The modern Olympic and Paralympic Games encompass more than just the drama and excitement of a sporting competition. Thanks to the vision of their founder, Pierre de Coubertin, and the creative efforts of various host city organisers, the ceremonial aspects of the Olympic and Paralympic Games have served to set them apart from other international sports competitions. The protocol and splendour of the Olympic ceremonies, which go hand-in-hand with the celebration of the Games as everyone knows them today, make this event unique and unforgettable. Although there was an Opening Ceremony at the Games of the Olympiad in 1896 in Athens, it bore only the slightest resemblance to today’s ceremonies. In fact, some of the elements of Olympic protocol that have become a part of today’s traditions were only gradually established over time through a series of adaptations to the ceremonies of early editions of the Games.
Step-by-step elements
Today, Rule 55 of the Olympic Charter outlines the protocol that must be observed at the Opening Ceremony of the Games, including the wording of the opening speech to be delivered by the host country’s head of state.
Other important features of the Opening Ceremony are:
Other important features of the Opening Ceremony are:
- Entry by the head of state
- Playing the national anthem
- The artistic programme
- The parade of the athletes
- The symbolic release of pigeons
- The opening of the Games by the head of state
- Raising the Olympic or Paralympic flag and playing the Olympic or Paralympic anthem
- The taking of the Olympic/Paralympic oath by an athlete
- The taking of the Olympic/Paralympic oath by an official
- The taking of the Olympic oath by a coach
- The Olympic flame and Torch Relay
Preparation
Before the Opening Ceremony, there is always a small stunt or artistic segment that precedes the countdown. Afterwards, another small segment follows, at the end of which the Olympic Rings is displayed.
Step 1: Head of State entry
The head of state of the host country is received at the entrance of the stadium by the IOC President. The IOC President then meets the head of state in the official stand. It is customary for this to occur at the beginning of the Opening Ceremony.
Step 2: Playing the national anthem
After the introduction of the head of state, the national anthem of the host country is then played or sung, as the host nation’s flag is hoisted.
Step-by-step:
Step-by-step:
- Soldiers enters the stadium carry the national flag of the host country.
- If the carriers of the flags are other than soldiers, they will pass the flag to the soldiers before reaching the flagpole.
- Once arrived at the flagpole, the flag is raised to the sound of its anthem.
Step 3: The artistic programme
Once the national anthem of the host country has been played, the show begins. Usually, the content is kept secret until the last minute. Over the years, Games organisers have managed to find creative ways to combine Olympic protocol with just the right amount of entertainment, cultural references, technological innovations and festive atmosphere.
Generally, for the regular Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games, it shows the arts and culture, and the story of the host country. For the Youth Olympic Games, it sometimes features hip-hop, disco, jazz, modern-style dances, and anything related to the teenagers.
Examples are:
Sometimes, the show also carries elements or characters owned by another company, and is always with permission. For example, the property of Nintendo 3DS is owned by Nintendo, scenes from Lady and the Tramp as well as WALL-E are owned by The Walt Disney Company, scenes from Shrek 2 are owned by DreamWorks Animation and Paramount Pictures (directly owned by Viacom), while the character Voldemort from Harry Potter film series is owned by the Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.
Generally, for the regular Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games, it shows the arts and culture, and the story of the host country. For the Youth Olympic Games, it sometimes features hip-hop, disco, jazz, modern-style dances, and anything related to the teenagers.
Examples are:
- The Sydney 2000 presentation covered the history, nature and culture of the whole of Australia.
- In Salt Lake City, the organisers evoked the journey of the Child of Light to “Light the Fire Within”.
- For its part, the Opening Ceremony of the 2004 Games in Athens, produced by Dimitris Papaioannou, offered a memorable mix of Olympic protocol and Greek culture. The various scenes depicted 3,000 years of this historical legacy, highlighting the links between the Ancient Games and this first Olympiad of the 21st century.
- In Turin in 2006, the organisers offered spectators and television viewers a ceremony in which the athletes were at the heart of things, with an unforgettable show illustrating the values of brotherhood and dialogue between peoples and cultures, to show that “passion lives here”.
- The Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games was spectacular, unforgettable and stirring. It celebrated the imagination, originality and dynamism of the Beijing Olympic Games. Under the leadership of Zhang Yimou, 22,000 actors gave life to the motto “One World, One Dream”. They retraced the history of China in a grandiose show bringing to life Chinese inventions and culture.
