The Story of the First Olympics Torch Relay   

• The Olympic flame is one of the most enduring symbols of the Games, but the torch relay is a surprisingly modern tradition. The ancient Greek Olympics included fire in ceremonies, but there was no relay. The first modern torch relay was held at the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics, making it less than a century old. The idea came from Carl Diem, the Games’ chief organizer. To honor ancient customs, the flame was lit in Olympia, Greece, using a mirror to reflect the sun’s rays. Over 3,000 runners carried the torch through Greece, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Austria, and Czechoslovakia before it reached Berlin. On Aug. 1, 1936, the flame lit the cauldron at the opening ceremony, symbolically linking ancient and modern Games. Since then, every Olympics has started in Olympia. The torch travels through different countries and landmarks, spreading values of peace, friendship, and unity. Today, millions line the streets to watch the torch pass by, making the relay one of sports’ most recognized traditions. Nancy Ahmed For The Junior Times junior/1760056312/1613367831