But is tradition sacred? The Olympic Games are in trouble among younger viewers. Some say it is time to modernise or die — but others think old customs are worth honouring.
The new sports pressing for Olympic status
Switch-off: The median age of an Olympics TV viewer is now is nearly 59. Younger people are not tuning in. Glossary
Zeus - The king of the gods, known to the Romans as Jupiter.
Median - The median is the middle point in a group of numbers: half of the numbers are smaller than the median and half are larger.
Teqball - A ball sport played on a curved table without arms or hands.
Fusty - Having an stale smell; or old-fashioned or out-of-date.