της Αθήνας...και τον εορτασμό της 28ης Ολυμπιάδος της σύγχρονης εποχής." which translates into English as "I declare open the Olympic Games of Athens...and the celebration of the XXVIII Olympiad of the modern era." The Olympic Flag, Anthem and Oaths Five bells, each bell representing a continent, then are rung to heralded in the opening the games. The audience also rang their bells given to them. As the bells were rung, children run into the stadium floor holding olive branches. In the midst of their crowd, the Olympic flag made its entrance. It was carried in by eight Greek athletes. They were: Petros Galaktopoulos (Greco-Roman wrestling) Ilias Hatzipavlis (sailing) Niki Bakoyianni (athletics) Angelos Basinas (football) Leonidas Kokas (weightlifting) Michalis Mouroutsos (taekwondo) Valerios Leonidis (weightlifting) Dimosthenis Tampakos (gymnastics) They then passed on the flag to the eight sailors of the Hellenic Navy. Then the Olympic flag was hoist and raised while singing of the Olympic Hymn which the Greek choirs sang in Greek was conducted by John Psathas. Greek freestyle swimmer Zoi Dimoschaki gave the Athletes Oath on behalf of all athletes in Greek. Greek basketball referee Lazaros Voreadis delivered the officials oath in Greek. Torch relay and the lighting of the cauldron The Opening Ceremony culminated at the end of the torch relay, a tradition began when Berlin hosted the games in 1936. This segment preceding the torch's arrival honored the first global torch relay that was begun in Athens. Before the torch came into the stadium, three rings arose from the center of the stadium that simulated a globe. Projections of doves were shown on the globe and on the LED screens as symbol of peace. Then actors, suspended on cables, started rising out of the crowd and ran towards the globe, carrying glowing sticks meant to simulate the Olympic torch. On the globe, the names of the cities which the torch visited were projected, and this segment ended with all the torchbearers floating mid-air coming together at the globe. After this segment ended, the lights were dimmed, and the sound of the heartbeat accompanied by thunderous cheers and applause met the torch's final arrival to the Olympic Stadium. Torch bearer Nikos Galis, considered to be the greatest Greek basketball player of all time, entered the stadium first. The torch was passed on, in sequential order, to Greek football legend Mimis Domazos, 1992 Hurdles champion Voula Patoulidou, 1996 Olympic weightlifting