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49-562: The Games have had an equivalent to the Olympic Flame , being ignited in Q'umarkaj , one of the ancient cultural Mayan centers located in El Quiché , Guatemala . However, some people and organizations have criticised the games for not including the Mesoamerican ballgame , the oldest ball sport in the continent, on the sports programme. The competition is the second multi-sport event to have

98-451: A laser beam to re-light the flame. The torch, but not the flame, was taken into space by astronauts in 1996, 2000 and 2014. Other unique means of transportation include a Native American canoe , a camel , and Concorde . The torch has been carried across water; during the French leg of the 1968 Winter Olympics was carried across the port of Marseilles by a diver holding it aloft above

147-622: A large bowl on top of a slender tower, named "the Marathon Tower", was to indicate for miles around where in Amsterdam the Olympic Games were being held. This tower was associated with the marathon race and all its elements, including the fire, were an idea of the architect Jan Wils who also had designed the stadium . The idea for the Olympic flame was derived from ancient Greek ceremonies where

196-457: A prior dress rehearsal. An actress plays the role of the temple's high priestess and presents the torch and an olive branch to the first relay bearer, usually a Greek athlete who has already qualified to compete in that edition of the Games. This is followed by a recitation of a poem by Pindar , and the release of a flock of doves to symbolize peace. At the beginning of the ceremony, the Olympic hymn

245-508: A sacred fire was kept burning throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics on the altar of the sanctuary of Hestia . In Ancient Greek mythology , fire had divine connotations and it was thought to have been stolen from the gods by Prometheus . Sacred fires were present at many ancient Greek sanctuaries, including those at Olympia . Every four years, when Zeus was honoured at the Olympic Games, additional fires were lit at his temple and that of his wife, Hera . The modern Olympic flame

294-405: A safeguard built into it: There are two flames inside the torch. There is a highly visible (yellow flame) portion that burns cooler and is more prone to extinguish in wind and rain, but there is also a smaller hotter (blue in the candle's wick) flame akin to a pilot light hidden inside the torch which is protected from wind and rain and is capable of relighting the cooler, more visible portion if it

343-585: A single tiny flame on the ground, igniting 204 copper petals before they converged to form the cauldron for the Games. The first well-known athlete to light the cauldron in the stadium was the ninefold Olympic Champion Paavo Nurmi , who excited the home crowd in Helsinki in 1952. In 1968, Enriqueta Basilio became the first woman to light the Olympic Cauldron at the Olympic Games in Mexico City . Perhaps one of

392-522: Is a symbol used in the Olympic movement . It is also a symbol of continuity between ancient and modern games. The Olympic flame is lit at Olympia, Greece , several months before the Olympic Games . This ceremony starts the Olympic torch relay , which formally ends with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. Through 2022, the flame would continue to burn in

441-430: Is extinguished. The fuel contained inside the torch is able to keep it lit for approximately 15 minutes before it would be extinguished. The flame is transported from Greece to the host country where the flame is transported by torch around the host nation to the main stadium. During the opening ceremony the final bearer of the torch runs towards the cauldron, often placed at the top of a grand staircase, and then uses

490-707: Is ignited every two years in front of the ruins of the temple of Hera. When the idea of a symbolic fire was introduced during the 1928 Summer Olympics , an employee of the Electric Utility of Amsterdam lit the first symbolic flame in the Marathon Tower of the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam. The Olympic flame and the Olympic torch relay was first introduced to the Summer Olympics at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin by Carl Diem . The first ever torch-lighting ceremony

539-606: Is sung first followed by the national anthem of the country hosting the Olympics and the national anthem of Greece along with the hoisting of the flags. After the ceremony at Olympia the Olympic flame first travels Greece. It first goes to the Coubertin Grove on the site of the International Olympic Academy , where it is used to light an altar beside the final resting place of Pierre de Coubertin 's heart. The flame

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588-484: Is the only country highlighted; it was the host of the 1952 games. Prior to the 2002 Winter Olympics , professor Bob Barney co-authored the book Selling the Five Rings (2002), with Stephen Wenn and Scott Martyn, which discussed the history of corporate sponsorships and television rights for the Olympic Games. Barney argued that the Olympic torch had been commercialized since its inception in 1936, and that sponsors of

