Shantou Torch Relay Detailed Route Map

The Games were held from May 17 to August 12, 1928. On July 28, the 9th Olympic Games held its official opening ceremony. A gun salute was fired at the beginning, and a formation of aircraft flew over the venue. The tall tower built in the venue burned with blazing flames until the closing of the conference. The tinder of the flame was taken from Olympia. For the first time, a condenser was used to collect sunlight to ignite the torch. It was then transmitted through a relay, passing through four countries: Greece, Yugoslavia, Austria, and Germany, and finally reached the host place. This is the first time such an event has been held at the Olympics. Many historical records record that today's Olympic torch relay started from this session, probably because of this. However, it was not until 1934 that the International Olympic Committee officially decided to hold this ceremony at the opening ceremony starting from the 11th Olympic Games. Therefore, to be precise, the burning of the Olympic flame should have started in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

The Origin of the Olympic Torch Relay

The Olympic Torch Relay originated from a religious ceremony in ancient Athens during the people's moon worship activities. On the day of the summer solstice, believers who went to Athens to worship Zeus decided by running a race to decide who would light the holy fire on the altar. The winner was authorized to take over the torch from the high priest and light the holy fire on the altar. According to historical records, in 778 BC, at the first known Olympic Games, a man named Carabos won the race and was awarded the honor to light the flame.

The modern Olympic torch relay first obtains fire and ignites the torch from the Temple of Hera on Mount Olympia in Greece, and then uses a relay to pass the torch from the temple to Athens, the birthplace of the ancient Olympic movement, and finally to Athens. Arrive at the host city of the Olympic Games and light the torch at the main venue of the Olympic Games at the opening of the Games.

Since the Winter Olympics and Summer Olympics are held alternately, the Olympic flame will be relit every two years. A priestess, assisted by a saint, lights the sacred fire during a traditional ceremony in the ancient city of Olympia. The priestess uses a parabolic cylindrical reflector to collect sunlight and light the torch. When the sacred fire is lit, the priestess will hold the torch high and then solemnly place it into the clay altar located in front of the remains of the Temple of Hera. The torch will be passed to the first torchbearer, who will hold a unique torch with special meaning carefully designed by the host city of the Olympic Games.

The organizing committee of each Olympic Games is responsible for designing a distinctive torch and then manufacturing a sufficient number of torches for the torch relay. The flame is passed from city to city until it reaches the Olympic Stadium in the host city.

The Olympic flame appeared for the first time

The first time the Olympic flame appeared in the modern Olympic Games was at the 9th Amsterdam Olympic Games in 1928. At that time, in addition to a new main stadium with a capacity of 40,000 people, the host country also built a high tower. During the Olympic Games, a blazing flame was always burning in the tower. The fire was taken from Olympia. A condenser was used to collect sunlight to light the torch. It was then transmitted through a relay through four countries: Greece, Yugoslavia, Austria, and Germany, and finally reached the host country. This is the first time such an event has been held at the Olympics.

In 1934, the International Olympic Committee officially decided to hold a torch ceremony starting from the 11th Olympic Games. The fire-taking ceremony was held next to the Temple of Hera in Olympia, and then passed to the Olympic venue in the form of a relay. The Berlin Olympic Games Organizing Committee designed a relay route for the first torch relay that passed through the capitals of seven countries, including Greece, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Germany, and arrived at the Berlin Olympic Stadium on August 1. The torch is made of polished steel, with the words "Fackelstaffel-LaufOlympia-Berlin 1936 (Olympia Torch Relay-Berlin 1936)" engraved on the handle. Above the font are the Olympic rings and the German eagle emblem. Below the font is a route map for the torch relay, and on the platform at the top of the torch body are words thanking the torch bearers.

Since then, the Olympic flame has officially entered the modern Olympic Games and has become a major symbol of the modern Olympic Games and even the Olympic spirit. At the same time, the Olympic torch has also become a carrier for the organizing committee to reflect the cultural characteristics of the host city, country and nation. The 2004 Athens Olympic Games torch evolved from the olive branch symbolizing victory. In its simplicity, it embodies the Greeks' deep feelings for the Olympic movement and is passed among all cities around the world that have hosted the Olympic Games and are about to host the Olympic Games.

