Why is the Greek flag flown at each Olympic Games and why do Greece enter the Opening Ceremony first?

THE 2024 Olympic Games is finally here and it is expected to be a thrilling spectacle in Paris.

Athletes from 206 different territories will compete for gold medals this summer.

AFP

But the Greece flag is always front and centre of the Games.

Why is the Greek flag flown at the Olympic Games closing ceremony?

The Greek flag is always flown during the closing ceremony in recognition of the role ancient Greece had in creating the Olympic Games.

From 776BC, the games were held every four years in Greece in honour of the god Zeus.

This continued for over a thousands years until 393AD when the last recorded celebration was held under Roman Empire Theodosius.

Only freeborn Greek men were allowed to compete, though women were allowed to own chariots.

Why does Greece come out first in the Olympic Games opening ceremony?

Also in recognition of the Olympic Games’ origin in ancient Greece.

When the Olympic Games were first revived in 1896, Athens was chosen as the host city.

The Greek team, and their flag, also enter first at every Winter Olympic Games.