OLYMPIC TORCH RELAYS / 1936—2028
The routes, the runners, and the torches they carried. Pick a Games to see how the relay got there.
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Summer GAMES 1984
The LA Games torch relay was revolutionary, covering 15,000 km across America. It was the first relay funded primarily by corporate sponsorships (notably AT&T) and allowed ordinary citizens to carry the torch by donating to charity. Rafer Johnson became the first Black athlete to light the Olympic cauldron.
Los Angeles gets its turn again in 2028.
Be part of Tom's 2028 journeyThe modern Olympic torch relay is a tradition that links the ancient and modern worlds. It began in 1936 for the Berlin Games, conceived by Carl Diem as a way to symbolically transport the sacred fire from the sanctuary of Olympia, Greece, to the host city. Since then, the flame has crossed oceans, climbed mountains, and reached remote landscapes.
Designing an Olympic torch is a feat of engineering and art. The torch must withstand wind, rain, snow, and extreme altitudes while maintaining a visible flame.
Each relay tells a story of its time. The 1948 London "Relay of Peace" was a powerful symbol of healing for a Europe shattered by World War II. The 1964 Tokyo relay, led by a young man born in Hiroshima on the day the atomic bomb fell, signaled Japan's reconstruction and commitment to peace. For LA 2028, the torch will likely celebrate the diversity and creative spirit of California, marking the third time Los Angeles has hosted the Games.
🔥 Longest Relay: Beijing 2008 covered 137,000 km.
🚀 Highest Altitude: Mount Everest summit (2008).
❄️ Coldest: North Pole (2014).
🏃 Most Torchbearers: Tokyo 1964 had over 100,000 (mostly support runners).
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