Why does greece walk first in the olympics

Greece always enters the stadium first in the Olympics, and there’s a good reason for it. Whether it’s the modern version or the ones from ancient times, the Olympics are one of the oldest traditions in the history of sports. The event has gone through many changes, but some aspects are the same as always, and this is one of them.

The 2022 Winter Olympics are set to begin on February 2, 2022, in Beijing and run until February 20, although the official opening is two days later on February 4. Nothing is currently known about the opening ceremony, but The Great Wall's Zhang Yimou, who directed the opening ceremony for the 2008 Summer Olympics, is in charge again, so something on that scale should be expected. Something that is known, however, is that Greece will be the first ones to enter the stadium and lead the parade, just like they do at every Olympic Games.

The reason why Greece is first in the opening ceremony is simple: it’s to honor their involvement in the creation of the Games. Greece was the birthplace of the Ancient Olympic Games, and when the Olympics were revived for the modern-day, the very first Olympic Games were held in Athens. If it wasn’t for the people of Ancient Greece, the same time period as the epic Zack Snyder historical film 300, there would be no Olympics, and the Games honor that fact by letting them enter the stadium first, regardless of where the Games are being held, followed by all other countries in alphabetical order, save for whichever nation is currently hosting the Games.

This has been the case for nearly every Olympic Games Greece has been involved with since 1896. The only time Greece wasn’t leading the charge was in 2004, but that was only because they were hosting the Games that year. Traditionally, the country hosting the games enters the ceremony last, so Greece had to honor that and do the same, even if it had the side effect of forcing them to break a separate tradition.

The 2022 Winter Olympics seem like they’ll be a completely normal Olympic Games, however, so there’s no reason to think that the opening ceremony by The Great Wall director Zhang Yimou will go any differently. Just as it was in previous Games, Greece will be the first country to enter the stadium for the opening ceremony, and China, being the host, will enter the stadium last. Additionally, the closing ceremonies for the Games should also see Greece’s flag being hoisted alongside the Chinese and Italian flags, since Italy is set to host the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

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Greece has a long presence at the Olympic Games, as they have competed at every Summer Olympic Games, one of only five countries to have done so, and most of the Winter Olympic Games. Greece has hosted the Games twice, both in Athens. As the home of the Ancient Olympic Games it was a natural choice as host nation for the revival of the modern Olympic Games in 1896, while Greece has also hosted the 2004 Summer Olympics. During the parade of nations at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, Greece always enters the stadium first and leads the parade to honor its status as the birthplace of the Olympics, with the notable exception of 2004 when Greece entered last as the host nation. Before the Games the Olympic Flame is lit in Olympia, the site of the Ancient Olympic Games, in a ceremony that reflects ancient Greek rituals and initiates the Olympic torch relay. The flag of Greece is always hoisted in the closing ceremony, along with the flags of the current and the next host country.

• 1896
• 1900
• 1904
• 1908
• 1912
• 1920
• 1924
• 1928
• 1932
• 1936
• 1948
• 1952
• 1956
• 1960
• 1964
• 1968
• 1972
• 1976
• 1980
• 1984
• 1988
• 1992
• 1996
• 2000
• 2004
• 2008
• 2012
• 2016
• 2020

• 1936
• 1948
• 1952
• 1956
• 1960
• 1964
• 1968
• 1972
• 1976
• 1980
• 1984
• 1988
• 1992
• 1994
• 1998
• 2002
• 2006
• 2010
• 2014
• 2018
• 2022

Greek athletes have won a total of 121 medals in 15 different sports and the country currently ranks 33rd in the all-time Summer Olympics medal count. Athletics and weightlifting have been the top medal-producing sports for the nation and in the latter Greece is placed among the top 10 countries overall. Gymnastics, shooting and wrestling are the other sports that have produced ten or more medals for Greece. In the inaugural 1896 Olympics, Greece finished second in the gold medals count, but won the most medals in total, in their best Olympic performance. The Greeks finished third in the 1906 Intercalated Games with 8 gold, 14 silver and 13 bronze medals (35 in total), which were considered Olympic at the time but are not officially recognized by the IOC today.

Greece did not win any medals at the Winter Olympics.

