The Olympic Anthem becomes official

Written by the Greek poet Kostis Palamas and performed to music composed by Spyros Samaras, the Anthem was played for the first time at the Olympic Games Athens 1896. For the next 60 years, each Olympic Games had its own hymn written for it, until the International Olympic Committee readopted the Anthem at its 55^th Session in 1958. A feature of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies at the 1960 Olympic Winter Games, the Olympic Anthem is played when the Olympic flag is raised and lowered and has been an integral part of both ceremonies ever since.