Every four years the world watches the Olympic Games, which
start when somebody from the host country carries a torch into the
stadium and lights the flame in the opening ceremony.
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The flame continues to burn through the games until it is
extinguished in the closing ceremony.
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2. The history of the flame
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This is a tradition that started in ancient Greece, when a fire
burnt throughout the ancient Olympics, but it wasnt introduced to
the modern games until 1928.
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In 1936 Carl Diem, a German sports official, came up with the
idea of an Olympic torch relay for the 1936 Summer Olympics in
Berlin.
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3. Lighting the torch
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The Olympic torch is lit many months the opening ceremony at
Olympia, the site of the ancient Olympics Greece.
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Eleven women take part and one of them lights the torch from
the sun using a special mirror.
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After this there is a ceremony in the Athenian Panathinaiko
Stadium where the Athens city authorities deliver the torch to the
officials of the host city.
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4. Carrying the torch
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Traditionally, runners, including athletes, celebrities and
ordinary people carry the torch on a journey from Athens to the
host city.
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5. The end of the journey
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The relay ends when the torch arrives at the Olympic stadium
where the Games will take place.
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The final carrier of the torch is often kept secret until the
last moment, and is usually a famous sportsman or woman.
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They run around the track and towards a huge cauldron, which is
usually at the top of a staircase.
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They use the torch to light the Olympic flame.
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6. The symbolic meaning of the flame The symbolic meaning of
the flame
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Originally the flame represented the 'endeavour for protection
and struggle for victory'.
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Since it was introduced again in 1928, it has come to represent
the light of spirit, knowledge, and life.
