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These are the best songs of all time emulating the glory of the Olympic Games.

1984 Olympics Games - Los Angeles, U.S.A

“Reach out”, the official theme song, was written by an Italian composer, Mr. Giorgio Moroder for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics which was broadcast worldwide.

1988 Olympics Games- Seoul, Korea

“Hand in hand” is another official theme song written by Mr. Giorgio Moroder for the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and was performed by a group of Koreana in Korean in the beginning of the song, accompanying with the English version.

“Oh if you put your hand in my hand Put your trust in me and I won’t let you down I will always be there for you Oh if you put your heart in my heart Take a walk with me and I will show you now We can leave the pain behind us hand in hand”

The above quote of the song has then become famous to the world. Indeed, it has been regarded as the best songs ever composed for the Olympics.

1992 Olympics Games- Barcelona, Spain

“Barcelona”, the official theme song of the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, was composed by Mr. Freddie Mercury from Spain. He composed this song as soon as Barcelona was selected for the Olympic city after the Olympics in Seoul, Korea.

He was supposed to perform the song with an operatic soprano Montserrat Caballé, but due to his death a year before the Olympics, the song was played over a travelogue of the city instead at the opening ceremony. Due to Freddie's death, the song was replaced with “Amigos Para Siempre” (Friends for Life), written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black, and sung by Sarah Brightman and José Carreras during the closing ceremonies.

1996 Olympics Games- Atlanta, U.S.A

“Reach”, the official theme song of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, U.S.A, was composed by Diane Warren and Gloria Estefan. This Olympics theme song Reach was originally sang by Gloria Estefan at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. Gloria, a female singer, had once paralysis due to one major accident, but she had a strong determination to fight against the disease she was facing at that moment.

She did not succumb to a disease and finally she stood on the stage to sing Reach with all her heart which won her an award from the Grammy that year.

Her determination to live has inspired many people who listened to her song. “The Power of the Dream” was sung by Celine Dion during the closing ceremonies.

2000 Olympics Games- Sydney, Australia

“The Flame”, the official theme song of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, was composed by John Foreman. The Flame was performed live by an Australian pop singer, Tina Arena at the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Games. Tina's performance was amazing and she received as much attention for both her voice and dress. Indeed, her performance at the Olympic ceremony has won her a major boost in a singing career, which has marked a distinct departure for her upcoming albums.

2004 Olympics Games- Athens, Greece

"Oceania", the official theme song of the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, was composed by Bjork. Oceania was performed by an eccentric Icelandic singer, Bjork before 70,000 spectators at the Greek Capital's new Olympic Stadium at the four-hour opening ceremony, which was televised worldwide.

2008 Olympics Games- Beijing

“Yongyuan de Pengyou” (Forever Friends) is the official theme song of the 2008 Olympics which will be held at the Beijing National Stadium in Beijing, China. This song was composed by Mr. Giorgio Moroder, Micheal Kunze and other musical composers. This theme song has already translated into Malay, Cantonese, Spanish, and English. You can watch the video here. On the 100th day before the games begin, about 100 artists were gathered in Beijing to perform the 100-day countdown theme song called “Beijing Huan Ying Ni” (Beijing Welcomes You).

“One world one dream” was released to promote the Olympic Games in Beijing.

On the 100th day before the games begin, about 100 artists were gathered in Beijing to perform the 100-day countdown theme song called “Beijing Huan Ying Ni” (Beijing Welcomes You).

“One world one dream” was released to promote the Olympic Games in Beijing.

According to “Songs that Unite the world” written by Kamau Mutunga that was published in Daily Nation on August 21, 2008, the 2008 Olympic theme song “You and Me (in Chinese 'Wo he ni')” was downloaded as many as 5 million times via wireless music platforms by 220,000 people per hour within 26 hours of its performance. This theme song was composed by a Chinese born, French composer, Chen Qi Gang. It was sung by a Chinese pop singer, Liu Huan, and a British soprano, Sarah Brightman before the 91,000 stadium audience during the opening ceremony of Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games on August 8, 2008. This theme song is aimed to unite people across the world regardless of their language, race, and religion. It’s indeed very touching and inspiring!The attached video of “You and Me” is first sung in Chinese and later in English.

