The Olympic Games bring together thousands of the world's finest athletes to compete against one another. No other sports event attracts so much attention. Several million people attend the games, and hundreds of millions throughout the world watch them on television.

The Olympic Games consist of the Summer Games and the Winter Games. The Summer Games are held in a major city, and the Winter Games are held at a winter resort. The Olympics have normally been held every four years, with both the Summer Games and the Winter Games taking place the same year. Beginning from 1994, the Summer Games and the Winter Games are scheduled to occur on a four-year cycle two years apart. For example, the Winter Games were held in 1994 and 1998, and the Summer Games in 1996 and 2000.

Colourful ceremonies combined with athletic competitions are to create the special feeling of excitement that surrounds the Olympics. The opening ceremony is particularly impressive. The athletes of Greece march into the stadium first, in honour of the original Olympics held in ancient Greece. The other athletes follow in alphabetical order, depending on the spelling of each nation's name in the language of the host country. The athletes of the host country enter last.

The head of state of the host country declares the Games open. The Olympic flag is raised, trumpets play, and cannons boom in salute. Hundreds of doves are released into the air as a symbol of peace.

The most dramatic moment of the opening ceremony is the lighting of the Olympic flame. Runners in cross-country relays bring a lighted torch from the valley of Olympia, Greece, where the ancient Olympics were held. Thousands of runners take part in the journey, which starts four weeks before the opening of the Games. They represent Greece and each country that lies between Greece and the host nation. Planes and ships transport the torch across mountains and seas. The final runner carries the torch into the stadium, circles the track, and lights the Olympic flame. The flame is kept burning until the end of the Games. This custom started in 1936.

The modern Olympics were organized to encourage world peace and friendship and to promote amateur athletics. The Olympic symbol consists of five interlocking rings that represent the continents of Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North and South America. The rings are black, blue, green, red, and yellow. The flag of every nation competing in the games has at least one of these colours. The Olympic motto is Faster, Higher, Stronger.

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