As mandated by the Olympic Charter, the proceedings combined the formal ceremonial opening of this international sporting event (including welcoming speeches, hoisting of the flags and the parade of athletes) with an artistic spectacle to showcase the host nation's culture.

Various celebrities were in attendance, including Linda Evans, Burt Lancaster, Bob Hope, Steven Spielberg, Gene Kelly and Brooke Shields.

Citywide church bells and large cannons rang throughout the city to announce the start of 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games.

"Hail to the Chief" was played to introduce President Reagan, followed by the U.S. national anthem and "Fanfare for the Common Man" by Aaron Copland.

Los Angeles produced an artistic interpretation of the American lifestyle and popular culture called Music of America.

The first segment opened with American Suite, performed by an 800-member marching band consisting primarily of members from colleges in the Los Angeles area.

The third segment, Dixieland Jamboree, depicted a traditional southern U.S. gospel choir featuring 300 members singing "When the Saints Go Marching In", led by singer Etta James.

The sixth and final segment ended with the entire cast dancing and forming the outlined map of the United States to the strains of "America the Beautiful".

[1] Vicki McClure, a local supermarket checker,[7] led the crowd in a performance of the Diana Ross song "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)".

On the big screens, various children in Japan, Australia, Africa and Latin America joined hands, singing along to the song, and a large fireworks finale followed.