Did you know?
- The Olympic torch relay of the 2004 Games was the first in which the flame passed through all five continents, from all the cities that had organized the Olympic Games in the past. 3,600 torchbearers took part. The lighting of the flame took place in ancient Olympia on March 25th 2004 and then traveled for 9 days in the Peloponnese, before starting its journey all over the world. The flame returned to Greece on July 9th and concluded its journey on August 13th 2004.
- The inspiration for the design of the Olympic torch was the shape of the olive leaf. Despite the special aesthetical result, the choice of the olive refers to "kotinos", the wreath that was destined for the winners of the Games in Antiquity, and to the olive tree branch, a world symbol of peace.
- In the athletes' parade the Greek flag appeared twice: once in the beginning of the ceremony (as it is usual in every athletes' parade in the Olympic Games, as an honor to Greece, the birthplace of the Games) and once in the end, because Greece was the country that hosted the Olympiad. This did not happen in the 1896 Games, because the athletes' parade had not been introduced yet.
- Even though war was raging in Iraq, the country's football team took part in the Games and even managed to qualify to the semi-finals.
- At the 3,000 metres race, all three medals were won by Kenyans: the gold by Ezekiel Kemboi, the silver by Brimin Kipruto and the bronze by Paul K. Koech.