Olympic Flame facts for kids

The Olympic Flame or Olympic Torch is a very special symbol of the Olympic Games. It represents purity, knowledge, and life. The flame is lit in Greece, where the ancient Olympics began. It then travels a long journey to the city hosting the Games.

What is the Olympic Flame?

The Olympic Flame is a powerful symbol. It shows the connection between the ancient Olympic Games and the modern ones. It also stands for peace and friendship among countries. The flame is lit using the sun's rays. This happens at the ancient site of Olympia in Greece.

How the Flame is Lit

The lighting ceremony is very traditional. Actresses dressed as ancient Greek priestesses use a special mirror. This mirror focuses the sun's rays to light the torch. This method ensures the flame is pure and traditional. If it's cloudy, a flame lit during a rehearsal is used. This backup flame is kept safe in a special lamp.

The Torch Relay

After being lit, the flame begins its journey. It travels from Olympia to the host city. This journey is called the Olympic Torch Relay. Thousands of people carry the torch. They pass it from one person to the next. This creates a chain of torchbearers.

The Route of the Flame

A special committee plans the torch's route. The route often goes through many countries. It visits famous landmarks and cities. The relay builds excitement for the Games. It also allows people worldwide to feel part of the Olympics.

Sharing Messages During the Relay

Sometimes, people use the torch relay to share their opinions. They might want to bring attention to important issues. For example, during the 2008 Olympic torch relay to Beijing, some people used the event to express concerns about certain topics. This shows how the relay can be a way for people to communicate.

The Olympic Cauldron

The torch relay ends at the main Olympic stadium. The final torchbearer carries the flame into the stadium. They use it to light a large bowl called the Olympic Cauldron. This cauldron burns throughout the entire Olympic Games.

Lighting the Cauldron

Lighting the cauldron is a highlight of the opening ceremony. The person chosen to light it is often a famous athlete. It's a great honor to light the cauldron. The flame stays lit until the closing ceremony. When the flame is put out, it marks the end of the Games.

Images for kids

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  The Marathon Tower at the Amsterdam Olympic Stadium, where the first modern Olympic flame burned in 1928

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  Igniting the Olympic flame in a dress rehearsal in Greece, using the sun's energy

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  Olympic torch relay, 1952

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  Olympic torch relay, 1996

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  Olympic torch relay, 2012

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  The 2014 Olympic torch in space during Soyuz TMA-11M

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  2016 Summer Paralympics torch relay

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  Paavo Nurmi lighting the Olympic flame in Helsinki in 1952

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  Traditional Olympic cauldrons often employ a simple bowl-on-pedestal design, such as the cauldron used for the 1936 Summer Olympics

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  Olympic cauldron at Moscow 1980

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  Kim Won-tak (athlete), Chong Son-man (teacher) und Son Mi-jong (dance student) during the lighting of the Olympic cauldron at Seoul 1988

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  Olympic cauldron at Barcelona 1992

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  Olympic cauldron at Atlanta 1996

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  Olympic cauldron at Athens 2004 during the opening ceremony

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  Olympic cauldron at Turin 2006

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  Olympic cauldron at Beijing 2008 during the opening ceremony

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  Public cauldron of Vancouver 2010

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  More artistic and abstract designs for cauldrons, including the 2012 Summer Olympics cauldron, have also been used.

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  Cauldrons can also take on monolithic forms, an example of which being the "cauldron tower" used for Sochi 2014

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  The Rio 2016 cauldron features a kinetic sculpture with a small flame.

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  The Rio 2016 public cauldron in downtown Rio de Janeiro

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  One of the three public flames of Beijing 2022

See also

In Spanish: Llama olímpica para niños