<P> In contrast to the opening ceremonies, many elements of the Olympic closing ceremonies gradually developed more by tradition than official mandate . </P> <P> Like the opening ceremonies, the closing ceremonies begins with the raising of the host country's flag and a performance of its national anthem . The traditional part of the closing ceremonies starts with the "Parade of Flags", where flag bearers from each participating country enter the stadium in single file, with the Greek flag in the lead (honoring the birthplace of the Olympic Games) and the host nation's flag bringing up the rear . Behind them march all of the athletes without any distinction or grouping by nationality . This "Parade of Athletes," the blending of all the athletes, is a tradition that began during the 1956 Summer Olympics at the suggestion of Melbourne schoolboy John Ian Wing, who thought it would be a way of bringing the athletes of the world together as "one nation ." Prior to the 1956 Games, no Olympic Team had ever marched in the closing ceremony of the Modern or the Ancient Games . It was the very first International Peace March ever to be staged . (In 2006, the athletes marched in with their countrymen, then dispersed and mingled as the ceremonies went on .) The Winter Olympics followed suit in 1960 . </P> <P> After all the athletes enter the stadium, the final medals ceremony of the Games is held . The organizing committee of the respective host city, after consulting with the IOC, determines which event will have its medals presented . During the Summer Olympics, this is usually the men's marathon . Traditionally, the men's marathon is held in the last hours of competition on the last day of the Olympics, and the race is won just before the start of the closing ceremony . However, recent Summer Olympiads in Atlanta, Beijing, London and Rio staged the marathon in the early morning due to heat problems in the host city . Since the 2006 Winter Olympics, the medals for the men's 50 km cross-country skiing event were presented at the closing ceremony . The medallist's national flags are then hoisted and the national anthem of the gold medallist's country is played . </P> <P> The newly elected members of the IOC Athletes' Commission then present a bouquet of flowers to a representative of the volunteers, as a thank you to them for their work during the Games . </P>

Why were there olympic events before the opening ceremony