An elaborate

ceremony traditionally opens the Olympic games. The athletes parade into stadium, led by the Greek team, in honor of the founding of the Olympic games, with the host nation marching in last. The Olympic Hymn is then played and the official Olympic flag (5 interlocking rings on a white background) is raised. A runner then enters the stadium bearing the Olympic torch, initially lit by rays of the sun at Olympia, and carried to the present site by a relay of runners.