It’s hard to go to an Olympics and just watch objectively.

Of course you are going to root, root, root for the home team.

But unlike other sports competitions where people come wearing their favorite team’s logos, at the Olympics, it's all about the flags.

It's not enough to wear simply the colors of your country's flag. True Olympic fans come dressed literally in the flag itself.

And by being dressed in the flag, that means anything goes - from flag shirts and hats to bandanas, shorts or skirts, backpacks and purses.

Then, there is the “Super Fan” option, which seems to be the most popular. With this, the flag adorns the fan's shoulders like a cape, creating a nice flowing effect behind the enthusiast as he or she parades around.

The more obvious your flag, the better. And yes, silly displays work as well. The whole point is, of course, to eliminate any question as to which team you are pulling for.

Blame it on the security concerns associated with the Athens games, but the few fans who did show up in the early days last week, started things out in a somewhat subdued manner.

There were few flags to be seen, except within the stands themselves. They appeared magically from pockets and backpacks to be waved around as the various teams began their competition. Then they would disappear just as quickly after the team finished.

It was as if the fans were checking each other out to see who would do what first.

Now, as we enter the big second week and medals are being handed out left and right, (32 medal ceremonies today alone), it's as if the fans have started competing with one another on just how rabid they can be in support of their home country.

In some cases, that even means dressing in traditional costumes of their homeland, which, of course, takes some planning ahead.

We spotted one group of Hungarians down in the Plaka area near the Acropolis who went all out in this respect. They did, however, show their ability to be flexible and broke out in a hearty, somewhat broken rendition of “Waltzing Matilda” when they spotted an Australian flag.

Yes, you see and hear it all here, sports fans.

For those who didn’t plan ahead, there are last-minute options available. Face painting is quite popular and offers an easy solution for those who forgot to pack their flags. There are several stands set up to accommodate the flagless.

While the artists tend to try and just put a small flag on your cheek, I have seen some fans who have had their whole faces painted.

This is an option I’d recommend against.

It’s quite hot in Athens right now and it doesn’t take long in this heat for the colors to be sliding off your face and down your neck.

Which probably is not the best way to show your colors.

If you're looking for an enduring symbol of the Olympics, you need go no further than downtown Athens and Panathinaiko Stadium, where the first modern-day Olympics took place in 1896.

The beautiful horseshoe shaped, white marble structure stands on the edge of busy Konstantinou Avenue and within site of the Acropolis, right across from the National Gardens.

It’s a popular tourist site, and on a normal day you would find any number of people there, having pictures taken with olive leaf wreaths on their head or racing around the stadium’s track, recreating the end of the first marathon competition 108 years ago.

Even I have made that loop once or twice when I've visited here.

But for these two weeks in August, access to the Kallimaro area is a bit more restricted because it’s once again the site of Olympic competition. The whole stadium is swathed with bright blue Athens 2004 banners and the only way in is with a ticket, which I found out the hard way.

Archery is being held here, and that historic track will once again be home for the end of the Olympic marathon.

A little history lesson here: the marathon itself is named for a small town north of Athens where Greece’s Battle of Marathon took place in 490 BC. Legend has it that the messenger Phidippides ran 26 miles back to Athens to announce victory over the powerful Persian army.

Greeks are darned proud of creating the marathon competition.

While archery may not be the most popular of Olympic sports, a lot of people are going just for the opportunity to sit on those hard marble seats and be a part of history. It also doesn’t hurt that the 10-euro ticket makes it one of the most affordable sports of the Games.

Conveniently enough, should the mood hit you to attend, there is a ticket booth set up just to the left of the stadium.

It’s also is a favorite spot to purchase tickets in general because of the historic backdrop. In fact, a lot of people like to come by just to take pictures and soak up the ambience.

It’s a good place to spot groups of fans showing pride in their country. There’s nothing like a white marble backdrop to show off the color of your flag.

There’s also nothing like white marble to reflect the blinding sun and broil people sitting in the stands, or waiting in line for tickets.

I tried to use my media credential to get access to the venue, but was turned away because I didn’t have the proper lettering on the front. No amount of cajoling, begging or pleading would get me in.

So I stood in line myself to buy a ticket. There were only about 20 people ahead of me, but the ticket sellers saw no medals in their future, and made no attempts at setting any speed record. I was there about 40 minutes before being earning the chance to stand in the shade of the booth.

I inquired about tickets to gymnastics, but the 200 euro or $250 price was more than I had on me, so I settled for just the archery ticket.

Timing, as they say, is everything.

Poised with ticket in hand, I felt victorious. I proudly waved it as I marched over to the security guard who had turned me away earlier, only to be told that I was three hours early for the next match and still couldn’t get in.

Olympic lesson of the day: make sure you read the front of the ticket you purchase for the time of the competition.

Dejected and now sunburned, I was turned away.

I did, however, have a consolation prize.

While walking back past the front of the stadium, I saw a camera crew talking to someone in a Team USA uniform. It was archer Jennifer Nichols and her family.

Jenny will be competing this afternoon.

I, however, will be here at the Media Press Center, working and nursing a farmer’s suntan.

Olympic lesson #2 of the day: remember your sunscreen.