THE OLYMPIC VOW

The vow was rehearsed from every athlete of the organizer country on behalf of all the athletes that were participating. The Olympic vow was formulated from the Europeans Olympic Commission (EOC). It sets the general program, chooses the city where the games are to be held, and determines the standards of amateurism. Each participating country has a National Olympic Committee that is responsible for arranging the participation of the nation's athletes in the games.

The opening ceremony of each Olympic Games is held in a major stadium. The president of the host nation usually officiates. Led by athletes from Greece, all athletes march around the stadium in the parade of Nations. Then, facing the Olympic Flag, the athletes take the Olympic Oath:

"In the name of all the athletes,

I promise to take part in these  Olympic Games, obeisant the regulations that they govern it,

by the real spirit of well-behaved competition for the flame of athletics and the honour of our teams "

Another version is :

We swear that we will take part in these Olympic Games

in the true spirit of sportsmanship, and that we will

respect and abide by the rules that govern them, for

the glory of sport and the honour of our country.

It was instituted in 1920 and the athletes that had the honour to rehearse it were :

1920 V. Boin (bayonet-fighting)
1924 G. Andre (foot-race)
1928 H. Denis (football)
1932 G. Calnan (bayonet-fighting)
1936 R. Ismayr (weight-lifting)
1948 D. Finley (foot-race)
1952 H. Savolainen (gymnastics)
1956 L. Landy (foot-race) - H. Saint Gyr (riding)
1960 A. Consolini (foot-race)
1964 T. Ono (gymnastics)
1968 P. Garrido (foot-race)
1972 H. Schneller (foot-race) - first woman
1976 P. Saint Jean (weight-lifting)
1980 N. Andrianon (gymnastics)
1984 E. Moses (foot-race)
1988 J. Aur (basketball) - Mina Son (handball)

Apart from the Athletes Olympic Oath there was also the Olympic Anthem that was rehearsed from the athletes too.

The Olympic Flame is lit with a torch that is brought by a relay of athletes from the ruins of ancient Olympia in Greece. When the Games are completed, the flag is lowered and the flame extinguished