What are the requirements for becoming a torch bearer in Beijing?

For every Chinese, becoming a torch bearer for the Beijing Olympic Games is undoubtedly a supreme honor, but in order to become a torch bearer for the Olympic Games, Being a torch bearer is not that easy. In addition to loving the motherland, loving the Olympic movement, and practicing the concepts of the Beijing Olympic Games, you must also make outstanding achievements in your industry and region, contribute to the development of the Olympic cause, or achieve outstanding results in the history of the Olympic Games. Become a torchbearer.

The Beijing Olympic Torch Relay Center has recently allocated the places for torchbearers in various regions, and requires each region to submit its regional torchbearer selection plan to the Olympic Organizing Committee before the end of May.

According to the requirements of the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee, there are three ways to select the first torchbearers: through organizational system recommendation, social open registration selection, and a combination of organizational system recommendation and public open registration.

Judging from the situation in various places, in addition to the number of torch bearers allocated by the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee to various places, the escorts also need to be selected. According to the requirements, these escorts will be in the school. Produced among university and middle school students and young teachers.

According to the distribution plan of the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee, the personnel participating in the torch relay in the regions and cities will be composed of the following parts: locally selected athletes (approximately more than half); people from the Chinese Olympic Committee (approximately 10%); representatives of the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee and the "Olympic family" (a collective name for all organizations and individuals involved in the Olympic movement, including the International Olympic Committee, international federations, athletes, coaches, etc. ) will account for about 1%; the other is the representatives of sponsors, which will account for nearly one-third.

In addition, several sponsors of this Olympic torch relay also have some quotas for torchbearers. For many people, passing the selection of sponsors may also be an opportunity to realize their dreams.

There are three sponsors of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay, namely Coca-Cola, Samsung and Lenovo. The person in charge of the Coca-Cola Company told reporters that they will select Olympic torchbearers nationwide. The selection criteria for this year's torchbearers are "models around them." They require that "the torchbearers must have a good impact on society and have outstanding achievements." Contribution." Anyone who affects the people around him with his good appearance may become a Torch Runner selected by Coca-Cola.

Lenovo said that from June to the end of this year, it will search for "explorers" with the most Olympic spirit in 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions across the country to serve as Olympic torchbearers and torch ambassadors; they will also Select runners from colleges and universities across the country to encourage the public to continuously break boundaries, explore beyond, and realize what is possible. Samsung Electronics revealed to reporters that they have obtained the right to select 1,500 torchbearers, and their torchbearer recruitment will mainly be carried out in conjunction with marketing activities.

Review of previous Olympic flame lighting ceremonies

In 1964, at the 18th Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, a 19-year-old youth named Yoshinori Sakai lit the "Olympic flame" symbolizing peace. ". Since he was born on the day of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, it has a different meaning.

In 1968, the flame of the 19th Olympic Games in Mexico City was lit for the first time by a 20-year-old female track and field athlete De Sotelo.

In 1976, at the 21st Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada, two teenagers, Henderson, a 16-year-old girl, and Prefontaine, a 15-year-old boy, lit the "Olympic Flame" together.

In 1984, the torch of the 23rd Olympic Games in Los Angeles was passed from Greece to the United States. Johnson (the decathlon champion of the Rome Olympics) first lit the five-ring logo hanging on the stadium wall, and then the burning The five rings ignited the sacred fire in the main venue.

In 1992, at the 25th Olympic Games in Barcelona, ??Spain, Rebollo, a two-time Paralympic Archery medalist, lit the cauldron at the main venue by archery.

In 1996, the 26th Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA, was lit by boxing champion Ali at the main venue. Boxing champion Ali (who already suffers from Parkinson's disease) trembled slightly and lit the fire under the cauldron with his hands. The fire quickly rose to the top of the cauldron along the steel wire, thus lighting the Olympic flame.