637-589: Is then transferred during a ceremony in the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens from the Hellenic Olympic Committee to the current year's National Olympic Committee (NOC) and local Organizing Committee (OCOG) hosts. The Olympic torch relay , which transports the Olympic flame from Olympia , Greece to the various designated sites of the Games, had no ancient precedent and was introduced by Carl Diem at

686-575: The 1924 Summer Olympics on the condition that the 1928 Summer Olympics would be organized in Amsterdam. This decision, supported by the Netherlands Olympic Committee, was announced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 2 June 1921. Los Angeles ' bid for the 1928 Summer Olympics was unsuccessful in 1922 and again in 1923. The city was eventually selected as host city for the 1932 Summer Olympics , being

735-548: The 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. At the first Olympic torch relay, the flame was transported from Olympia to Berlin over 3,187 kilometers (1,980 miles) by 3,331 runners in twelve days and eleven nights. Nazi Propaganda Minister, Joseph Goebbels , commissioned filmmaker and propagandist, Leni Riefenstahl to film the event. In the 1956 Melbourne Games in Australia, local veterinary student Barry Larkin protested against

784-606: The 2010 Winter Olympics , the organizers of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro chose to hold their torch relays only in their respective hosting countries of United Kingdom, Russia and Brazil (except for brief stops in the United States, Ireland and Switzerland respectively). In 2016, ten days before the beginning of

833-513: The 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro , citizens of Angra dos Reis , a city near Rio de Janeiro , managed to extinguish the Olympic flame during a protest against the city spending money on hosting the Olympics despite an economic crisis in Brazil . The Olympic torch relay in the host country ends with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony in the central host stadium of

882-521: The Dutch national flag , holding a peace leaf in his hand. The poster was made for a German book about the Amsterdam Olympics. The last living competitor of the 1928 Summer Olympics was Carla Marangoni , a member of the silver medal-winning Italian gymnastic team who had been twelve years old during the Olympics. Marangoni died 18 January 2018, at the age of 102 as the oldest living Olympic medalist at

931-627: The Vestal Virgins (usually 11 in number) perform a celebration at the Temple of Hera , during which a fire is kindled by the light of the Sun, its rays concentrated by a parabolic mirror . The fire is used to light the first torch of the Olympic Torch Relay. Where cloudy weather prevents the use of the parabolic mirror on the day of the ceremony (as in 2024), a backup flame is used that has been lit during

980-440: The 1928 Summer Olympics. The Swim Stadium was demolished in 1929. The Het Kasteel football stadium was renovated in 1998–99. The Monnikenhuize stadium was demolished in 1950. The Schermzaal sports hall has also been demolished. The Olympic Stadium was renovated between 1996 and 2000, and is still in use. The Old Stadion was demolished in 1929 and replaced with housing in the Amsterdam area. A total of 46 nations were represented at

1029-463: The 1960s. Tennis disappeared from the program until it reappeared in 1968 as a demonstration sport . These Games also included art competitions in five categories: architecture, painting, sculpture, literature, and poetry. However, the IOC no longer considers these to be official medal events, so the medals awarded are not included in today's Olympic medal counts. Fourteen sports venues were used for

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1078-580: The Amsterdam Games. Malta , Panama , and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe ) competed at the Olympic Games for the first time. Germany returned after having been banned in 1920 and 1924. The nations that participated in the previous games in Paris 1924 but was absent in Amsterdam 1928 was Brazil and Ecuador . At the time,  Australia , New Zealand ,  Canada , South Africa and Ireland were all dominions of the  British Empire . India and Rhodesia

1127-600: The French-speaking part of the country, one from the English-speaking part — symbolized the unity of Canada . At the 2012 Games in London , the torch was carried by Sir Steve Redgrave to a group of seven young British athletes (Callum Airlie, Jordan Duckitt, Desiree Henry , Katie Kirk, Cameron MacRitchie, Aidan Reynolds and Adelle Tracey )  — each nominated by a British Olympic champion — who then each lit

1176-517: The Games, until the closing ceremony , when it is finally put out symbolizing the official end of the Games. The Olympic flame has been used as a symbol and a main motif numerous times in different commemorative coins. A recent example was the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Olympic Games commemorative coin , minted in 2002. In the obverse, the Olympic flame above the Earth can be seen. Finland

