Photos

  • RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 04: People walk past a section of a mural depicting an indigenous face created by Brazilian graffiti artist Eduardo Kobra and assistants in the revamped Port District on August 4, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 32,000-square-foot mural, titled 'We Are All One', was painted to represent cultural diversity across continents. The start of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on August 5. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
  • 25 Jul 1992: The South African delegation walk around the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. It was the first time since 1960 that South Africa was allowed to take part in an Olympic Games. \ Mandatory Credit: Allsport UK /Allsport
  • Flags of the various nations which took part in the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland, standing furled during the closing ceremony. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
  • LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 27: Members of the Mexico team parade through the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
  • BEIJING - AUGUST 08: Martial artists perform Kung Fu during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
  • BEIJING - AUGUST 08: Flag-bearers hold national flags of various countries during a ceremony to mark the one year countdown to the 2008 Beijing Olympics in Tiananmen Square on August 8, 2007 in Beijing, China. Various events are being held in the Chinese capital to celebrate the one-year countdown to the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games. (Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images)
  • LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 27: Sushil Kumar of the India Olympic wrestling team carries his country's flag during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
  • 19 Jul 1996: The team from the Netherlands enter the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. \ Mandatory Credit: Clive Brunskill /Allsport
  • Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia, running barefoot, draws away from Abdesselem Rhadi of Morocco near the finish of the marathon at the 1960 Rome Olympics. He went on to win with a new Olympic record time of 2 hours 15 minutes 16 seconds. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)
  • 28 JUL 84: A GENERAL VIEW OF TODAY's OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 1984 SUMMER OLYMPICS. THE CEREMONY TOOK PLACE AT THE COLISEUM IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES. Mandatory Credit: STEVE POWELL/ALLSPORT
  • RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 05: Kiesuke Ushiro of Japan carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on August 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
  • BEIJING - AUGUST 08: Runner Veronica Campbell of Jamaica carries her country's flag to lead out the delegation during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)
  • American 400 metre runner Denean Howard (right) among other members the US Olympic team during the Parade of Nations at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games, Seoul Olympic Stadium, South Korea, 17th September 1988. (Photo by Gray Mortimore/Getty Images)
  • 17 Sep 1988: Girls twirl umbrellas during the opening of the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. \ Mandatory Credit: Pascal Rondeau/Allsport
  • RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 05: Members of the Refugee Olympic Team take part in the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on August 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
  • Black American sprinter and athlete Jesse (James Cleveland) Owens (1913 - 1980), who won 4 gold medals for running and field events in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
  • 25 Sep 2000: Cathy Freeman of Australia is elated after winning Gold in the 400m Final during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Australia. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wilson/ALLSPORT

Celebrating cultural diversity at the Olympics 

As the nations of the world prepare to unite at next year's Tokyo 2020 Games, we're celebrating the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development with a look back at some of the cultures, colours and symbolic moments of past Olympics.

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