Atlanta, Festivities Touched by Sorrow". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  3. ^ Fontaine, Chris (9 September 2000). "Pride of Cambodia strut Olympic stage". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  4. ^ Kawakami, Tim (20 July 1996). "Wrapped in Emotions : U.S. Flag-Bearer Baumgartner Loves Honor but Hates Remembering Wrestling Tragedy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 September 2013.

See also

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