Beijing Olympics Games 2008 Torch Relay

The modern tradition of igniting Olympic flame as the opening ceremony of Summer Games was adopted from the ancient Olympics at Greece. Olympic fire was lit using parabolic mirrors by focusing the sun rays at the ancient Olympic Stadium in Olympia, Greece, which was later introduced in Summer Olympics held at Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in 1928. The tradition of Olympic torch relay was adopted from ancient Olympics, first in 1936 Summer Olympics. The Olympic torch relay signifies spirit, knowledge, and vitality and also symbolize the traditions of passing Summer Games from one generation to another. In the modern tradition, Olympic flame, also known as Olympic light, is ignited some months before the commencement of the games, which is still done using parabolic mirrors. The Olympic eye is then carried as Olympic torch from Olympia to the scheduled venue of Summer Games. The Olympic torch is usually carried by athletes however, modes such as, aeroplane, boat, and radio signals have also been used. The tradition of global torch relay started from 2004 Olympics, during which the torch was carried 78000 km by 11,300 torchbearers, in 78 days.

The 2008 Summer Games Torch Relay will commence from March 25, 2008, with the theme "Journey of Harmony". The relay will continue for 130 days and carry the torch through 137,000 km, which is so far, the longest distance covered in any Olympic torch relay. Considering the distance covered during the journey, Lenovo Group has designed the torch to bear winds at 65 kmph with rain up to 50 mmph. The torch comprises wood, fire, metal, earth, and water, which signify the traditional Chinese elements of the Universe.

The 2008 Summer Games Torch Relay will start from Olympia to the Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens, and then reach Beijing on March 31.

Olympic Torch Route is being scheduled to pass through six continents, which will include the following major cities:

Beijing, People's Republic of China
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Istanbul, Turkey
St.Petersburg, Russia
London, United Kingdom
Paris, France
San Francisco, USA
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Muscat, Oman
Islamabad, Pakistan
Mumbai, India
Bangkok, Thailand
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Jakarta, Indonesia
Canberra, Australia
Nagano, Japan
Seoul, South Korea
Pyongyang, North Korea
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
Macau, People's Republic of China

The 2008 Summer Games torch relay will also include an attempt to carry the torch to Mount Everest. The details of the Olympic 2008 torch relay can be obtained from the elite map site, mapsofworld.com, which also comprises additional details of the event.

The Olympic torch relay will end on August 8, 2008, the day scheduled for the commencement of the Olympic events, on which an opening ceremony will be performed by igniting Olympic flames.

The final carrier of the Olympic torch lights the Olympic flame, which is considered a great honor. The Olympic flame, also known as Olympic Sun, then blazes continuously throughout the events, and is extinguished only after the closing ceremony of the Summer Games.

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