The Olympic Hymn is also known informally as the Olympic Anthem….is a choral cantata by opera composer Spyridon Samaras….with lyrics by Greek poet Kostis Palamas…..as both poet and composer were the choice of the Greek Demetrius Vikelas….who was the first President of the International Olympic Committee.
The anthem was performed for the first time for the ceremony of opening of the first edition at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece…..when in the following years….every hosting nation commissioned to various musicians the composition of a specific Olympic hymn for their own edition of the games….as the anthem by Samaras and Palamas was declared the official Olympic Anthem by the International Olympic Committee in 1958 at the 54th Session of the IOC in Tokyo, Japan. The anthem was performed in English at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley….and since then it has been played at each Olympic Games during the opening ceremony when the Olympic flag is hoisted….and during the closing ceremony when the Olympic flag is lowered…..as seen in this video herewith….when the 900 strong All American Olympic Band & Chorus performs The Olympic Anthem as the Olympic Flag is being lowered at the Closing Ceremonies of the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games.
