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Every four years, athletes around the world gather to show off their talents at
the Olympic Games. Dating back hundreds of years to Ancient Greece, the Olympics
is the biggest and most prestigious combined sporting event in the world. A wide
variety of sports is featured, ranging from athletics to Wushu. The Olympics
always begins with the opening ceremony. This ceremony starts with the raising
of the host country's flag, together with the singing of its national anthem.
The host country then presents a variety of artistic displays showcasing its
culture. This is followed by a march past. Each country's representatives march
in bearing their national flag and a placard carrying their nation's name. Next,
the country's head of state declares the opening of the games, and the Olympic
Torch is brought into the stadium. Finally, the Olympic cauldron is set ablaze,
signaling the start of the games.
The day after the opening ceremony, the actual sporting events begin. The
athletes proceed to their sports venues, which can range from stadiums to open
fields. There, they compete to see who the best is. After the competitions, the
results are tallied, and the athletes are awarded medals based on their
performances. The winner is given a gold medal, the first runner-up gets a
silver medal, while the second runner-up obtains a bronze medal. During the
games, the athletes stay in the Olympic Village. Here, there are ample
facilities available for them to train and practice for their events.
There is a closing ceremony at the end of the Olympic Games. Traditionally,
the event begins with the Parade of Flags, where flag bearers representing each
participating nation enter the stadium in single file. Behind them, in no
particular order, march the athletes, who gather as one united group. Next, the
flag of Greece and the flag of the next host country are raised, while the
corresponding national anthems are played. Then, while the Olympic Anthem plays,
the Olympic Flag is folded and carried out of the stadium. Another special
Olympic Flag is then handed over to a representative of the next host of Olympic
Games, who waves the flag eight times. The next host nation proceeds to
introduce itself with a number of artistic displays. Finally, the Olympic flame
is extinguished, marking the end of the Olympic Games.
At the beginning of each Olympics, the athletes all agree to do their best.
At the end, they all agree to return in four years to try again. The spirit of
sportsmanship unites all these representatives of the nations of the world and
strengthens the goodwill between them. |