1225-441: The Games. The final carrier is often kept unannounced until the last moment. Over the years, it has become a tradition to let a famous athlete of the host nation, former athletes or athletes with significant achievements and milestones be the last runner in the Olympic torch relay. It is not uncommon for the Olympic flame to be accidentally or deliberately extinguished during the course of the torch relay (and on at least one occasion

1274-570: The Olympics four years later. In preparation for the 1932 Summer Olympics , the United States Olympic Committee reviewed the costs and revenue of the 1928 Games. The committee reported a total cost of US$ 1.183 million with receipts of US$ 1.165 million, giving a negligible loss of US$ 18,000, which was a considerable improvement over the 1924 Games. The United States won the most gold and medals overall. Dutch nobleman Frederik van Tuyll van Serooskerken first proposed Amsterdam as

1323-410: The cauldron for the duration of the Games, until it was extinguished during the Olympic closing ceremony . In 2024 , electric lighting and mist were used to create a simulated flame for the Olympic cauldron, with the actual flame kept in a lantern exhibited at an adjacent location. That lantern was then taken by French swimmer Léon Marchand from Jardins des Tuileries (where the Olympic cauldron, that

1372-482: The cauldron itself has gone out during the Games). To guard against this eventuality, multiple copies of the flame are transported with the relay or maintained in backup locations. When a torch goes out, it is re-lit (or another torch is lit) from one of the backup sources. Thus, the fires contained in the torches and Olympic cauldrons all trace a common lineage back to the same Olympia lighting ceremony. The design of 2004 had

1421-463: The ceremony. On other occasions, the people who lit the cauldron in the stadium are not famous but nevertheless symbolize Olympic ideals. Japanese runner Yoshinori Sakai was born on the day of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima . He was chosen for the role to symbolize Japan's postwar reconstruction and peace, opening the 1964 Tokyo Games . At the 1976 Games in Montreal , two teenagers — one from

1470-416: The hands of some 11,300 torchbearers, travelling to Africa and South America for the first time, visiting all previous and future Summer Olympic cities, and finally returning to Greece for the 2004 Summer Olympics . The 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay spanned six continents before proceeding through China . However, there was protests against China's human rights record in London where a "ring of steel"

1519-536: The host city for the Summer Olympic Games in 1912, even before the Netherlands Olympic Committee was established. The Olympic Games were canceled in 1916 due to World War I . In 1919, the Netherlands Olympic Committee abandoned the proposal of Amsterdam in favor of their support for the nomination of Antwerp as host city for the 1920 Summer Olympics . In 1921, Paris was selected for

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1568-452: The limited number of events, British women athletes, boycotted the Games. Halina Konopacka of Poland became the first female Olympic track and field champion. Reports that the 800 meter run ended with several of the competitors being completely exhausted were widely (and erroneously) circulated. As a result, the IOC decided that women were too frail for long-distance running, and women's Olympic running events were limited to 200 meters until

1617-399: The most spectacular of Olympic cauldron lighting ceremonies took place at the 1992 Summer Olympics opening ceremony , when Paralympic archer Antonio Rebollo lit the cauldron by shooting a burning arrow over it, which ignited gas rising from the cauldron, although there are theories that the cauldron was manually forced to ignite. Two years later , the Olympic fire was brought into

1666-565: The name: the Central American and Caribbean Games began life in 1926 as the Central American Games and had this moniker until it expanded its remit in 1935. Disciplines from the same sport are grouped under the same color:   Aquatics –   Cycling –   Football –   Gymnastics –   Roller sports –   Volleyball : Exhibition contest Olympic Flame The Olympic flame

1715-412: The only bidder for that year. During the 1928 Summer Olympics, there were 14 sports, 20 disciplines and 109 events in the tournament. In parentheses is the number of events per discipline. Women's athletics and team gymnastics debuted at these Olympics, in spite of criticism. Five women's athletics events were added: 100 meters, 800 meters, high jump, discus, and 400 meter hurdles. In protest of

1764-453: The relay when he tricked onlookers by carrying a fake flame, consisting of a pair of underpants set on fire in a plum pudding can, attached to a chair leg. He successfully managed to hand over the fake flame to the Mayor of Sydney , Pat Hills and escape without being noticed. The Olympic torch travels routes that symbolise human achievement or the history of the host country. Although most of

1813-535: The relay's last leg in the city. Demonstrations were also held in San Francisco and the route the torch would take was cut in half. As a result, in 2009, the International Olympic Committee announced that from the 2010 Winter Olympics , the future torch relays could be held only within the country hosting the Olympics after the initial Greek leg was finished. Although this rule took effect with

