Olympic Games ceremony the next games host (in 2000) and in 2004, because Greece was hosting the games. Then, while the Olympic Hymn is played, the Olympic flag that was hoisted during the opening ceremonies is lowered from the flagpole and carried from the stadium. In what is known as the Antwerp Ceremony (because the tradition began at the Antwerp Games), the mayor of the city that organized the Games transfers a special Olympic flag to the president of the IOC, who then passes it on to the mayor of the city hosting the next Olympic Games. The receiving mayor then waves the
2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony Olympic rings. The Shooting Star drones carried on the symbol of unity and progress from lighting of the torch. While there is no protocol requiring guests to stand for the host country's arrival, United States Vice President Mike Pence was criticized for not standing, as North and South Korean athletes entered during the Parade of Athletes. Pence was accused of hypocrisy, with critics drawing parallels to national anthem protests by NFL athletes. On 24 February, the "Washington Post" reported that U.S. intelligence uncovered Russian spies hacked computers during the Opening Ceremony, an act that was previously speculated to be the