The Torch

The tradition of the Olympic flame dates back to ancient Greece, where a sacred fire burned perpetually on the altar of the sanctuary of the goddess Hestia in Olympia, honoring the gods and symbolizing purity and the endeavor for perfection. The ancient Greeks used fire as a sacred element and maintained fires in front of their main temples; the flame was believed to have been a gift to mankind by Prometheus after he stole it from Zeus. However, the ancient Games did not feature a torch relay; the modern relay was introduced for the 1936 Berlin Olympics, conceived by German sports administrator Carl Diem as a way to link the modern Games to their ancient origins and to serve as a powerful propaganda tool.

Today, the Olympic torch relay has evolved into a global symbol of peace, unity, and friendship between nations. The flame is lit in Olympia, Greece, using a parabolic mirror to concentrate the sun's rays, a ritual that connects the ancient and modern Games. It then embarks on a journey across various countries and continents, carried by thousands of torchbearers chosen for their inspiring stories and contributions to their communities. The relay builds anticipation for the Games and culminates in the lighting of the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony, an iconic moment that signifies the official start of the competition and the coming together of the world under the banner of shared ideals.

For the upcoming LA28 Games, organizers are planning an unprecedented and unique torch relay that will visit all 50 U.S. states. This extensive journey, expected to last over three months, is a new approach designed to "bind the nation with LA" and engage the entire country in the excitement of the Olympics. This inclusive, nation-spanning route stands in contrast to the more localized, though still significant, relays of the previous Los Angeles Games in 1932 and 1984, which were primarily U.S.-focused but did not include all fifty states in their paths. The modern relay will build anticipation across a wide cross-section of American communities, culminating in the iconic moment when the cauldron is lit in Los Angeles to officially start the Games in July 2028.