Running Olympic Torchbearer Bronze Figurine (by Veronese)

The tradition of the Olympic torch relay and bearer dates back to Greece in ancient times. The practice, however, did not become a modern Olympic tradition until the 1936 Berlin Games. In ancient Greece, fire was seen as a divine element given by the god, Prometheus. During the ancient Olympic Games, which were held in Olympia from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD, a flame was lit from the sun's rays at Olympia and remained burning until the Games were completed. This was done as a way to honor the gods and the significance of the flame. However, it wasn't until much later that the torch relay became part of the Olympic tradition. Carl Diem, the chief organizer of the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, proposed the idea of a torch relay from Olympia to the Olympic stadium in the host city. It was a part of the propaganda effort employed by Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime, aiming to illustrate the supposed superiority and historical glory of Aryan race. Despite its politically charged beginnings, the tradition continued in subsequent Olympics as it effectively demonstrated the link between the ancient Games and the modern Olympic movement. Not only athletes but also ordinary citizens from various backgrounds have been given the opportunity to act as torch bearers, symbolizing the bringing together of people from around the world through the spirit of sport.