- On 12 February 2010 in Vancouver, the organisers and David Atkins’ team offered an unforgettable show to the 60,000 spectators present, and the millions of television viewers, illustrating Canadian culture and the unifying power of sport. Athletes entered BC Place arena to drumming and dancing by representatives of the Four Host Nations and other aboriginal people.
- The stunning Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, directed by Danny Boyle and produced by Stephen Daldry, Mark Fisher, Hamish Hamilton and Catherine Ugwu, was titled “Isles of Wonder”. It reflected key themes based on sport, inspiration, youth and urban transformation. It was a ceremony “for everyone” and celebrated the contributions the UK has made to the world through innovation and revolution, as well as the creativity and exuberance of British people.
Sometimes, the show also carries elements or characters owned by another company, and is always with permission. For example, the property of Nintendo 3DS is owned by Nintendo, scenes from Lady and the Tramp as well as WALL-E are owned by The Walt Disney Company, scenes from Shrek 2 are owned by DreamWorks Animation and Paramount Pictures (directly owned by Viacom), while the character Voldemort from Harry Potter film series is owned by the Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.
Step 4: Parade of the athletes
Depending on summer or winter Games, this segment is either started before, during (both of them for Winter Games ceremony) or after the artistic programme (for the Summer Games).
The parade of the participants reflects both the changing world and the growth of the Olympic and the Paralympic Movement.
The number of National Olympic Committees (NOCs) present at the Opening Ceremony has increased from 22 in 1908 to 204 in Beijing in 2008. The Paralympic participant and the Winter Olympic participants are usually lesser than the Games of the Olympiad participants.
For the Olympic Games, tradition dictates that the delegations parade in alphabetical order according to the language of the host country, except for Greece, which leads the parade, and the host country, which brings up the rear. Greece does not lead the parade for the Paralympic Games opening ceremony.
The formulae follows like this:
Each delegation is preceded by a board bearing its country’s name, and by its flag. The usual practice is for the athletes to march behind the flag of their country, but there are sometimes exceptions. For example, the Olympic flag has been used by some nations, such as Great Britain or most of the participants in 1980 in Moscow, the Unified Team in 1992, and Timor-Leste in 2000. On other occasions, a special flag has been used by delegations, such as the two Koreas, which marched together in Sydney in 2000, and again in Athens in 2004, while for the Winter Olympics, they only did so in 2006 in Turin.
For the Games of the Olympiad, the athletes enter the stadium after the artistic programme and remain in the centre of the field. For the Winter Games, the athletes march is near the beginning of the Ceremony, and the athletes take seats reserved for them in the audience.
For the Youth Olympic Games, athletes are usually do not enter behind their flag-bearers, as they rather already joined the audiences. This segment is called the "parade of flags".
A small music performance may follow afterwards.
The number of National Olympic Committees (NOCs) present at the Opening Ceremony has increased from 22 in 1908 to 204 in Beijing in 2008. The Paralympic participant and the Winter Olympic participants are usually lesser than the Games of the Olympiad participants.
For the Olympic Games, tradition dictates that the delegations parade in alphabetical order according to the language of the host country, except for Greece, which leads the parade, and the host country, which brings up the rear. Greece does not lead the parade for the Paralympic Games opening ceremony.
The formulae follows like this:
- A bearer with the Greek flag entered the stadium first, in front of all the other delegations.
- Greek participants follows the bearer.
- The Greek participants are then followed by the first national participants in the leading of the alphabetical order.
- The nation in first order is followed by the next nation in second order, and then third, fourth, fifth, etc.
- The sequence ended with the last nation entering in alphabetical order.
- Finally, the host nation, such as the Chinese team for Beijing 2008, the Canadian delegation for Montreal 1976, Calgary 1988 and Vancouver 2010, the British team for London 1948 and London 2012, or the Russian team for Sochi 2014, concluded the parade. Delegations should be treated equally! No single country must receive greater attention than any other.
Each delegation is preceded by a board bearing its country’s name, and by its flag. The usual practice is for the athletes to march behind the flag of their country, but there are sometimes exceptions. For example, the Olympic flag has been used by some nations, such as Great Britain or most of the participants in 1980 in Moscow, the Unified Team in 1992, and Timor-Leste in 2000. On other occasions, a special flag has been used by delegations, such as the two Koreas, which marched together in Sydney in 2000, and again in Athens in 2004, while for the Winter Olympics, they only did so in 2006 in Turin.
For the Games of the Olympiad, the athletes enter the stadium after the artistic programme and remain in the centre of the field. For the Winter Games, the athletes march is near the beginning of the Ceremony, and the athletes take seats reserved for them in the audience.
