At the opening of the Olympics, the cauldron is lit by a high-profile dignitary who has made a significant and groundbreaking impact on humanity and sports in general. This person is typically chosen by the International Olympic Committee and is given the honor of lighting the cauldron.
Over the past few decades, this honor has been included to represent not only the sporting accomplishments of the Olympic athletes, but also to symbolize the triumph of the human spirit and equality in the world.
During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the torch was lit by former basketball star and global ambassador, Yao Ming. At the 2012 London Olympics, the honor of lighting the cauldron was given to seven British young athletes who had all overcome extraordinary circumstances to achieve success.
Similarly, during the 2016 Rio Olympics, five Brazilian sports icons that included marathon runner Vanderlei de Lima and sailor Robert Scheidt were given the privilege of lighting the cauldron.
At the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the individual given the honor of lighting the cauldron has yet to be announced, but it is likely that the person chosen will have a stellar record of inspiring and empowering athletes everywhere.
Does the Olympic torch light the cauldron?
Yes, the Olympic torch is traditionally used to light the cauldron at the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games. The torch is lit at the start of the relay that carries the flame to the chosen host city, where a final torch bearer lights the cauldron in the main stadium, usually during the opening ceremony.
The final torch bearer is usually the one who performs the act of lighting the flame from the fire in Greece which marks the start of this symbolic flame relay. The cauldron remains lit for the duration of the Olympic Games and is only extinguished when the Games are over.
Who lit the Olympic cauldron at Beijing?
At the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, basketball legend Yao Ming, who was appointed as China’s Goodwill Ambassador by the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee, touched the Olympic flame burner, lighting the Olympic Cauldron.
In an impressive display of spectacle, the Chinese flag slowly rose to the top of the National Stadium and Chinese astronaut Yang Liwei, who had previously orbited the Earth, emerged from the floor and mounted a pedestal to light the lantern which signaled the cauldron’s illumination.
The cauldron’s ascent was synchronised with a stunning theatrical performance involving legendary Chinese athletes, including former high jumper Ki Bo-Bae and world-record holder for the triple jump, Yang Yajun.
Onlookers around the world were in awe of this moving and emotional moment, which involved over 15,000 performers and 5,000 technicians.
How did the Olympic flame get to China?
The Olympic flame arrived in China for the 2008 Summer Olympics via a long, international journey. The flame began its journey from the birthplace of the ancient Olympics near Greece, and it made stops on five continents and in 23 cities, including in Athens, Rio de Janeiro, Istanbul, San Francisco, and Bangkok, before arriving to its final destination in Beijing.
On March 31, 2008, the last of 135 torches lit by the High Priestess at the Ancient Olympia was lit in Greece and was used to light the first Olympic Torch of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Torch Relay.
A series of torchbearers then carried the flame on a relay journey spanning 130 days, traveling through 19 provinces, autonomic regions, and municipalities of mainland China. Along its route, the torch visited various famous landmarks in each city such as the Great Wall in Beijing, the Terra-Cotta Warriors in Xi’An, and the famous Li River of Guilin.
In each city, an elaborate ceremony marked its arrival and departure. On August 8, the flame arrived in Beijing and was then used to light the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Does the Olympic flame burn forever?
The Olympic flame is a representation of the Olympic Games, but it does not actually burn forever. First lit in the ancient Olympic Games, and at the re-institution of the modern Olympics in the mid-20th century, the flame is intended to represent the passing of knowledge and the legacy of the Olympics.
Every time the flame is lit, it symbolically marks the start of the Games and the sharing of knowledge and achievement.
The flame is set alight during a special ceremony and then transported to the Olympic Stadium, where it remains lit until the end of the Games. During the Games, the torch is used to light the cauldron located in the middle of the Olympic Stadium and symbolically marks the worldwide unification of athletes, coaches, and spectators from different countries and cultures.
After the Games are concluded, the flame is extinguished and the Olympic Games are officially declared ended.
Who was the torch bearer in Beijing Olympics?
In the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, 8,000 torch bearers from all over the world were chosen to take part in the Games’ torch relay, including athlete and movie star Jet Li. Li’s fellow countryman Li Ning was chosen to light the cauldron during the opening ceremony.
The torch relay was an unprecedented event, taking over 100 days and traveling 137,000 km across 5 continents and into space, before finally arriving in the Bird’s Nest Stadium ahead of the Opening Ceremony.
The route of the torch relay was designed to showcase China’s majestic landscape and culture, as it traveled through all regions of the country, including historical sites such as the Great Wall and the birthplace of Confucius.
At the ceremony itself, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Red Flag Guard presented the torch to Chinese gymnast Li Ning who had also acted as relay torch bearer during the relay. Li jogged up the side of the stadium’s iconic “Bird’s Nest” structure before making a dramatic entrance through the stadium’s parting entrance.
He then ran three-quarters of the way up the large spiral ramp, before reaching the cauldron at the top. He then lit the cauldron after the Beijing drummers and acrobats from the “Fuwas Dream” act, and concluded the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
Who did China Select to light the Olympic torch?
China chose former NBA superstar and Chinese native Yao Ming to light the Olympic torch. Yao Ming was born in Shanghai in 1980 and played in the NBA from 2002-11. He was an eight-time NBA All-Star and was named to the All-NBA Team five times.
After his retirement, Yao Ming has remained actively involved in Chinese sports and philanthropy. He was selected to light the Olympic torch in recognition of his achievements both on and off the court, and for his contributions to the Chinese basketball industry.
Yao Ming lit the torch during the official opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, becoming the first Chinese Olympic torchbearer in history.
Who carried the torch in Beijing?
The torch bearing ceremony is one of the defining moments of the Olympic Games. In the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, 904 people were chosen to undertake this honourable role of carrying the torch.
Olympic and Paralympic medallists, celebrities, grassroots volunteers and everyday people took part, reflecting the variety of individuals who played a role in helping to shape the Olympic experience.
The ceremony began with a five-minute ceremony at Tiananmen square, where the flame was lit, followed by a symbolic journey to the Bird’s Nest National Stadium, the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies.
The torch was carried throughout China’s provinces, Autonomous Regions and major cities, showcasing the beautiful country and its culture. Participants included a range of people from all walks of life, including former astronauts, political leaders, professional athletes, and ordinary citizens including children and the elderly.
Some of the keywords used to summarize many of the torch-bearers were: “Hope,” “Inspiration,” “Passion” and “Dreams”.
In total, 130 torchbearers participated in the ultimate leg of the torch relay which ended at the Bird’s Nest National Stadium in Beijing. The torch relay was a symbol of China’s hospitality and its commitment to the Olympic spirit.
How did they light the cauldron in Tokyo?
At the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, the cauldron was lit with an impressive display of lights, lasers, and digital projections. The initial ignition of the cauldron was designed with help from the team at international production agency Cirque du Soleil in collaboration with the Lighting Design Office of Kazuhisa Takashima (L-DOKO).
An outline of a hand holding a “torch of peace” was projected onto the floor from overhead LEDs and video projectors. This was an indication to the crowd that the two star athletes Saori Yoshida and Yoshitomo Tani were holding the real torch of peace that they would use to light the cauldron.
The flame was then brought to the cauldron platform by Yoshida and Tani, and when the final countdown commenced, a spectacular Digital Dome surrounded the cauldron and formed the iconic Olympic Rings.
As the countdown concluded, the Flame ignited the cauldron’s pyrotechnic display and shot bright flames into the night sky. This awe-inspiring technological wonder was praised by Olympic fans, who were truly spell-bound by the Opening Ceremony.