Five of the best and worst moments in Olympic opening ceremonies

Fireworks are tested for the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on August 3, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / TASSO MARCELO

1936: The Berlin Olympics was used by Adolf Hitler as a showcase to promote his vision of Nazi Germany at what were the most notorious Games of the modern era. With his propaganda minister Joseph Gobbels the Games’ arch architect the Opening Ceremony in the custom built 110,000 seater Olympic Stadium saw over 5,000 athletes from 51 countries parading past the Fuhrer as the Hindenburg airship hovered overhead, trailing the Olympic flag.

Competitors had to decide whether to give the Hitler salute or not. Some countries performed it with enthusiasm, others avoided it, while the Bulgarians multi-tasked, giving the salute and goose-stepping.