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THE  OLYMPIC  HYMN

The Olympic Hymn is played while the Olympic Flag is raised onto the large flagpole. The music was

composed by Spirou Samara and the words were added by Costis of Greece in 1896

" Immortal spirit of antiquity

Father of the true, beautiful and good

Descend, appear, shed over us they light

Upon this ground and under this sky

Which has fits witnessed by un-perishable fame.

" Give life and animation to those noble games

Throw wreaths of fadeless flowers to the victors

In the race and in the strife

Create in our breasts, hearts of steel.

" In thy light, plains, mountains and seas

Shine is a roseate hue and for a vast temple

To which all nations throng to adore thee

Oh immortal spirit of antiquity."

The poem below is sometimes told before the anthem is chanted,

while the music of the Olympic Hymn is accompanied very low

"Happy is the man chosen for Fame:

The Palm of Victory on his brow

Shows him to the crowd's acclaim.

He shall taste for his rewards the joys Devine:

Let the muses set a crown upon his head

And let an immortal song

Add to the glory of Triumph and to the

Beauty of Youth the Victor's name."

      During past Olympics, after the Olympic Hymn and Poem was performed,          

a touch of solemnity and  Spiritual goodwill was provided by a dedicatory address

of the President of the IOC, followed by the rendition of Mozart's Hallelujah Chorus.

Now the host country's chosen Olympic Team Captain, mounts the rostrum and reads the Olympic Oath.

The following version was written by Baron Pierre de Coubertain, when he was President of the IOC

The Olympic Oath for the Athletes 

In the name of all competitors, I promise that we shall

take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding

by the rules which govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship,

for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams.

The Olympic Official's Oath for the Judges is slightly different

In the name of all the judges, I promise that we shall

officiate in these Olympic Games with complete impartiality,

respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them,

in the true spirit of sportsmanship.

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