torch relay

The Olympic torch relay is a ritual that transports a flame lit in Olympia, Greece, to the host city of the Olympic Games. While the perpetual fire in the temple of Hera was part of ancient Greek tradition, the torch relay itself has no ancient precedent. The Olympic flame first appeared in 1928, and the torch relay debuted at the 1936 Berlin Games.123

The modern relay emphasizes the ancient origins of the Olympics and the internationalism of the Games, serving as a symbol of peace. The flame is lit using a parabolic mirror and the sun's heat in Olympia, with a backup flame available if needed. Torchbearers carry the flame, often for short distances, passing it along a long route to the host country. The flame burns throughout the Games and is extinguished at the closing ceremony.214