In the 27th Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, in 2000, Aboriginal female athlete Cathy Freeman held the torch and lit the flame.

At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Atlanta Olympic sailing gold medalist Nikolaos Karamanakis lit the spindle-shaped main cauldron tower with the torch in his hand, and the Olympic flame burned brightly in the birthplace of the Olympics. .

2008 Beijing Olympics Torch Relay Schedule

Time Events

On April 26, 2007, the Beijing Olympics Torch Relay overall plan route and the Beijing Olympics Torch were announced Release

Test rehearsal for the arrival of the torch at Mount Everest in May 2007

Collection of the torch at Olympia on March 25, 2008

March 25-30, 2008 Olympic torch relay in Greece

The handover ceremony of the torch on March 30, 2008

The torch entered China on March 31, 2008 and the opening ceremony of the torch relay also started the international relay

In May 2008, the Olympic flame was sent back to mainland China

In May 2008, the Olympic flame arrived at Mount Everest

In August 2008, the Olympic flame arrived in Beijing

2008 The torch was lit on August 8, 2018

Beijing Olympic Games Torch Relay Route

The torch relay is divided into two parts: overseas relay and domestic relay. The order and cities are:

Overseas Delivery route:

Almaty (Kazakhstan) - Istanbul (Turkey) - St. Petersburg (Russia) - London (UK) - 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)

Domestic delivery route:

Hong Kong-Macau-Hainan Province (Sanya, Wuzhishan) , Wanning, Haikou)—Guangdong Province (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Huizhou, Shantou)—Fujian Province (Fuzhou, Quanzhou, Xiamen, Longyan)—Jiangxi Province (Ruijin, Jinggangshan, Nanchang)—Zhejiang Province (Wenzhou, Ningbo, Hangzhou, Shaoxing, Jiaxing)—Shanghai City—Jiangsu Province (Suzhou, Nantong, Taizhou, Yangzhou, Nanjing)—Anhui Province (Hefei, Huainan, Wuhu, Jixi, Huangshan)—Hubei Province (Wuhan, Yichang, Jingzhou)—Hunan Province (Yueyang , Changsha, Shaoshan) - Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Guilin, Nanning, Baise) - Yunnan Province (Kunming, Lijiang, Shangri-La) - Guizhou Province (Guiyang, Kaili, Zunyi) - Chongqing City - Sichuan Province (Guang'an, Mianyang, Guanghan, Leshan, Zigong, Yibin, Chengdu) - Tibet Autonomous Region (Shannan Prefecture, Lhasa) - Qinghai Province (Golmud, Qinghai Lake, Xining) - Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (Urumqi, Kashgar, Shihezi, Changji) - Gansu Province (Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, Jiuquan , Tianshui, Lanzhou) - Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (Zhongwei, Wuzhong, Yinchuan) - Shaanxi Province (Yan'an, Yangling, Xianyang, Xi'an) - Shanxi Province (Yuncheng, Pingyao, Taiyuan, Datong) - Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (Hohhot, Ordos, Baotou, Chifeng)—Heilongjiang Province (Qiqihar, Daqing, Harbin)—Jilin Province (Songyuan, Changchun, Jilin, Yanji)—Liaoning Province (Shenyang, Benxi, Liaoyang, Anshan, Dalian)—Shandong Province (Yantai, Weihai, Qingdao, Rizhao, Linyi, Qufu, Tai'an, Jinan) - Henan Province (Shangqiu, Kaifeng, Zhengzhou, Luoyang, Anyang) - Hebei Province (Shijiazhuang, Qinhuangdao, Tangshan) - Tianjin City - Beijing City.

The significance of the torch relay

In ancient Greek mythology, the fire on the earth originated from the god Prometheus stealing fire from God and giving it to humans. Since 1936, the torch relay has become an essential ceremony for every Olympic Games. The Olympic flame is a symbol of peace. From the ancient Olympic Games more than 2,000 years ago to the modern Olympic Games that began in 1896, peace has always been the main theme of the Olympic movement and the core of the Olympic spirit. Obtain the "Sky Fire" in front of the temple and express peace with an olive branch. When the sacred torch burns under the blue sky and white clouds, nothing else can ignite people's desire and pursuit of peace more than the Olympic flame, and no other activity can ignite people's desire and pursuit of peace more than the Olympic Games. The significance of carrying the torch for peace around the world is even more evident.

