The Olympic summer torch relay is the symbol of the Olympic Games. According to the mythology, Prometheus stole fire from the Greek God Zeus. The Olympic summer torch relay is actually the commemoration of that incident. The Olympic torch relay has its origin in ancient Greece. Throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics, a fire was kept burning. This concept was reintroduced at the Summer Olympics of 1928 and has been a part of the modern Olympic Games since then. Carl Diem, the president of the Organization Committee for the Berlin Olympic Games, 1936 introduced the modern Olympic summer torch relay.
Nowadays, the Olympic Summer Torch is lighted several months before the opening celebration of the Olympic Games. The torch is ignited at the site of the ancient Olympics in Olympia, Greece. Eleven women, representing the roles of priestesses, perform a holy ceremony and the Olympic torch is ignited by the light of the Sun. The ray of the sun is concentrated by a parabolic mirror to light the Olympic Summer Torch.
The Olympic flame is given to the officials of the host city in a special ceremony. The Olympic summer torch is transported to the host city by a relay. The runners of the Olympic summer torch relay constitute famous athletes and many celebrities. But at times some other people have carried the torch as well. These people are chosen in lieu of their personal merits and achievements. The Olympic Summer Torch Relay comes to end on the day of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The final carrier of the torch runs towards a huge cauldron, which is normally placed at the top of a grand staircase. Then the torch is finally used to start the flame in the stadium. It is considered to be a matter of great honor to light the Olympic Flame.