Tune of the Day: Olympic Hymn
This is the hymn that is played when the Olympic Flag is raised. In its original form it is a choral cantata, written by Greek opera composer Spyridon Samaras with words from a poem by Kostis Palamas. The anthem was performed for the first time for the ceremony of opening of the 1896 Athens Olympic Games, but wasn't declared the official hymn by the International Olympic Committee until 1957. Since 1960, it has been used at the Opening Ceremonies of each Olympic Games.
The anthem has been recorded and performed in many different languages, usually as a result of the hosting of the Games in various countries. At the 2010 Winter Olympics held in Vancouver, for instance, it was sung in a mix of English and French, to reflect Canada's bilingualism.