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 The opening and closure of the first Olympic Games
The opening of the sports programme of the Athens Games took place on 26 March (7 April according to the new or Gregorian calendar). From the very first day, crowds had swarmed into the Panathenaic Stadium. Based on the works that had been carried out with a view to increasing the stadium's capacity, the organizers estimated that its seats had accommodated more than 80,000 spectators.
Before the carrying out of the first events a splendid opening ceremony was held. In fact, this ceremony was the opening of the first Olympic organization of the recent years. King George I announced the beginning of the Games after a speech delivered by the president of the organizing committee and successor to the throne, Konstantinos, about the importance of the revival of the ancient Olympic Games.
What impressed the spectators though, was the playing of the Olympic Anthem composed by Spyros Samaras based on the verses of the poet Kostis Palamas. The large choir, which was accompanied by the philharmonic orchestras of the army and the municipality of the city, was conducted by Samaras himself. Since that day, the same anthem is played at every opening ceremony of the Olympic Games constituting the musical symbol of the organization. During that ceremony and during the two following organizations the athletes had not paraded behind the flag of the nation that they represented. The parade of the athletes, as we know it today, was established at the Olympic Games of London in 1908.
The closing ceremony on the last day of the Games was also different from that established in subsequent Olympic organizations. According to the programme, on the last day was scheduled the prize awarding to the winners of the events, which did not take place after the carrying out of the event, as is the case nowadays.
Cups, medals, certificates and wild olive branches from Olympia were awarded by King George I on a platform that had been specially constructed for the occasion. However, after the end of the awarding, although it was not scheduled, the athletes spontaneously and without any formation formed their own parade headed by Spiridon Louis. In more recent Games similar events are realized by the athletes in every closing ceremony, which is now part of the schedule.
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