Greece has hosted the Summer Olympic Games on two occasions, the inaugural modern Olympics in 1896 and again in 2004. Both were held in Athens, which along with Paris, Los Angeles, and Tokyo are the cities that have hosted the Olympic Games twice, with London being the only city to have hosted them three times. The Greek capital also hosted the 1906 Intercalated Games, which at the time were considered to be Olympic Games by the International Olympic Committee.[1]

See also: All-time Olympic Games medal table

See also: List of multiple Olympic medalists

The table below lists the athletes that have won more than one Olympic medal while competing for Greece. It does not include medals won for other nations and mixed teams. The athletes are shown in order by the number of total medals won; in case of the same number of total medals they are sorted by gold, silver and then bronze medals.

Top medalists

The tables below list the top Olympic medalists for Greece, sorted by gold, silver and then bronze medals.

Additional disputed medals of 1896

There is confusion about certain results and medals in the first Summer Olympics of 1896. The Hellenic Olympic Committee, claiming different sources, cites in its website some different results for certain events and some additional medals for Greece, which are contradictory to those appearing in the IOC website. They are cited here separately and are not included in any of the other tables.

Greece first competed in swimming at the inaugural 1896 Games, sweeping the top three spots in one event open only to Greek sailors and winning two silver and one bronze medal in international events. Greek swimmers have won only one silver medal since then at the 2016 Games.

Diving

Greece won a gold medal in Diving at the 2004 Games.

Water Polo

Greece has won silver medals at the 2004 Games (women's) and 2020 Games (men's).

Athletics

Greece first competed in athletics at the first Games in 1896, winning the men's marathon. Since then, Greece have won numerous medals in athletics especially from the 1992 Games through to the 2020 Games, in what is Greece's most successful sport at the Olympic Games.

Cycling

Greece competed in all six of the cycling events at the first Games in 1896, winning one event and taking three second-place finishes. As of 2020, those were still the only cycling medals earned by Greek competitors.

Fencing

Greece competed in all three fencing events at the inaugural 1896 Games, winning two (the men's master's foil and the men's sabre) and adding a second-place finish in the men's sabre and third-place in the men's foil. However another bronze medal is considered nowadays in the same event.[32]Those remain the only fencing medals Greece has won to date (through the 2020 Olympics).

Gymnastics

Greece sent 52 gymnasts to the first Games in 1896 (when team events featured very large teams), winning six medals including two of each color. Since then, Greece have won many medals in Gymnastics from the 1996 Games through to the 2020 Games.

Judo

Greece first competed in judo at the 2004 Games and has won two medals since, both won by the same judoka, Ilias Iliadis.

Rowing

Greece first won a rowing medal at the 2004 Games and has won more medals since then.

Sailing

Greece's first competed in the sailing events in 1948 and won it's fist medal at the 1960 Games and has won numerous medals since then.

Shooting

Greece competed in all five shooting events at the inaugural 1896 Games, winning three and medaling in the other two (earning a total of 9 medals) and has won shooting medals again from the 2016 Games onwards.

Tae Kwon Do

Greece first competed in tae kwon do at the 2000 Games and had a notable success during the 2000s decade, winning medals in 3 consecutive Olympic Games.

Tennis

Greece first competed in tennis at the inaugural 1896 Games, with seven players competing in men's singles and doubles. Greek players won the silver and bronze medals in the singles; a pair of Greek players combined to win the silver in the doubles, nowadays considered a Greek team and therefore a Greek medal.[31] The 1896 medals remain (through the 2020 Games) the only tennis medals won by Greek players.

Weightlifting

Greece first competed in weightlifting at the inaugural 1896 Games, with three lifters competing. Greek lifters won the bronze medals in both events. Since then, Greek lifters won numerous medals from the 1992 Games through to the 2004 Games, including from Greece's top Olympic medalist Pyrros Dimas.

Wrestling

Greece first competed in wrestling at the inaugural 1896 Games, with two wrestlers competing in the open weight class event and taking the silver and bronze medals. Since then, Greek wrestlers have won medals from the 1968 Games onwards.

In 1896 the first modern Olympic Games were hosted in Athens, the capital of Greece. The Games were a revival of the ancient Games held every four years in Olympia, in which participants from all Greek city-states were taking part, during antiquity.

By tradition, Greece is since then the first country to enter the stadium, during opening ceremonies.

2004 Summer Olympics

The 2004 Summer Olympics witnessed the returning of the Olympic Games to Greece, where they were born. They were held, for the second time, in Athens, while a few events were hosted in a small number of other cities including Thessaloniki, Patras, Volos and Heraklion.