For the Youth Olympic Games, athletes are usually do not enter behind their flag-bearers, as they rather already joined the audiences. This segment is called the "parade of flags".
A small music performance may follow afterwards.
Step 5: Doves of peace
As doves are the symbol of peace, it is no surprise that the Opening Ceremony protocol calls for a symbolic release of these birds. From 1936 to 1988, the release of the pigeons used to take place before the arrival of the Olympic flame. However, following the unfortunate demise of several pigeons sitting on the edge of the Olympic cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of the Games in Seoul, the use of real birds has been replaced by a symbolic release of doves, which now takes place either after the parade of nations or after the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.
Step 6: Speeches and declaration of the opening of the Games
At first, the OCOG President delivers a speech for greet the volunteers and athletes where they came from. He or she may also speaks a monologue about the preparations, the hard-working, and its step-by-step for the Games. At the end of the monologue, he or she gives the floor to the IOC or IPC President.
The IOC or IPC President speaks a monologue to everyone in the stadium about how the games progresses, the vision and mission of the Games, hopes for the success of the athletes, the motto, and the promises. He concluded the monologue by saying:
The IOC or IPC President speaks a monologue to everyone in the stadium about how the games progresses, the vision and mission of the Games, hopes for the success of the athletes, the motto, and the promises. He concluded the monologue by saying:
I have the honoutr of inviting ... (name of the head state) .... to declare open the … (number
of the Games) … Olympiad of the modern era/Olympic Winter Games/Youth Olympic Games/Youth Olympic Winter Games/Paralympic Games/Paralympic Winter Games.
According to the Olympic Charter protocol, which has existed for many years, the duty of declaring the Games officially open falls to the head of state of the host country. Among the personalities that have performed this task are royalty and presidents, and, in accordance with acceptable political protocol within the country and with IOC approval, their representatives, whether it be a vice-president, a member of the royal family, or a governor-general.
The Head of State says to open the Games like this:
The Head of State says to open the Games like this:
I declare open the Games of … (name of the host city) celebrating the … (number
of the Olympiad/Olympic Winter Games/Paralympic Games) … Olympiad of the modern era/Olympic Winter Games/Paralympic Games/Paralympic Winter Games.
or like this:
“I declare open the … (number of the Olympic Winter Games/Youth Olympic Games/Youth Olympic Winter Games) Olympic Winter Games/Youth Olympic Games/Youth Olympic Winter Games of … (name of the host city).”
Step 7: Raising of the Olympic flag
After the head of state opens the Games, the Olympic or the Paralympic flag, unfurled horizontally, is brought into the stadium. The flag should pass the stand of honour upon entry, and then proceed around the stadium. By custom, the flag is carried by eight to ten people. When the flag reaches the base of the flagpole, the Olympic/Paralympic anthem is performed as the flag is raised to the top of the pole. The Olympic or Paralympic flag must be flown for the entire duration of the Games. Since 2004, the Olympic flag or the Paralympic flag is always raised beside the flag of the host country.
For the Olympic Games
The Olympic anthem, with music by the Greek composer Spiros Samaras and words by Kostis Palamas, was officially adopted by the IOC in 1958 at its Tokyo Session. This anthem was created in 1896 for the first Games of the Olympiad in Athens.
Officially presented at the 17th IOC Session in June 1914 in Paris, the Olympic flag was raised for the first time at the Olympic Games in Antwerp in 1920. The original flag was designed by Pierre de Coubertin. It included the Olympic symbol – the five rings – and the Olympic motto, Citius-Altius-Fortius. However, the motto quickly disappeared, and only the Olympic symbol remained on the flag. Contrary to what is sometimes written, it is the five rings themselves that represent the five continents, not the colours of these rings. In fact, the six colours represented on the Olympic flag – the white background, plus the blue, black, red, yellow and green of the rings – were chosen because at least one of these colours can be seen on the flag of every nation.
For the Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games uses a slightly different annthem that is usually performed instrumentally. The Paralympic flag features the Paralympic symbol: the three curved lines drawn in a such way, to represent the mind, body, and soul.
The Olympic anthem, with music by the Greek composer Spiros Samaras and words by Kostis Palamas, was officially adopted by the IOC in 1958 at its Tokyo Session. This anthem was created in 1896 for the first Games of the Olympiad in Athens.
