Patriotism adds passion and zeal to the Olympic movement. For the joyous victory laps athletes drape themselves in the national colours and soak up their country's cheers.
And the classic tear-jerking moment comes as the victors stand on the podium and watch their country's flag being hoisted as their national anthem echoes through the sporting arena.
But in an increasing number of cases, athletes do not even recognise the music they hear; they've hardly set foot in the nations they are representing and, if a 'compatriot' were to congratulate them, they wouldn't have a clue what they were saying.
While the Olympics have always been in part a celebration of nationalism, identities are becoming increasingly blurred by a mixture of romance, immigration and money.
Of the nearly 11,000 athletes who competed in Athens, several hundred were representing countries they were not born in.
In many ways it's a byproduct of globalisation. Some switched nationalities after they married people from other countries, and others opted for a new passport after they moved to new countries in search of a better life. By and large these moves rarely stir controversy.