The Olympic Torch Relay

The Olympic Torch Relay is a fundamental part of Olympic history and an indispensable part of every Olympic game.  Many months before opening ceremonies, the torch is lit at the site of the first Olympic Games in Greece and then transported by land, water and air by individuals until it arrives just in time for the opening ceremonies.

The relay for these past Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver lasted over 106 days and covered over 28,000 miles, making it the longest relay within one country.  12,000 people carried the torch through more than 1,000 communities and, according to the Vancouver Olympics Web site, around 90 percent of Canadians were within a one-hour drive to the route.  Check out the official map:

When the torch finally made it to the opening ceremonies, though, the lighting of the cauldron didn't go too smoothly.  According to the plan for the events, four pillars were supposed to rise out of the floor and join at the top to form one cauldron.  Instead, only three pillars rose.  Hockey star Wayne Gretzky, skier Nancy Greene and basketball player Steve Nash were all able to light their pillars, but speedskater Catriona LeMay Doan was unable to.  Nonetheless, the torch relay for Vancouver's Games was impressive, as were the opening and closing ceremonies. 

Though the history of the Olympic Torch dates back thousands of years, the relay we know today of carrying the flame from Greece to whatever venue the games are to be held is fairly new.  It was introduced at the 1936 Summer Olympic games in Berlin, Germany.  In  1952, the flame was transported by air for the first time when it traveled to Helsinki.  In the 1956 games, torch bearers traveled on horseback to Stockholm, where all equestrian events were held instead of in Melbourne.  In 1976, the flame was transported via radio signal from Athens to Canada.  The signal triggered a laser beam that re-lit the flame in the new location.

The Ancient Greeks held their Olympic Games in honor of Zeus, from whom they believed fire was stolen by the god Prometheus.  Permanent fires burned at certain altars in Greece, and during the Olympics additional fires were lit at Zeus' temple.  The connotation of fire has a long, rich history.  Its meaning has traveled through time and across the globe to represent a tradition of athleticism and respect.  It will be interesting to see how future games top past relays!