How do you carry the Olympic torch?
Emily Ross
Published Jan 19, 2026
The flame is carried by relay all the way to its final destination in the stadium. Although it is usually carried by runners on foot, other modes of transport are also used. For air transportation, the flame is sheltered in a security lamp, similar to a miner's lamp. At night time, it is kept in a special cauldron.
Where do they carry the Olympic torch from?
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.
Is the Olympic torch being carried?
It normally takes a monthslong, very public journey through a number of countries to reach the Olympic host city. For the 2022 Games, that was reduced to a three-day relay in and around the Chinese capital, with the torch carried by athletes, Communist Party officials and a Chinese military hero.
Who carried the Olympic torch 2022?
Ahead of Friday's 2022 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, actor and martial artist Jackie Chan carried the iconic Olympic torch at the Great Wall of China. Chan, 67, held the torch Thursday as part of a three-day relay ahead of Friday's Opening Ceremony, Reuters reports.
How far do they carry the Olympic torch?
Almost anyone can carry a torch, provided that he is at least 14 years old and is able to carry it for at least 400 meters (437 yards).
23 related questions foundWhat happens if the Olympic torch goes out?
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.
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.
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.
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?
At the ceremony, a parabolic mirror and the sun's rays are used to ignite the Olympic flame. The flame is then passed on to the first torchbearer of the Olympic torch relay. This is usually done months in advance of the Games, but the flame for the Tokyo Olympics actually was produced over a year ago.
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.
What does the 2022 Olympic torch look like?
Feb. 5, 2022, at 3:24 a.m. BEIJING (Reuters) - A snowflake instead of a huge cauldron and a "micro-flame" in place of a roaring fire at the opening ceremony for the Winter Olympics were an "innovation" celebrating the human spirit, the ceremony's director said on Saturday.
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 many 1984 Olympic torches are there?
The 1984 Summer Olympics torch relay was run from May 8 until July 28, prior to the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The route covered around 15,000 kilometres (9,300 mi) across the United States and involved over 3,600 torchbearers.
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.
What does the torch lighting symbolize?
“It makes you realise the meaning of the flame and that it is a symbol of the Olympic message of peace, friendship, tolerance and hope.
Who lights the Olympic torch?
Athletes, dignitaries and everyday citizens have all had a role in lighting the Olympic Cauldron. Some of the notable athletes who have had the honor of anchoring the torch relay include Wayne Gretzky (2010 Vancouver), Muhammad Ali (1996 Los Angeles) and most recently Naomi Osaka (2020 Tokyo).
How do they choose who lights the torch?
Since then, famous athletes (active or retired) with significant sporting achievements while representing the host country, promising young athletes, or other individuals with symbolic significance, have been selected as the last runners in the Olympic torch relay and consequently have the honor of lighting the Olympic ...
How many people carried the torch to the opening ceremony location?
All in all, about 10,000 relay participants transported the torch (designed to resemble a cherry blossom) to Tokyo, uniting under the theme "Hope Lights Our Way," according to NBC.
Did Jackie Chan hold the Olympic torch?
Actor Jackie Chan was so excited to carry the Olympic torch atop the Great Wall that he woke up at 4 a.m. on Thursday morning and braved 12-degree weather. Chan was among the torchbearers who carried the Olympic flame as the torch made its way through Beijing and the neighboring city of Zhangjiakou on its second day.
Did Jackie Chan light the torch?
The Hollywood movie star and table tennis Olympic champion were among the torchbearers on Day Two of the truncated Olympic Torch Relay with just one day to go before the Opening Ceremony.