1862-561: The stadium of Lillehammer by a ski jumper . In Beijing 2008, Li Ning "ran" on air around the interior edge of the Beijing National Stadium 's roof, and lit a cauldron attached to it. The cauldron and the pedestal are always the subjects of unique and often dramatic design. These also tie in with how the cauldron is lit during the Opening Ceremony. After being lit, the flame in the Olympic cauldron continues to burn during

1911-558: The time the torch with the Olympic flame is still carried by runners, it has been transported in many different ways. The fire travelled by boat in 1948 and 2012 to cross the English Channel and was carried by rowers in Canberra as well as by dragon boat in Hong Kong in 2008. It was first transported by airplane in 1952 when the flame travelled to Helsinki . In 1956, all carriers in

1960-529: The torch relay benefit from brand awareness; whereas the medal podium ceremonies which began in 1932, had not become commercialized since no advertising is allowed inside Olympic venues. 1928 Summer Olympics The 1928 Summer Olympics ( Dutch : Olympische Zomerspelen 1928 ), officially the Games of the IX Olympiad ( Dutch : Spelen van de IXe Olympiade ), was an international multi-sport event that

2009-557: The torch relay to Stockholm , where the equestrian events were held instead of in Melbourne, travelled on horseback. Remarkable means of transportation were used in 1976, when the flame was transformed to a radio signal and transmitted from Europe to the New World : Heat sensors in Athens detected the flame, the signal was sent to Ottawa via satellite where it was received and used to trigger

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2058-425: The torch to start the flame in the stadium. The climactic transfer of the Olympic flame from the final torch to the cauldron at the central host stadium marks the symbolic commencement of the Games. As with being the final runner of the Olympic torch relay, it is considered to be a great honor to light the Olympic cauldron, and in the same way it has become a tradition to select notable athletes to conduct this part of

2107-569: The water. In 2000, an underwater flare was used by a diver across the Great Barrier Reef en route to the Sydney Games. In 2012 it was carried by boat across Bristol Harbour in the UK and on the front of a London Underground train to Wimbledon. In 2004, the first global torch relay was undertaken, a journey that lasted 78 days. The Olympic flame covered a distance of more than 78,000 km in

2156-582: Was also part of the British Empire, but was not dominions. For other sovereign states (i.e. United States, France, Argentina, Japan, etc) and the international community as a whole (i.e  League of Nations ) the term dominion , used internally in the British Empire, was very ambiguous, meaning "something between a colony and state". It was only years later with the Statute of Westminster 1931 that this ambiguity would be dispelled. Philippines

2205-535: Was an unincorporated territory and commonwealth of the United States . These are the top ten nations that won medals at the 1928 Games. The official poster for the Games displaying a running man in a white shirt was designed by Jos Rovers however the IOC never succeeded in obtaining the copyright of the image. The IOC used a different poster, with the German text Olympische Spiele , and an athlete partly covered in

2254-528: Was celebrated from 28 July to 12 August 1928 in Amsterdam , Netherlands. The city of Amsterdam had previously bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games . Still, it was obliged to give way to war-torn Antwerp in Belgium for the 1920 Games and Pierre de Coubertin 's Paris for the 1924 Games . The only other candidate city for the 1928 Olympics was Los Angeles , which would eventually be selected to host

2303-530: Was extinguished at that moment, was located) and ceremonially "transferred" to the Stade de France at the start of the Closing Ceremony ; there it was finally extinguished just after the IOC president declared officially closed the Games. The first time that a symbolic flame made its appearance in the Summer Olympic Games was for the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam . The main purpose of this fire, placed in

2352-412: Was formed around the flame to protect it, but one protester managed to grab hold of the torch while it was being held by television presenter Konnie Huq . In Paris the torch was extinguished at least twice by Chinese officials (five times according to French police ) so that it could be transported in a bus amid protests while it was being paraded through Paris. This eventually led to the cancellation of

2401-519: Was held in Olympia, Greece on July 20th, 1936. The torches used were made by Krupp , and the mirror used to light the flame was made by Zeiss Optics , both companies with links to the Nazi government of the time. The Olympic flame is ignited some weeks or months before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games at the main site of the ancient Olympics in Olympia, Greece . A group of women representing

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