The Hindu : Sport : Opening ceremonies: a mix of protocol and entertainment

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 10, 2004

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Sport - Sports : General

Opening ceremonies: a mix of protocol and entertainment

By A. Vinod

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUG. 9. Just three days remain for the Athens Olympics to begin. And on August 13 the Greeks, inspired by Apollo, the god of light, music and healing, are sure to provide a memorable mix of protocol and culture at the opening ceremony of the 28th Games of the Summer Olympiad. The three-hour affair is certain to add to the wonderfully rich legacy of the modern Olympic Games history.

Like in the recent past, the opening ceremony in Athens is expected to be another telling statement which would go on to prove that the modern Games encompasses more than just the drama and excitement of a sporting competition. Thanks to the vision of the founding father of the Games, Pierre de Coubertin and the creative efforts of the various host city organisers that the ceremonial beginning of the Olympic Games have served to set them apart from other international sports competitions. And undoubtedly through its designated ceremonies, the Games, over the years, have evolved into a unique festival.

Although there was an opening ceremony for the 1896 Games, its format bore only the slightest resemblance to that of today's opening ceremonies. Indeed, some of the elements of protocol that have become part of the Olympic tradition were established over time through a series of adaptations to the ceremonies of early editions of the Games.

Today, the required elements of the protocol can be found, in brief, in the Olympic Charter under Rule 69 and its byelaw. These elements include: the parade of the participants, the speech by the President of the Organising Committee, the speech of the IOC President, the Head of State declaring the Games open; the playing of the Olympic anthem and the entry and raising of the Olympic flag, the last stage of the Olympic torch relay and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron, the symbolic release of pigeons, the taking of the oath by a competitor, the taking of the oath by a judge or sporting official; the national anthem of the host country and an eye-catching artistic programme.

The parade

The participants' parade is reflective of both the changing world and the growth of the Olympic movement — increasing in size from 22 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) in 1908 to 202 NOCs in Athens this time around. In accordance with the Olympic Charter, 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.

In Athens, a bearer with the Greek flag will enter the stadium in front of all the other delegations, while the Greek team will conclude the parade.

Although the usual practice is for the athletes to march behind the flag of their nation, this has not always been the case. For example, the Olympic flag was used by a small number of nations such as Great Britain in 1980 in Moscow, the Unified team in 1992 in Barcelona and East Timor in 2000 in Sydney. In addition, a specially created flag has been used on occasions, as was the case for the two Koreas, which marched together in Sydney and will do so again in Athens.

According to established traditions and the Olympic Charter protocol that has existed over the years, the Head of State of the host country would declare the Games officially open. In the case of Athens, it will be the Greek President, Kostis Stephanopoulos, who will have the honour of declaring the Games officially opened on Friday. The Olympic anthem, which will follow, with music by the Greek composer Spiros Samaras and words by Kostis Palamas, was officially adopted by the IOC in 1958.

Olympic flag

Though officially introduced at the 17th IOC session in June 1914 in Paris, the first time that the Olympic flag was raised at the Games was not until 1920 in Antwerp. The original flag was designed by Pierre de Coubertin and included both the Olympic symbol — the five rings — and the Olympic motto — Citius, Altius, Fortius. The motto, however, quickly disappeared and the symbol became the only element of Olympic protocol to be represented on the flag. Contrary to what has been said, the five rings represent the five continents and not the actual colours of the rings. In fact, the six colours of the Olympic flag — the white background plus the blue, black, red, yellow and green of the upper and lower rings of the symbol — were actually chosen because of the fact that at least one of these colours can be seen in the flag of every nation in the world.

Today, the Olympic flame and torch relay are linked. However, the introduction of the relay by Carl Diem in Berlin in 1936 is actually predated by the appearance of a flame in Amsterdam in 1928 and by torch relays and races of ancient times. Olympic flame protocol has also not always been linked to Greece. In fact, for the 1952 and 1960 Winter Games the flame was lit in the house of Sondre Norheim in Morgedal, Norway, and not in Olympia.

The arrival of the flame at the opening ceremony in Athens will be more than merely a part of the protocol that symbolises the start of another celebration of the Games. It will also mark the end of a unique journey as more than 11,000 torch-bearers would have carried the flame for the first time to all the summer host cities as well as to all five continents.

Promoting peace

Due to the fact that doves are associated with peace, it is no surprise that the opening ceremony calls for the symbolic release of pigeons. In fact, from the time that this was introduced in 1920 in Antwerp, it has been symbolic with the Games. From 1920 to 1988, the release of the pigeons used to take place before the arrival of the Olympic flame. However, after the fiery demise of several pigeons that had come to rest on the rim of the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony in Seoul, this part of the protocol was moved, not eliminated. Now it follows the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.

This is to be followed by the taking of the Olympic oath (a practice which was introduced again in 1920 in Antwerp) by an athlete of the host country (Greek swimmer Zoi Dimoschaki will have this honour in Athens) and by a judge or sporting official (since Munich 1972), also from the host country.

Once the National anthem of the host country has been played, the show actually commences. Usually the content is a closely-guarded secret and this time too it is no different. Over the years, the Games organisers have managed to find any number of creative ways to combine the protocol of the opening ceremony with just the right amount of entertainment, cultural references, technological innovations and `Let the Games Begin' atmosphere.

The Greeks, for sure, would not be found wanting on August 13. Of course, there could be quite a few surprises.

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