That took a sack full of guts ...

Perhaps the most dramatic, and anticipated moment of the Olympic Opening Ceremony is the arrival of the Olympic torch and the lighting of the Olympic flame. 

And perhaps the most emotional and inspiring arrival/lighting occurred in 1996 in Atlanta.

For the Atlanta Olympics, the torch arrived in the United States 84 days before the start of the games (together with the 16 days of competition to add up to a symbolic 100 days) and traveled more than 16,000 miles. An estimated 3.5 billion people around the world, along with the assembled athletes watched the journey of the flame, curious who the final torch bearer would be.
 
The final runner, four-time discus gold-medal winner Al Oerter, arrives outside the stadium to ignite the torch held by three-time heavyweight world champion boxer Evander Holyfield who enters the stadium joined by Greek runner Voula Patoulidou.
 
The two of them carry the torch around the stadium track and pass the torch to US four-time gold medal winner swimmer Janet Evans.
 
As Beethoven`s "Ode to Joy" is played, Evans takes her lap around the track towards the long ramp leading up to the top of the stadium.
 
The cheers from the capacity crowd crescendo.
 
All eyes are on Evans as she climbs the ramp.
 
Then, as she reaches the top of the stadium they are treated to a surprise.
 

Waiting for her is Muhammad Ali. The Greatest
 
The crowd gasps and then joins together in a tumultuous roar.
 

The heavyweight boxing gold medalist at the 1960 Olympics in Rome and regarded by many to be the greatest professional heavyweight boxing champion of all time, Ali is one of the most recognizable sports figures worldwide.
 
Evans touches her torch to Ali`s, igniting it.
 
Ali holds the Olympic torch unsteadily in his right hand while his left shakes uncontrollably with the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. He raises the flame and is met with supportive cheers.

Watching Muhammad Ali proudly hold the Olympic torch, despite his crippling ailment, stands as a great moment in sport, Olympics and beyond. The world was inspired by a man recognized as a great fighter during his boxing days as he continued to fight, this time his crippling ailment.
 
US President Bill Clinton, who was there to open the Olympic Games said, “That took a sack full of guts ... and it's taken a lot of courage to continue to go out, to be seen...he wasn't self-conscious. He's something special.”
 
The dignity of the man was consummate – never relinquishing ideals for money or fame, Ali was the people’s champion – the underdog in sport and life.
 
“They didn’t tell me who would light the flame, but when I saw it was you, I cried,” said Clinton.
 
He wasn’t the only one.