Olympic Opening Ceremony Protocol

People all over the world anticipate the spectacle of the Olympic Games, beginning with the Opening Ceremony. The ceremony varies by country, but certain elements remain the same at every Games, as established by the Olympic Charter.

Parade of Nations

• One of the most colorful elements of the Opening Ceremony is the entrance of the participating nations into the main stadium. Traditionally, the delegations enter in alphabetical order according to the language of the host country and wearing team uniforms befitting their cultures. The exceptions are Greece, which enters first, and the home team, which enters last.

Speeches

• The head of state of the host country declares the Olympic Games open, following speeches by the presidents of the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games and the International Olympic Committee. The Olympic anthem then plays as the Olympic flag is carried into the stadium.

Olympic Flame

• Another highly anticipated part of the Opening Ceremony is the lighting of the cauldron--and the method by which it is done. It is an honor to carry the torch into the stadium and to light the Olympic flame, and the bearers are traditionally kept secret until the ceremony.

Oaths

• The last official part of the ceremony is the taking of the Olympic Oaths. One competitor and one official or judge are chosen to symbolically take the oaths for all participants. The athlete swears to abide by the rules of the Games and the judge to officiate impartially "in the true spirit of sportsmanship."