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The opening ceremony featured the singing group Lady Antebellum. Behind them an oversized American flag was brought onto the flag, then allowed to fall to the ground in front of a national audience.

Two Flag Code violations were committed by this ceremony:

• (Section 8b.) "The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground."
• (Section 8c.) "The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free."