201 National Olympic Committees (Nations)
10,500 athletes
21,500 media
5,000 volunteers

Athens, 13 August, Opening Ceremony of the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad. The last runner of the Olympic Torch relay Nikolaos KAKLAMANAKIS runs past the athletes in the Olympic Stadium. ©IOC/Tsuyoshi Kishimoto

Official opening of the Games by: President of the Hellenic Republic Konstantinos Stephanopoulos

Lighting the Olympic Flame by: The torchbearers were: Nikos Galis (basketball), Dimitrios Domazos (football), Paraskevi Patoulidou (athletics), Akakios Kachiasvilis (weightlifting), Ioannis Melissanidis (artistic gymnastics), Nikolaos Kaklamanakis (sailing)

Olympic Oath by: Zoï Dimoschaki (swimming) - 19 years old

Official Oath by: Lazaros Voreadis (basketball referee)

In preparation for hosting the 2008 Games, China had its most successful Olympics ever, with Chinese athletes winning 63 medals including 32 gold medals. (They won 59 total and 28 gold in 2000). [Full story]

In 1994, at the International Olympic Committee's 102nd Session, the IOC decided to split the host city election procedure for the 2004 Olympic Games into two phases. [Full story]

In fencing, women's sabre made its debut with Mariel Zagunis of the United States earning the gold medal. It was the first U.S. victory in fencing. Switzerland also claimed its first fencing gold when Marcel Fischer won the men's individual épée. [Full story]