Why is Greece first in the opening of the Olympic Games if it doesn’t start with an ‘A’?

The Olympic Games are about to begin with the famous and traditional Opening Ceremony. During this event, the participating countries parade one by one. This year’s edition will be special, with the parade taking place on the Seine River, featuring 82 boats carrying 205 delegations.

One of the most common questions is the order in which the countries appear in the Opening Ceremony. However, the answer to this is quite simple: they are ranked in alphabetical order. But then, why is Greece always ranked first if it doesn’t start with the letter A?

The Importance of Greece in the Olympics

Greece is always the first country to go out in the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games because it was the first country to host the Olympic Games. Going out first is a tribute paid by the International Olympic Committee to the country that founded both the modern and ancient Olympic Games. The first time this tribute was given was at the 1896 Games held in the city of Athens. The position of Greece in the Opening Ceremony pays tribute to the country’s historic role in the Olympic Games.