What’s the significance of the Olympic flame?

The running of the torch is one of the most memorable moments from every edition of the Olympics. Why do we do it, and what’s its significance?

The Olympic torch wasn’t at the first Olympics, but it has come to be the biggest symbols of the games outside of the five ringed logo. The flame is run from Greece, where the games originate, to the host country by a series of runners who are most often former athletes or powerful figures from the host country.

So, why do we do this? Why do we watch a bunch of famous people carry a torch across countries?

In ancient Greece, the games were played in Olympia, where the temple of Hestia was placed. Fire was evidence of the divine for the ancient Greeks. It was thought to have been stolen from the gods by Prometheus, and in celebration, all the temples of the gods were lit for the ancient games.

The torch relay was originally designed for the 1936 Berlin Olympics, which means it was devised by the Nazis. Though much of the revolting Third Reich was scrubbed from minds and hearts in the aftermath of World War II, the torch relay remained a mainstay of the Olympics.

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The modern version of the flame signifies the beginning and the end of the Olympics. The flame is lit during the opening ceremony and extinguished at the closing ceremony. The flame is said to symbolize the indomitable will of the Olympic athletes as they compete for their respective countries.

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