For one thousand one hundred and sixty nine years, from 776 BC until 393 AD, the Olympic Games were held without fail. For the next one thousand five hundred years, from 393 until 1896, the Games were not held at all. However, as time went by, the Olympic Games managed to win the place they deserve in history. A symbol assumed its own position in the games - the Olympic flag. It is believed by many that the idea of the Olympic flag was adopted by Pierre de Coubertin in 1913, when he had a vision of an artefact from ancient Greece. This was the five circles, which are now the most recognizable symbol internationally. In one of his trips to Delphi, where the Pythian Games took place, Coubertin noticed an emblem featuring five circles which were engraved on an altar together with the terms of the Pythian Games truce. This emblem was later to become the symbol of the Olympic idea. Apart from this 'change' the official ceremony for the opening and closing of the Games was first introduced during these games, becoming firmly established in the following ones. Today, the five circles symbolizes the five continents. The blue one symbolizes Europe, the one is for Asia, the black for Africa, the green for Oceania and the red for the Americas. They are united to represent peace and friendship among the nations of the world. The Olympic flag was first raised in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium, and ever since then, in every closing ceremony, it has been handed over to the leader of the city that will host the next Olympic Games and that is responsible for safeguarding it for the next four years until it is raised again. The Olympic flag is raised on a mast during the opening ceremony and is lowered sixteen days later during the closing ceremony, thus declaring the end of the games. Even less well known is the fact that the five circles were established as the sign of the Olympics in the Games of Amsterdam in 1928. It is important to mention that Pierre de Coubertin never said or wrote that there is any connection between the circles and the continents. Finally, let us say a few words about the ceremonies, which are more or less well known.

The Olympic flame
This ceremony takes place in ancient Olympia http://www.toplink.gr/gr … index.html about three months before the beginning of the Games. Following a solemn ritual the priestess, standing in the sunlight, sets the torch alight with the help of a concave mirror. From there, the flame will begin its trip carried by a series of torchbearers who undertake to lead it to the host city's main stadium. This ceremony was first established in the 1936 Games in Berlin.

Opening ceremony
The Olympic Games begin with a ceremony, which is usually a spectacular show consisting of several parts, such as the athletes' parade, the playing of the Olympic anthem, the raising of the Olympic flag, the lighting of the Olympic flame with the Olympic torch and the oaths that are taken by athletes and judges in ancient Olympia.

Closing ceremony
The closing ceremony begins with all the athletes entering the stadium in a group and not in national teams, a fact which symbolizes unity and friendship. The flag ceremony follows. The President of the IOC extends a salute and delivers the Olympic flag to the country that will host the next Olympics, while officially declaring the end of the games. The Olympic flame is slowly extinguished and the flag is carried outside the stadium. A great celebration ensues.

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