The first glimmer of Olympic colour comes when the thousands of athletes enter the Olympic Stadium for each opening ceremony.
Each Olympic Games always brings out memorable uniforms, too.
We at Yahoo Sport have made a list of nine of the best uniforms in Olympic history – and some that didn’t quite hit the mark.
Japan – Sydney 2000
All eyes were on Japan’s combination of colourful raincoats and black T-shirts during the opening parade in Sydney.
New Zealand – Athens 2004
At the 2004 Olympics, New Zealand sported a monochrome uniform to honour their rugby team known as the All Blacks.
Jamaica – London 2012
Designed by Cedella Marley, Bob Marley’s daughter, the vibrant uniform perfectly captured the country’s spirit and will go down in history along with Usain Bolt’s records.
Russia – Atlanta 1996
Competing in the Olympics for the first time since the end of the Soviet Union, Russia chose an all-white uniform decorated with the Olympic rings.
Japan – Tokyo 1964
The last time it hosted the Games, Japan stole the spotlight during the opening parade. With red jackets, white trousers and impressive synchronisation, the athletes created an incredible visual effect for spectators.
Malaysia – London 2012
With a bold combination of yellow and orange, this Southeast Asian country captured the world’s attention at the opening of the London Games.
Australia – Rio 2016
For the Olympic Games in Rio, Australia chose to look back at its 1924 uniform. The striped jackets and white shorts were chosen to match South America’s tropical climate.
The United Kingdom – London 2012
In all-white uniforms with golden detailing, all eyes were on the UK delegation during the parade in their home capital.
Sweden – Athens 2004
The Swedish delegation proved that classics exist for a reason. With plain white dresses and a small shoulder bag in the country’s colours, Sweden combined style with simplicity.
DISHONOURABLE MENTIONS
Russia – London 2012
Russia opted for a uniform with a splash of colour at the London Games. The combination of colours and the swirly print on the jacket was a bit too much, along with the name of the country printed across their chests.
Hungary – Beijing 2008
The mix of white and red didn’t work for the Hungarians in 2008 either. The idea was to have floral detailing on white dresses, but from a distance they looked more like bloodstains than anything else.
Spain – London 2012
Many jokes circulated around the London Games that Spain’s uniforms looked more like they were designed for McDonald’s employees. The uniforms were harshly criticised by the athletes, who said they were embarrassed to wear them.