I Am Right, You Are Wrong An Idea for the Production of the 2004 Athens Olympic Ceremony

Abstract

The more enjoyable and fascinating the Olympic ceremonies, the more positive the impression and appreciation of the host nation gained by audiences worldwide. For this reason, the creators of Olympic ceremonies have gradually paid more attention to the host nation of each Olympic Games. It seems to have become the practice for each successive Olympic host to attempt to produce a greater spectacle in order to compete with past Olympic ceremonies. On occasion, this could lead to internal friction, as was the case with the 2004 Olympics, when there was a disagreement over creative ideas for the production of the Olympic Ceremony between Dimitris Papaioannou, the ceremony director, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This case describes Papaioannue’s attempt to present the Olympic ceremony in an unconventional way and the reactions thereto on the part of the IOC.