Olympic Summer Torch Relay is one of the symbol of Olympic Games along with the Olympic Flame, Olympic Fire, Olympic Light, and the Olympic Eye. Olympic Summer Torch Relay is the commemoration of the theft of fire by Prometheus from the Greek god Zeus. The torch relay of Olympic has origins in ancient Greece. A fire was kept burning throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics. The fire was reintroduced at the Summer Olympics of 1928, and has been an integral part of the modern Olympic Games ever since then. The modern Olympic Summer Torch Relay was introduced by Carl Diem who was the president of the Organization Committee for the Berlin Olympic Games, 1936.
At present, the Olympic Torch is lighted several months prior to the opening celebration of the Olympic Games. The torch is ignited at the site of the ancient Olympics in Olympia, Greece. Eleven women, who represent the roles of priestesses, perform a holy ceremony in which the Olympic torch is ignited by the light of the Sun. It is ignited in a special way concentrating the ray of the sun by a parabolic mirror.
According to the tradition, the Olympic flame is given to the officials of the host city in a ceremony. This ceremony takes place in the Athenian Panathinaiko Stadium for the start of the relay. The torch is then transported to the host city of the upcoming Olympics by a relay. During the past the flame was carried on foot, though some other means of transportation have been used also. The runners of the Olympic Summer Torch Relay have included athletes and many celebrities. But at times some other people have carried it as well. These people are often chosen for their personal merits and achievements.
The Olympic Summer Torch Relay ends on the day of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The final carrier of the torch runs towards the great cauldron, which is usually placed at the top of a grand staircase, and then the torch is used to start the flame in the stadium. It is normally considered a matter of great honor to be asked to light the Olympic Flame. After being lit, the flame continues to burn throughout the Olympics celebration and is extinguished only at end of the closing ceremony of Olympic.
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