every four years, the Summer Olympic Games kick off with an elaborate opening ceremony that welcomes athletes from every competing nation. However,preparations ans celebrations for the olympic Games start long before the opening ceremony. The ture brginning of the Olympic torch and the relay that carries the flame to the host cit.
The Olympic torch is lit at a ceremony in Olympic,Greece,ehere the ancient games were held. One requrement fot the Olympic flame is that it must be created using only sunlight and a mirror. The flame is lit months sbefore the games, and the frist runner brgins thee great relay among the runis of an ancicent Olympic stadium.
The first modern Olympice torch relay took place in Berlin, in the summer of 1936. At the beggining,runners were mainly selected from the olympic athlestes, but later regular citizens-including children, old people with disabilities-began to participate as well. Carrying the torch is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a great honor.
Traditionally, the torch is carrien on foot.However,sometims other kinds of transport are needed.When the torch must go overseas, it is sent on a private plane. The torch has also been carried underwater.For the Sydney Summer Games in 2000,a diver swam with the torch!
At the end of the relay, the flame is used to light a giant pot. The light,a symbol of the Olympic spirit,burns throughout the games.