Olympic Hymn
The Olympic Hymn, also known informally as the Olympic Anthem, is a musical piece composed by Spyros Samaras with words written from a poem of the Greek poet and writer Kostis Palamas. Both the poet and the composer were the choice of Demetrius Vikelas, a great Greek Europhile and the first President of the IOC. The anthem was performed for the first time for the ceremony of opening of the first edition at the 1896 Athens Olympic Games. 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. This happened up to the edition at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.
The Anthem by Samaras and Palamas was declared the official Olympic Anthem by the International Olympic Committee in 1958 and it was performed again from the edition of the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
The Olympic Hymn has the official status of a national anthem.
Writer Paul Smirnoff used the anthem and its greek lyrics in his book "Gotterdammerung" as a rebel song.
The hymn has been recorded and performed in many different languages, usually as a result of the hosting of either form of the Games in various countries. Recent examples include Spanish (Mexico City 1968 and Barcelona 1992), English (Los Angeles 1984, Atlanta 1996 and Salt Lake 2002), Russian (Moscow 1980), Korean (Seoul 1988), Japanese (Tokyo 1964 and Nagano 1998), French (Montreal 1976 and Albertville 1992), Serbo-Croatian (Sarajevo 1984) and Norwegian (Lillehammer, 1994). For the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, the hymn was recorded and performed in Greek by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Sydney with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, in recognition of the substantial Greek population of Australia. In addition to its appearance at Athens 2004, the decision was also made to use a Greek arrangement at Calgary 1988.
The hymn was played in Moscow in 2001 prior to the announcement of the election of Jacques Rogge as IOC President. On many occasions the hymn has also featured before the announcement of the winning Olympic bid. One such example was in 2003 before Rogge announced Vancouver, Canada as the city that would host the 2010 Winter Olympics, though on that occasion only the introduction was used. [1] At the election of Sochi as host city for the 2014 Winter Games, no rendition of the anthem was used.
Greek lyrics
Αρχαίο Πνεύμ' αθάνατο, αγνέ πατέρα
του ωραίου, του μεγάλου και τ'αληθινού,
κατέβα, φανερώσου κι άστραψ'εδώ πέρα
στην δόξα της δικής σου γης και τ'ουρανού.
Στο δρόμο και στο πάλεμα και στο λιθάρι,
στων ευγενών Αγώνων λάμψε την ορμή,
και με τ' αμάραντο στεφάνωσε κλωνάρι
και σιδερένιο πλάσε κι άξιο το κορμί.
Κάμποι, βουνά και θάλασσες φέγγουν μαζί σου
σαν ένας λευκοπόρφυρος μέγας ναός,
και τρέχει στο ναό εδώ, προσκυνητής σου,
Αρχαίο Πνεύμ' αθάνατο, κάθε λαός.
Transliterated into Latin alphabet
Arkhaéo Pneúm' athánato, aghné patéra
tou oraéou, tou meghálou kai t'alithinoú,
katéva, phanerósou ki ástraps'edhó péra
stin dhóksa tis dhikís sou ghis kai t'ouranoú.
Sto dhrómo kai sto pálema kai sto lithári,
ston evghenón Aghónon lámpse tin ormí,
kai me t'amáranto stefánose klonári
kai sidherénio pláse ki áksio to kormí.
Kámpi vouná kai thálasses féngoun mazí sou
san énas levkopórfyros méghas naós,
kai trékhei sto naó edhó, proskynitís sou,
Arkhaéo Pneúm' athánato, káthe laós.
English translation (literal)
ANTHEM OF THE GAMES
Ancient immortal Spirit, pure father
of beauty, of greatness and of truth,
descend, reveal yourself as lightning here
within the glory of your own earth and sky.
At running and wrestling and at throwing
illuminate in the noble Games’ momentum,
and crown with the unfading branch
and make the body worthy and ironlike.
Plains, mountains and seas shine with you
like a white-and-purple great temple,
and hurries at the temple here, your pilgrim
every nation, o ancient, immortal Spirit.
English translation (free)
Immortal spirit of antiquity
Father of the true, beautiful and good
Descend, appear, shed over us thy light
Upon this ground and under this sky
Which has first witnessed thy unperishable fame
Give life and animation to these noble games!
Throw wreaths of fadeless flowers to the victors
In the race and in the strife
Create in our breasts, hearts of steel!
In thy light, plains, mountains and seas
Shine in a roseate hue and form a vast temple
To which all nations throng to adore thee
Oh immortal spirit of antiquity!
English (sung) version
Olympian flame immortal
Whose beacon lights our way
Emblaze our hearts with the fires of hope
On this momentous day
As now we come across the world
To share these Games of old
Let all the flags of every land
In brotherhood unfold
Sing out each nation, voices strong
Rise up in harmony
All hail our brave Olympians
With strains of victory
Olympic light burn on and on
O'er seas and mountains and plains
Unite, inspire, bring honor
To these ascending games
May valor reign victorious
Along the path of golden way
As tomorrow's new champions now come forth
Rising to the fervent spirit of the game
Let splendour pervade each noble deed
Crowned with glory and fame
And let fraternity and fellowship
Surround the soul of every nation
Oh flame, eternal in your firmament so bright
Illuminate us with your everlasting light
That grace and beauty and magnificence
Shine like the sun
Blazing above
Bestow on us your honor, truth and love
Note: This version, although often performed at opening/closing ceremonies, appears to enjoy far less exposure than the original. Hence its words may be determined only by listening to performances; correspondents will most probably disagree on the correct form.
An alternate ending to the lyrics (used at the opening ceremony of the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics) was, "Bestow on us the wondrous prize of honor, truth and love".
Notes
At the XXth Olympic Winter Games (Turin, Italy) a very abbreviated version of the Olympic Anthem was used at their Opening and Closing ceremonies.