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
2002 Winter Olympics opening ceremony President's Olympic delegation, which featured four future members of their respective sport's Hall of Fame: 2002 Winter Olympics opening ceremony The opening ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympics took place at the Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, on 8 February 2002. U.S. President George W. Bush opened the 2002 Winter Olympics, which took place five months after the September 11 attacks, with: "On behalf of a proud, determined and grateful nation...," then the standard opening formula followed. Prior to the ceremony, the turf inside the stadium was removed and a giant, abstract shaped ice rink, designed by