Past Torches

The Berlin 1936 Olympic Games Torch. The torch is in the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. The first modern Olympic Torch was created for the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany and was carried by 3,331 carriers through seven European countries covering a total distance of 3,187 km. The torch was a thin steel rod topped with a circular piece for the flame.

The tradition has been kept alive, and a new torch is designed and built before each Summer and Winter Olympic Games. The current concept of the Olympic torches was introduced at the 1960 Olympic Winter Games in Squaw Valley, California by John Hench, a Disney artist. His creation formed the basis for future torches representing the Host Country and theme of each Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A few memorable torches

The Calgary 1988 Olympic Winter Games Torch was designed in the same shape of the Calgary Tower and bore the 1988 Olympic Motto “Faster, Higher, Stronger.” The Sydney 2000 Olympic  Games featured a torch inspired by the architecture of the Sydney Opera House, the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean and the curve of a boomerang. The torch was built in three layers representing the earth, fire and water.

The Calgary 1988 Olympic Winter Games Torch. The torch is in the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The torch carried at the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games was built with crystal – reminiscent of icicles – and representing the 2002 Olympic Motto “Light the Fire Within.”

In the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, the torch was designed in the shape of an olive leaf, symbol of Greece and peace. The recent torch at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games drew inspiration from a traditional Chinese scroll and was designed with swirling graphics evoking the phoenix, a key symbol of the 2008 Games.

The Paralympic Torch Relays sometimes use the same torches as the Olympic Torch Relays, but not always. The torches carried at the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games and the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games had different designs than the Olympic Torches. The first Paralympic Torch Relay took place at the 1988 Games in Seoul.

Construction of the torch

It can take a complete year or two to design and build a torch. Before an Olympic Torch can be used, it must be tested in all kinds of weather. Between 10,000 and 15,000 torches are created to accommodate the thousands of torchbearers during the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays.

Although there are different torches for each Game, all must have the same basic elements: fuel to create the flame, a fuel delivery system, and an aerodynamic, light and safe design for the runner. The early torches were lit with various fuels including gun powder and olive oil.

Certain fuels are dangerous for the torchbearers; the last torch used in the Melbourne 1956 Olympic Torch Relay burned the torchbearer’s arms when chunks of the magnesium and aluminum fuel fell. The first liquid fuel torches were introduced and adopted at the Munich 1972 Games making the Torch Relays safer. The Olympic Torch continues to be a symbol to the Host Country and the world of the spirit of the Games.