The Games' motto was Welcome Home (Καλώς ήρθατε σπίτι). The 2004 logo consisted of an olive tree branch (κότινος), with the colors of the modern Greek flag. The olive tree was a symbol of the city of Athens, while "kotinos" represented the Olympic spirit, as it was the only reward that the athletes were receiving in Olympia, during the ancient Games. The logo was revealed in 1999.

• List of flag bearers for Greece at the Olympics
• Category:Olympic competitors for Greece
• Greece at the Paralympics

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2. ^ IOC. "Athens 1896 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
3. ^ IOC. "Paris 1900 Olympic Results - Gold, Silver, Bronze Medallists". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
4. ^ IOC. "St. Louis 1904 Olympic Results - Gold, Silver, Bronze Medallists". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
5. ^ IOC. "London 1908 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
6. ^ IOC. "Stockholm 1912 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
7. ^ IOC. "Antwerp 1920 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
8. ^ IOC. "Paris 1924 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
9. ^ IOC. "Amsterdam 1928 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
10. ^ IOC. "Los Angeles 1932 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
11. ^ IOC. "Berlin 1936 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
12. ^ IOC. "London 1948 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
13. ^ IOC. "Helsinki 1952 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
14. ^ IOC. "Melbourne 1956 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
15. ^ IOC. "Rome 1960 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
16. ^ IOC. "Tokyo 1964 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
17. ^ IOC. "Mexico City 1968 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
18. ^ IOC. "Munich 1972 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
19. ^ IOC. "Montreal 1976 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
20. ^ IOC. "Moscow 1980 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
21. ^ IOC. "Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
22. ^ IOC. "Seoul 1988 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
23. ^ IOC. "Barcelona 1992 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
24. ^ IOC. "Atlanta 1996 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
25. ^ IOC. "Sydney 2000 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
26. ^ IOC. "Athens 2004 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
27. ^ IOC. "Beijing 2008 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
28. ^ IOC. "London 2012 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
29. ^ IOC. "Rio 2016 Olympic Medal Table - Gold, Silver & Bronze". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
30. ^ IOC. "Tokyo 2020 Olympic Medal Count". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on 2021-07-15. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
31. ^ a b IOC. "Athens 1896 doubles men Results - Olympic tennis". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
32. ^ a b IOC. "Athens 1896 foil individual men Results - Olympic fencing". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
33. ^ a b "Χωραφάς Στάθης". Ελληνική Ολυμπιακή Επιτροπή (in Greek). Retrieved 2021-08-10.
34. ^ "Official Report 1896 page 1". digital.la84.org. p. 216 of the document, 96 of the second part. Retrieved 2021-08-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
35. ^ Newspaper Akropolis, 31 March 1896, p. 2. Accessible at Helleniic Parliament's digital library, p. 2 of the microfilm.
36. ^ Newspaper Epitheorisis, 4 April 1896, p. 2. Accessible at the Hellenic Parliament's digital library, p. 172 of the microfilm. Chorafas is cited among the runners up in swimming, although by mistake as of the event of 1200 m., with Andreou cited as runner up in 100 m., while obviously it is vice-versa.
37. ^ IOC. "Athens 1896 100m freestyle men Results - Olympic swimming". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
38. ^ "Ακρατόπουλος Κώστας". Ελληνική Ολυμπιακή Επιτροπή (in Greek). Retrieved 2021-08-10.
39. ^ "Ακρατόπουλος Αριστείδης". Ελληνική Ολυμπιακή Επιτροπή (in Greek). Retrieved 2021-08-10.
40. ^ IOC. "Athens 1896 doubles men Results - Olympic tennis". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
41. ^ "Πετμεζάς Αριστόβουλος". Ελληνική Ολυμπιακή Επιτροπή (in Greek). Retrieved 2021-08-10.
42. ^ IOC. "Athens 1896 horizontal bar men Results - Olympic gymnastics-artistic". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
43. ^ IOC. "Athens 1896 1200m freestyle men Results - Olympic swimming". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
44. ^ "Παρασκευόπουλος Γιώργος". Ελληνική Ολυμπιακή Επιτροπή (in Greek). Retrieved 2021-08-10.
45. ^ Newspaper Epitheorisis, 3 April 1896, p. 2. Accessible at the Hellenic Parliament's digital library, p. 170 of the microfilm.
46. ^ IOC. "Athens 1896 12-hour race men Results - Olympic cycling-track". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
47. ^ "Konstantinos "Kostas" Dimitriadis". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2021-08-10.

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