Officially presented at the 17th IOC Session in June 1914 in Paris, the Olympic flag was raised for the first time at the Olympic Games in Antwerp in 1920. The original flag was designed by Pierre de Coubertin. It included the Olympic symbol – the five rings – and the Olympic motto, Citius-Altius-Fortius. However, the motto quickly disappeared, and only the Olympic symbol remained on the flag. Contrary to what is sometimes written, it is the five rings themselves that represent the five continents, not the colours of these rings. In fact, the six colours represented on the Olympic flag – the white background, plus the blue, black, red, yellow and green of the rings – were chosen because at least one of these colours can be seen on the flag of every nation.
For the Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games uses a slightly different annthem that is usually performed instrumentally. The Paralympic flag features the Paralympic symbol: the three curved lines drawn in a such way, to represent the mind, body, and soul.
Step 8: The taking of the Olympic/Paralympic oath by a competitor
First pronounced by Belgian athlete Victor Boin (water polo, swimming and fencing) at the 1920 Games of the Olympiad in Antwerp, the Olympic oath of modern times was similar to that taken by the Olympic athletes of ancient times – but at the modern Olympic Games, the athletes swear on the Olympic flag, not on the entrails of a sacrificed animal. The modern Olympic oath was originally written by Pierre de Coubertin, and has been modified over time to reflect the changing nature of the sporting competition.
Step 9: The taking of the Olympic/Paralympic oath by an official
Afterwards, a judge or official from the host country pronounces the oath for all of the judges and officials.
Step 10: The taking of the Olympic oath by a coach
Introduced for the first time at the Youth Olympic Games in 2010 in Singapore, the Olympic Oath taken by a coach, for the regular Olympic Games, was added to the protocol for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Immediately after the officials’ oath, a coach from the host country mount the rostrum, taking the oath for all the coaches.
Step 11: The Olympic Flame and the Torch Relay
The Ancient Greeks considered fire to be a divine element, and they kept fires burning constantly in front of their principal temples. This was the case in the sanctuary of Olympia, where the Ancient Olympic Games took place. A flame burned permanently on the altar of the goddess Hestia, and such fires were also lit on the altars of Zeus and Hera, in front of whose temple the Olympic flame is lit today. In ancient times, the flame was lit using the rays of the sun, to ensure its purity, and a skaphia, the ancestor of the parabolic mirror used today to light the Olympic flame.
The flame is carried by a relay all the way to its final destination: the Olympic stadium in the host city of the Olympic Games about to begin. When the flame arrives at its destination, the final torchbearer will run a lap of the stadium before the flame is used to light the Olympic cauldron, which remains lit for the duration of the Games and is extinguished only at the Closing Ceremony of the Games.
Like the messengers who proclaimed the sacred Olympic truce, the runners who carry the Olympic flame encourage the whole world to put down their weapons and turn towards the Games. The choice of Olympia as a starting point emphasises the link between the ancient and modern Games, and underlines the profound connection between the two. The ceremonial aspect of the Olympic flame has not always been linked to Olympia in Greece. It is only since the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936 that the Olympic flame and the torch relay have become two features of protocol that are inextricably linked.
For example, the arrival of the Olympic flame at the Opening Ceremony of the Games in Vancouver was much more than a protocol element indicating the start of a new edition of the Games. It also represented the end of a unique journey, which saw the flame carried over 45,000 kilometres by 12,000 torchbearers visiting over 1,000 communities and places of interest in Canada.
Innovation and symbolism often play an important role in the choice of the last torch-bearers – those who will be remembered forever as having lit the cauldron in the Olympic stadium.
The flame is carried by a relay all the way to its final destination: the Olympic stadium in the host city of the Olympic Games about to begin. When the flame arrives at its destination, the final torchbearer will run a lap of the stadium before the flame is used to light the Olympic cauldron, which remains lit for the duration of the Games and is extinguished only at the Closing Ceremony of the Games.
Like the messengers who proclaimed the sacred Olympic truce, the runners who carry the Olympic flame encourage the whole world to put down their weapons and turn towards the Games. The choice of Olympia as a starting point emphasises the link between the ancient and modern Games, and underlines the profound connection between the two. The ceremonial aspect of the Olympic flame has not always been linked to Olympia in Greece. It is only since the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936 that the Olympic flame and the torch relay have become two features of protocol that are inextricably linked.
For example, the arrival of the Olympic flame at the Opening Ceremony of the Games in Vancouver was much more than a protocol element indicating the start of a new edition of the Games. It also represented the end of a unique journey, which saw the flame carried over 45,000 kilometres by 12,000 torchbearers visiting over 1,000 communities and places of interest in Canada.
Innovation and symbolism often play an important role in the choice of the last torch-bearers – those who will be remembered forever as having lit the cauldron in the Olympic stadium.