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In contrast to the opening ceremonies, many elements of the Olympic closing ceremonies gradually developed more by tradition than official mandate.<ref name="IOCclosing">{{cite web |title=Closing Ceremony Factsheet|publisher=The International Olympic Committee|date=2012-06-05|url=http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Reference_documents_Factsheets/Closing_Ceremony_of_the_Games.pdf|accessdate=2012-08-12}}</ref> |
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In contrast to the opening ceremonies, many elements of the Olympic closing ceremonies gradually developed more by tradition than official mandate.<ref name="IOCclosing">{{cite web |title=Closing Ceremony Factsheet|publisher=The International Olympic Committee|date=2012-06-05|url=http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Reference_documents_Factsheets/Closing_Ceremony_of_the_Games.pdf|accessdate=2012-08-12}}</ref> |
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Like the opening ceremonies, the closing ceremonies begins with the raising of the host country's flag and a performance of its national anthem.<ref name="IOCclosing"/> The traditional part of the closing ceremonies starts with the "Parade of Flags",<ref name="IOCclosing"/> where flag bearers from each participating country enter the stadium in single file. Behind them march all of the athletes without any distinction or grouping by nationality. This "Parade of Athletes",<ref name="IOCclosing"/> the blending of all the athletes, is a tradition that began during the [[1956 Summer Olympics]] at the suggestion of Melbourne schoolboy [[John Ian Wing]], who thought it would be a way of bringing the athletes of the world together as "one nation."<ref>{{cite web |title=Melbourne (Equestrian – Stockholm) 1956|publisher=[[British Olympic Association]] |url=http://www.olympics.org.uk/gamesabout.aspx?gt=S&ga=14 |accessdate=2009-01-10}}</ref> (In [[2006 Winter Olympics|2006]], the athletes marched in with their countrymen, then dispersed and mingled as the ceremonies went on.) |
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Like the opening ceremonies, the closing ceremonies begins with the raising of the host country's flag and a performance of its national anthem.<ref name="IOCclosing"/> The traditional part of the closing ceremonies starts with the "Parade of Flags",<ref name="IOCclosing"/> where flag bearers from each participating country enter the stadium in single file. Behind them march all of the athletes without any distinction or grouping by nationality. This "Parade of Athletes",<ref name="IOCclosing"/> the blending of all the athletes, is a tradition that began during the [[1956 Summer Olympics]] at the suggestion of Melbourne schoolboy [[John Ian Wing]], who thought it would be a way of i eat pooio bringing the athletes of the world together as "one nation."<ref>{{cite web |title=Melbourne (Equestrian – Stockholm) 1956|publisher=[[British Olympic Association]] |url=http://www.olympics.org.uk/gamesabout.aspx?gt=S&ga=14 |accessdate=2009-01-10}}</ref> (In [[2006 Winter Olympics|2006]], the athletes marched in with their countrymen, then dispersed and mingled as the ceremonies went on.) |
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After all the athletes enter the stadium, the final medals ceremony of the Games is held. The organizing committee of the respective host city, after consulting with the IOC, determines which event will have its medals presented.<ref name="IOCclosing"/> During the Summer Olympics, this is usually the men's marathon.<ref name="IOCclosing"/> Traditionally, the men's marathon is held in the last hours of competition on the last day of the Olympics, and the race is won just before the start of the closing ceremony. However, recent Summer Olympiads in [[1996 Summer Olympics|Atlanta]], [[2008 Summer Olympics|Beijing]], and [[2012 Summer Olympics|London]] staged the marathon in the early morning due to heat problems in the host city. Since the [[2006 Winter Olympics closing ceremony|2006 Winter Olympics]], the medals for the men's 50 km classical cross-country were presented at the closing ceremony. The medallist's national flags are then hoisted and the national anthem of the gold medallist's country is played. |
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After all the athletes enter the stadium, the final medals ceremony of the Games is held. The organizing committee of the respective host city, after consulting with the IOC, determines which event will have its medals presented.<ref name="IOCclosing"/> During the Summer Olympics, this is usually the men's marathon.<ref name="IOCclosing"/> Traditionally, the men's marathon is held in the last hours of competition on the last day of the Olympics, and the race is won just before the start of the closing ceremony. However, recent Summer Olympiads in [[1996 Summer Olympics|Atlanta]], [[2008 Summer Olympics|Beijing]], and [[2012 Summer Olympics|London]] staged the marathon in the early morning due to heat problems in the host city. Since the [[2006 Winter Olympics closing ceremony|2006 Winter Olympics]], the medals for the men's 50 km classical cross-country were presented at the closing ceremony. The medallist's national flags are then hoisted and the national anthem of the gold medallist's country is played. |