An Olympic Anthem composed by Spyros Samaras (music) and by Kostis Palamas (lyrics) was first played at the Games of the I Olympiad in Athens. Thereafter, a variety of musical offerings provided the backgrounds to the Opening Ceremonies until 1960, since which time the Samaras/Palamas composition has become the official Olympic Anthem. (decision taken by the IOC Session in 1958)

1896年在雅典第1屆奧運(yùn)會(huì)的開幕式上, 國(guó)王喬治一世宣布奧運(yùn)會(huì)開幕以后,合唱隊(duì)唱起了一首莊嚴(yán)而動(dòng)聽的歌曲《奧林匹克圣歌》。這是一首古希臘歌曲,由希臘人薩馬拉斯作曲, 帕拉馬斯作詞, 但當(dāng)時(shí)并未確定其為奧運(yùn)會(huì)會(huì)歌。此后的歷屆奧運(yùn)會(huì)均由東道主確定會(huì)歌, 未形成統(tǒng)一的會(huì)歌形式。國(guó)際奧委會(huì)在1958年于東京舉行的第55次全會(huì)上最后確定還是用《奧林匹克圣歌》作為奧林匹克會(huì)歌。