The practice of lighting a lamp in the name of God or initiating any auspicious work can be seen not only in India but in many countries around the world. A similar practice is the lighting of torches before the Olympic Games.
Today in this post, we will know why torches are lit in the Olympic Games and their importance. So let's go:-
History of the Olympic Torch
The Olympic Games were started in 1896 in Athens, the capital of Greece. However, the practice of torch lighting was not prevalent at that time. The practice of torch lighting began in 1936 in the Greek city of Olympia.
According to the beliefs, the people of Greece considered fire very sacred and kept the fire burning continuously in their temples. This is why the temple of the goddess Hestia, the god Zeus and Hera, who is worshiped in Greece, is constantly burning.
In the Olympics, too, this practice was started with the belief that the game's sanctity would be maintained by fire.
The burning of the Olympic torch was started from the temple of the god Hera. At that time, the Olympic torch was set on fire through the rays of the sun.
This is because the rays of the sun were considered very sacred. Berlin hosted the Olympic Games in the year (1936) when the Olympic torch started burning from the city of Olympia.
After this, the Olympic torch was carried by air for the first time during the Oslo Olympics in 1952.
However, by that time, the means of communication were not as developed around the world, due to which the Olympics were never broadcast on television.
But by the year 1960, there had been a communication revolution in the world, because of which the torch tour of the Rome Olympics was broadcast on TV.
The Olympic torch was first carried by the sea at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. The Olympic torch has also been carried on camels and horses during the Sydney Olympics in 2000 while carrying them through desert routes.
The practice of carrying the torch to the host country, traveling worldwide is still practiced in the Olympics.
Importance of the Olympic torch
1.The torch is considered a symbol of the 'Olympic Movement' in the World Olympics. It also marks the continuity between ancient and modern sports.
2.The torch is lit to spread the message of peace in the countries participating in the Olympics.
3.Initially, the Olympic torch was lit by sunlight with the help of parabolic glass.
4.A new torch is created for each Olympics. However, no changes have been made to its original design.
5.The torch relay carries the Olympic flame from Olympia to the host city.
6.The relay starts several months before the Olympics. This gives time to carry the torch through different cities and countries.
7.If the torch is carried by plane, it is placed in a special security lamp.
8.The torch is carried forward across the safety net. For this, there is a tight security system on the relay route.
Then the game starts. 9. The stadium where the opening ceremony of the Olympics takes place is the final stage of the torch relay. A fire is lit by a celebrity, national or international sportsperson in a large cauldron-sized vessel.
10. The torch is extinguished after the Olympics. That is, the end of the competition is officially announced.
You must be logged in to post a comment.