The lighting of the Olympic torch is an integral part of every opening ceremony of the games. This is of course a reference to ancient times, as in Greece fire was an important part of worshipping the gods. During the games of that time, the sacred fire burned primarily in the altar of the goddess of the hearth, Hestia, but also in honor of Zeus and Hera.
Paris 2024. The Olympic Torch Relay is a Beautiful Tradition. But Most Would Rather Forget Where It Started
The modern games did not initially have this element until 1928, when it was introduced in Amsterdam. At that time, however, it was simply lit. The whole idea of the Olympic “fire” relay has its roots in… Nazism. After all, it was during the infamous Berlin games in 1936 that the ceremonial lighting of the torch was first organized, and the first to do so was the German athlete Fritz Schilgen.
Since then, the Olympic flame has been burning proudly at every summer event of this type. In the case of the Winter Games, this element has been in use since 1952 (Oslo), and since 1964 it has also been lit in Olympia. The honor of lighting the most famous flame in the world is usually given to athletes from the host country. In 2021, in Tokyo This was achieved by the Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka, in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro by the Brazilian marathon runner Vanderlei de Lima, in 2012 in London by a British seven-person team of athletes, and in 2008 by the Chinese gymnast Li Ning.
The French had some fun with the spectators. The torch passed from hand to hand.
This year was no different. It seemed that the “arsonist” would be the legendary footballer Zinedine Zidane. But he passed the torch to the great Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal. He boarded a motorboat with another star tennis Serena's American Williamsoutstanding US athlete Carl Lewis and Romanian five-time Olympic champion Nadia Comaneci. After reaching the dock, they passed the torch to Amelie Mauresmo, French two-time Grand Slam champion.
Great French athletes lit a candle together!
After some time, Tony Parker, an outstanding French basketball player, a four-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs, joined her. The longer the run lasted, the more people joined the “fiery” team. Among them were Michel Guigou (an outstanding handball player) and Renaud Lavillenie (a famous high jumper). Eventually, the fire ended up in the hands of Marie Jose Perec (multiple Olympic champion in the 200 and 400 meters) and three-time Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner. It was this French couple who lit the torch, which this year is… a balloon!
Paris had already hosted the games in 1900 and 1924, but as mentioned above, this tradition did not exist at that time. This is therefore the first time that the Olympic flame has burned in the French capital.