BONUS SONG:
"Olympic Fanfare" by John Williams

Resource: Ohttp://www.musicouch.com/Musicouching/Olympics-Songs-of-All-Time.154637

Million Dollar Legs (1932)
One Day in September (1999)
A Million to One (1937)
Olympia Part One: Festival of the Nations (1938)
Bob Mathias Story (1954)
Georgie (1955)
It Happened in Athens (1962)
Tokyo Olympiad (1966)
Downhill Racer (1966)
The Games (1970)
The 500-Pound Jerk (1973)
The Other Side of the Mountain (1975)
21 Hours at Munich (1976)
Wilma (1977)
International Velvet (1978)
A Shining Season (1979)
Running (1979)
The Jericho Mile (1979)
Goldengirl (1979)
Crossbar (1979)
Dawn (1979)
Chariots of Fire (1981)
Miracle on Ice (1981)
Personal Best (1982)
Running Brave (1983)
The Jesse Owens Story (1984)
Nadia (1984)
The First Olympics: Athens 1896 (1984)
Going for the Gold (1985)
Spiker (1986)
16 Days of Glory (1986)
Sword of Gideon (1986)
American Anthem (1986)
King of the Olympics (1988)
The Four Minute Mile (1988)
Blades of Courage (1988)
Ice Pawn (1989)
The Cutting Edge (1992)
Cool Runnings (1993)
Alex (1993)
Prefontaine (1997)
Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story (1997)
Little Girls in Pretty Boxes (1997)
Perfect Body (1997)
Without Limits (1998)
The Games (1998)
Endurance (1999)
Miracle (2004)
Hitler’s Pawn: The Margaret Lambert Story (2004)
Munich (2005)
Four Minutes (2005)
Blades of Glory (2007)

Around the Rings

http://www.youtube.com/user/AssociatedPress

http://www.youtube.com/user/BBC

http://www.youtube.com/user/BeijingOlympicForum

http://www.youtube.com/user/OlympicsLover

http://www.youtube.com/user/CBS

http://www.youtube.com/user/gettyimages

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheRealNews

(plus, a BONUS book):

The books listed below are among those found in Around the Rings' library. Some are new releases that are available in bookstores; others may be out of print or hard to find. Inclusion in this list does not imply an endorsement; titles are listed randomly and not in any particular order.

1 - The Olympian's Guide to Winning the Game of Life - Bud Greenspan
2 - Olympic Portraits -- Annie Leibovitz
3 -- The Olympic Games -- Lord Killanin and John Rooda
4 -- 100 Greatest Moments in Olympic History -- Bud Greenspan
5 -- The Official History of the Olympic Games and the IOC - David Miller
6 -- Lords of the Rings -- Vyv Simson and Andrew Jennings
7 -- Complete Book of the Olympics 2008 -- David Wallechinsky
8 -- Australia and the Olympic Games -- Harry Gordon
9 -- Rome 1960 - David Maraniss
10 -- Olympic Turnaround - Michael Payne
11 -- 2000 Things You Didn't Know about the Olympics -- Kevin Berry

Athletes:
Jesse Owens - Track & Field (1936)
Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) - Boxing (1960)
Carl Lewis - Track & Field (1984, 88, 92, 96)
Michael Phelps - Swimming (04, 08)
Bob Mathius - Decathlon (1950)
Babe Didrikson - Javelin Throw & Hurdles (Mildred Didrikson- 1932)
Mark Spitz - Swimming (1968, 72)
Greg Louganis - Diving (1976, 84, 88)
Eddie Eagan - Boxing & Four-man Bobsledding (1932)
Eric Heiden - Speed Skating (1980)
Dorothy Hamill - Figure Skating (1976)
Dick Button - Figure Skating (Richard Button- 1948, 52)
Harrison "Bones" Dillard - Hurdles (1948, 52)
Al Oerter - Discus (1956, 60, 64, 68)
Paavo Nurmi - Track & Field (1920, 24, 28)
Daley Thompson - Decathlon (1980, 84)
Dawn Fraser - Swimming (1956, 60, 64)
Sonja Henie - Figure Skating (1928, 32, 36)
Anton (Tony) Sailer - Alpine Skiing (1956)
Nadia Comaneci - Gymnastics (1976, 80)
Abebe Bikila - Marathon Runner( 1960, 64)

Olympic Movement Givers:
Johann Olav Koss - Right to Play

Olympic Film Hero:
Bud Greenspan received the Olympic Order award in 1985, at which time International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch said, "Mr. Greenspan has been called the foremost producer, writer and director of Olympic films; more than that, he is an everlasting friend of the Olympic family." In 2004, Greenspan was inducted as a "Special Contributor" into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame. His visual and musical The Spirit of the Olympics is on display permanently at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. In 1994, Greenspan was inducted in the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. In 2006, he was given the Al Schoenfield Media Award by the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Heroic Spirit:
In the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Tanzanian runner John Stephen Ahkwari was the last runner in the marathon. He came in about an hour and a half after the winner, practically carrying his leg, as it was so bloodied and bandaged. Film Director Bud Greenspan asked him, “Why did you keep going?” He said, “You don’t understand. My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start a race, they sent me to finish it.”