1988 Summer Olympics opening ceremony

The opening ceremony of the 1988 Summer Olympics took place at Seoul Olympic Stadium in Seoul, South Korea, on 17 September 1988 at 10:30 KDT (UTC+10). The official song of this game was "Hand in Hand", which was performed by Koreana. The Games were officially opened by President of the Republic of Korea Roh Tae-woo.

Opening
The ceremony was the last one at which doves were released. Since 1920, doves had been released at Olympic opening ceremonies. For the 1988 Olympics, birds were trained for a year in preparation for the event. The birds were supposed to fly around the stadium in circles until they reached the rim of the stadium and flew off in five directions. However, the birds flew erratically and landed all over the stadium, including on the cauldron where the Olympic Flame was to be lit. When Olympic Torch bearer Sohn Kee-chung approached and lit the flame, some of the doves did not leave and were burnt alive. The outcry in response led to the replacement of the live birds with inanimate objects or human actors.

Parade of Nations
The flag bearers of 160 National Olympic Committees entered the stadium, ordered by the Korean alphabet, and behind them marched the athletes.

It was also the last parade that involves East Germany, Soviet Union, West Germany and Yugoslavia, and the only parade of South Yemen, which ceased to exist a few years later.

Opening
SLOOC President Park Seh-jik delivered a speech in Korean, welcoming everyone. IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch delivered a speech in English and French. President of the Republic of Korea Roh Tae-woo declared the Games of the XXIV Olympiad in Seoul opened in Korean.

"나는 제24회 근대올림픽대회를 경축하면서 서울올림픽 대회를 개최하는 것을 선언합니다. – In celebration of the XXIV Modern Olympic Games, I declare that the Seoul Olympic Games will be held."

- Roh Tae-woo, President of the Republic of Korea

Anthems

 * Olympic Hymn
 * 🇰🇷 National Anthem of South Korea

Dignitaries in attendance
Most countries were represented by governmental-level representatives, and only a few world leaders came to the ceremony.

Dignitaries from International organizations

 * 🇺🇳 United Nations –
 * Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar
 * International Olympic Committee –
 * President of the International Olympic Committee Juan Antonio Samaranch and wife María Teresa Salisachs Rowe
 * IOC Honorary President for Life Lord Killanin and Members of the IOC

Host country dignitaries

 * 🇰🇷 South Korea –
 * President of the Seoul Olympic Organizing Committee Park Seh-jik
 * President of the Republic of Korea Roh Tae-woo
 * First Lady of the Republic of Korea Kim Ok-suk
 * former Presidents of the Republic of Korea Yun Posun and Choi Kyu-hah
 * Former First Lady of the Republic of Korea Franziska Donner
 * Prime Minister Lee Hyun-jae
 * National Assembly member Kim Dae-jung and wife Lee Hee-ho
 * President of Democratic Reunification Kim Young-sam and wife Son Myung-soon
 * President of New Democratic Republican Party Kim Jong-pil
 * and other prominent South Korean politicians
 * Mayor of Seoul Kim Yong-rae

Dignitaries from Abroad

 * 🇹🇭 Thailand –
 * Vice Prime Minister Tienchai Sirisamphan
 * 🇯🇵 Japan –
 * Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita and wife Noko Takeshita
 * 🇨🇳 China –
 * Second Vice Premier Tian Jiyun
 * 🇪🇸 Spain –
 * Crown Prince Felipe and Queen Sofía of Spain (representing the King of Spain)
 * West Germany –
 * First Mayor of Hamburg Henning Voscherau
 * 🇩🇰 Denmark –
 * Crown Prince Frederick (representing the Queen of Denmark)
 * 🇫🇷 France –
 * Foreign Minister Roland Dumas
 * 🇮🇹 Italy –
 * Deputy Prime Minister Gianni De Michelis
 * 🇬🇷 Greece –
 * Former King of Greece Constantine II
 * 🇱🇺 Luxembourg –
 * Grand Duke Jean
 * 🇲🇨 Monaco –
 * Prince of Monaco Rainier III
 * 🇺🇸 United States –
 * Mayor of Los Angeles Thomas Bradley
 * 🇨🇦 Canada –
 * Mayor of Calgary Don Hartman
 * 🇮🇷 Iran –
 * Vice President Ahmad Dargahi
 * 🇬🇲 Gambia –
 * Vice President Bakary Darbo and Foreign Minister Sey.O
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom –
 * Minister for Sport Colin Moynihan, 4th Baron Moynihan
 * 🇳🇴 Norway –
 * Crown Prince Harald and Prince Haakon of Norway (representing the King of Norway)
 * 🇸🇪 Sweden –
 * King Carl XVI Gustaf
 * 🇨🇭 Switzerland –
 * Vice President Jean-Pascal Delamuraz
 * 🇲🇾 Malaysia –
 * Azlan Shah of Perak
 * Brunei –
 * Prince Sufri Bolkiah