In 2008, the Olympic Games came to Beijing, and the Olympic torch also came to China. The torch relay is of extremely important and far-reaching significance to China.

First, it promotes the Olympic spirit in the places where the torch relay passes. The symbol of the Olympic rings embodies the Olympic spirit. The five-ring symbol is as recognized around the world as the Red Cross symbol and is one of the most recognized symbols in the world.

The Olympic spirit is not only a sports spirit, it also symbolizes world peace, harmony, cooperation, friendship and unity. This spirit has gone beyond the scope of sports and has become a universal spirit. recognition. It will be delivered by the sacred fire from people's hands. It will be revealed to the world in a warm scene of thousands of people and arouse people's noble feelings.

Second, the torch relay reminds people that the Summer Olympics will be held in Beijing next year. This is the most effective publicity for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Seeing the torch going to Beijing, people from all over the world will think of China, a China that is developing rapidly and is changing the destiny of people in China. According to a sample survey conducted by an international organization, China's positive recognition in the world has reached fifth place in the world, far above the United States.

Therefore, in 2001, the International Olympic Committee in Moscow chose Beijing to host the 2008 Olympic Games as expected. Since it is what everyone expects, we must go all out to make it wonderful and satisfy everyone.

Seeing the torch being carried to Beijing, people in all provinces and municipalities in my country are delighted and full of expectations for the success of the Beijing Olympics, stimulating people's enthusiasm to contribute to the Beijing Olympics. In the past, they were slandered by Westerners as the "sick man of East Asia"; today, the Chinese are standing in the world as a world sports power. This is something that Chinese people at home and abroad are proud of. The torch is passed to people to express this emotion. opportunity.

Third, the relay of the Olympic torch will definitely inspire our people’s understanding of the profound significance of sports and enhance their sports awareness. According to statistics from the World Health Organization's survey report, modern medical care only accounts for 8% of human health and longevity. The rest is due to various factors, and fitness exercise accounts for more than 8%. We talk about "people-oriented", and the core is healthy life. Without healthy life, there will be no comprehensive development of people. At present, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, under the chairmanship of General Secretary Hu Jintao, has specially discussed sports work for young people. It can be seen that our party and government place sports work at a very high level. Therefore, the Beijing Olympic Games torch is on The nationwide spread is the nationwide mobilization of the national fitness movement.

Interesting Facts about the Torch Relay

Who will get the torch after finishing the relay? Can I buy a torch for money? Where can I buy it?

The Athens Olympic Organizing Committee guarantees that each torchbearer will have one, but they need to pay for it themselves. The price of the Athens Olympic torch is 305 euros. After the relay is completed, the torch is withdrawn and unless the torchbearer buys the torch he or she is holding, it will be handled by the Athens Olympic Organizing Committee. If the general public wants to own an Athens Olympic torch, there are only two ways: the torch bearer can resell it to you, or you can buy it from the Athens Olympic Organizing Committee through some special channels.

What should I do if the torch goes out during the relay? What should I do if the torchbearer cannot run or faints?

When the torch goes out, it is mainly because the torch bearer does not know enough about the torch itself. If it goes out accidentally, use the tinder box to relight the torch and the torch relay will continue. The selected torchbearers are required to have a certain amount of physical strength, but some people did fall or faint during the relay due to excitement or other reasons. When this happens, the security guard who maintains the whole process immediately helps the torch bearer up and helps him continue to complete the rest of the journey.

Can I use my mobile phone while running during the Olympic Torch Relay?

While running, you are not allowed to use mobile phones or wear headsets. You must wear uniform clothes and you are not allowed to put your own promotional patterns on your body. Both sides of the road must also be set up according to regulations. Everything is to avoid the suspicion of commercial exploitation. .