Has the Olympic torch ever burned out?
Emma Payne
Published Jan 24, 2026
Has the Olympic torch ever gone out? You may be wondering what happens if the flame goes out. Believe it or not, it's actually rare for that to happen. But lanterns containing flames from the lighting ceremony are available during the relay if needed.
Does the Olympic torch ever burn out?
Does the flame ever go out? While some believe that the Olympic flame has never gone out since the first Games, this is not actually the case. The flame is actually relit in Greece a few months before each Olympics, and then the torch relay begins.
How many times has the Olympic torch gone out?
In 2013 a journalist following the flame's journey from Olympia to Sochi, Russia, reported that it went out 44 times during the trip. In 2016 government employees protesting unpaid wages stole the torch from an event in Angra dos Reis, Brazil, and purposefully extinguished it.
When was the last time the Olympic torch went out?
Then the Olympic flame made its way by airplane across the ocean in a lamp, and by the time the flame reached its opening-ceremonies cauldron in Rio de Janeiro, it had been carried by 12,000 different runners. It burned there until it was extinguished Aug. 21, 2016, during the closing ceremonies.
Who lit the Olympic torch in 2021?
Tennis star Naomi Osaka of Japan had the distinct honour of serving as the final torchbearer of the Olympic Torch Relay, lighting the cauldron inside Olympic Stadium for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 in 2021. Osaka, 23, is a four-time major champion in tennis who is making her Olympic debut.
21 related questions foundWho lit the Olympic flame today?
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics are officially open, after Naomi Osaka lit the Olympic flame during the opening ceremony. Here are some of the fascinating storylines we're watching during one of the most unique and turbulent Games in history.
Why is the Olympic flame so small?
China's Olympic opening ceremony director: We had a small flame on purpose Back to video. The faint flame reflected unity and the original aspiration of human beings, said Zhang Yimou. “The cauldron and the lighting process have surprised many people.
How is the Olympic flame lit?
The flame is lit according to the ancient method of the sun's rays in the parabolic mirror. The Olympic flame can only be lit in this way. The flame is placed in an urn and transported into the ancient stadium where it is given to the first runner by the high priestess responsible for this operation.
How much is Olympic torch worth?
Torch selling price and Olympic Games: 1980 Lake Placid: $38,250. 1976 Innsbruck: $25,124. 2020 Tokyo: $18,529.
What happens to Olympic flame between Games?
The torch is lit for every Olympics event, so the flame doesn't need to keep burning after the Games end. Each Olympics has its own torch design, and the important thing is that the torch is lit in Greece. After the Games, the torch is extinguished to symbolize the end of the Games, and that's that.
What does the red line on the Olympic torch represent?
The swirling red line across the body of the torch represents the following: the winding Great Wall; the Games ski slopes; and humanity's relentless quest for light, peace and excellence.
What is a 2000 Olympic torch worth?
The torch is now roughly worth around $2500. "I'm never going to sell mine," Mr Smith said. For those wanting to get their hands on a Sydney 2000 torch they have hit online marketplaces and auction rooms in record numbers.
Did they light the Olympic torch 2022?
Opacity. From giant snowflakes to willow branches, the Games wrapped with a series of carefully coordinated symbols. As the Olympic Flame extinguished at the 2022 Winter Olympics closing ceremony, it marked the conclusion of another Olympic competition.
Who lit the Olympic flame 2022?
“Dinigeer Yilamujiang has the right to participate in the Games and all ceremonies as an Olympian for Beijing 2022,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said this week.
Is the Olympic flame real?
It began in 1936 before the Summer Olympics in Berlin. Today, the torch relay starts in Greece. From there, it carries the Olympic flame around the world. The relay ends at the site of that year's Olympic Games.
Where is Olympic flame 2022?
Winter weather appears to have extinguished Olympic flame in Beijing. But organizers say it's just 'fine' BEIJING — A rare snowstorm in Beijing on Sunday brought a distinct winter vibe to the 2022 Winter Olympics.
How old is the Olympic flame?
A burning flame has been part of the modern Olympics since 1928, but the tradition goes all the way back to the ancient Games in Greece. So the Olympic flame lighting ceremony, which was first incorporated along with the torch relay for the 1936 Berlin Games, is held at the ancient Olympic site of Olympia in Greece.
Where is the Olympic flame located?
A few months before the opening of the Olympic Games, a flame is lit at Olympia, in Greece. The location recalls the link between the Ancient Olympic Games and their modern counterpart.
How much gas does the Olympic torch use?
Bruce Swiecicki, a senior technical advisor with the US National Propane Gas Association, said a cauldron of Olympic size can be expected to consume roughly 11 gallons (41.6 liters) of propane per hour, which comes out to about 4,200 gallons (16,000 liters) over the 16 days it will be lit for the summer games.
How much is a 1984 Olympic torch worth?
It's not every day that you come across a legitimate Olympic torch, but they're not all staggeringly valuable. Perhaps someday this one from the 1984 event will reach the $5,000 range, but for the time being, it's hardly demanding a four-digit price tag.
How much is a 1996 Olympic torch worth?
It's unclear what this replica torch from the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games would be worth, but torches used on the 1996 route have value, despite their abundance. About 17,000 torches were made, and today, they sell for around $1,500.
How much is a 2002 Olympic torch worth?
Well, at auction, we would expect the torch to sell for $2,000... (gasps) ...to $3,000.
Who lit torch at 1984 Olympics?
Torch bearer Rafer Johnson, a Southern California legend who died in December 2020, lit the Olympic flame. The 1960 decathlon gold medalist climbed the 99 steps to the cauldron in front of a crowd of about 90,000 in the same stadium that hosted the 1932 Olympics.