1996 Torch
of ancient torches - a cluster of reeds bound by
twine - and also reflects the lines of classical
Greek architecture. It features 22 aluminum
bound "reeds", the first gold plated brass ring
has the inscription "Atlanta 1996" with the
Games emblem. On the second ring are the
names of the prior host cities of the Olympic
Games of the modern era. This torch was the
tallest ever for a summer Olympic Games, and
the only one designed to be grasped in the
middle.
The Olympic Flame Symbolizes the Olympic ideal
The Olympic Flame is ignited several months before the opening celebration at the site of the Ancient Olympic Games in Olympia, Greece
The Olympic Flame is ignited by the light of the suns' rays which are concentrated by a parabolic mirror
The Olympic Flame was re-introduced at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and did not have a torch relay. It has been a part of the Modern Olympic Summer Games ever since
The flame for the Winter Olympic Games was introduced for the first time at the 1952 games in Oslo, Norway
The torch relay (moving from Olympia, Greece to the Olympic venue), began in 1936 summer games in Berlin, Germany
The 1996 Olympic Torch relay began amid the ruins of the temple of Zeus in ancient Olympia, Greece. Transported by plane to the United States, then torchbearers carried the torch through:
Los Angeles-Las Vegas- San Francisco-Seattle-Salt Lake City-
Denver-Dallas-St. Louis-Minneapolis-Chicago-Detroit-Boston-New
York-Philadelphia-Washington-Miami-Atlanta.
