# Belated Olympics question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 15, 2002, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belated-olympics-question/98377 "2002-03-15T00:44:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belated-olympics-question/98377/1 "2002-03-15T00:44:39Z")
In the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, all of the various countries’ athletes march out to great fanfare. Traditionally, Greece always goes first (because they started the Olympics) and the host country goes last. So what happens when Greece hosts the Olympics? Do they go first or last? ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belated-olympics-question/98377/2 "2002-03-15T02:06:51Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belated-olympics-question/98377/3 "2002-03-15T06:43:56Z")
This was asked before the shutdown. We didn’t have a good answer. I guessed that there would be a small Greek representative at the beginning of the parade with the main Greek team at the end of the parade. You need to put the “home team” at the end or else the crowd will be making too much noise as everybody else marches in. And those parades in the Summer Olympics take a very long time. But nobody knew where the US team would be in Greek alphabetical order. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belated-olympics-question/98377/4 "2002-03-15T14:31:04Z")
I’ll answer this GQ in about two and a half years. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belated-olympics-question/98377/5 "2002-03-15T18:41:53Z")
Since I live on the West Coast, I can assure you that the Opening Ceremonies of the Summer Olympics will be tape delayed for several hours. I think NBC would tape delay the Opening Ceremonies even if they were held on the West Coast. After all, Salt Lake City’s Opening and Closing Ceremonies were tape delayed. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belated-olympics-question/98377/6 "2002-03-15T18:45:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BobT \* > **… I guessed that there would be a small Greek representative at the beginning of the parade…** Please, they prefer to be called “vertically challenged.” ---
**Author:** ![Threadkiller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@Threadkiller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Threadkiller)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belated-olympics-question/98377/7 "2002-03-15T20:05:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BobT \* > … > After all, Salt Lake City’s Opening and Closing Ceremonies were tape delayed. Unlucky you. The (lower 48) US broadcast of the Olympics were tape delayed only in the Pacific time zone. Why? Only [Dick Ebersol](http://www.nbc.com/nbc/header/Executive_Bios/ebersol_dick.shtml) knows. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belated-olympics-question/98377/8 "2002-03-15T21:59:25Z")
Actually in the case of the Salt Lake games, Ebersol wanted to show the games live, but the West Coast affiliates didn’t want to give up their local news slots.