Summer Olympics
Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch
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No Roman emperor used people as torches.
The fuel used for the torch has varied. Early torches used solid or liquid fuels, including olive oil. For a particularly bright display, pyrotechnic compounds and even burning metals have been used. Since the Munich Games of 1972, most torches have instead used a liquefied gas such as propylene or a propane/butane mixture.
Thesorus
The first Olympics were NOT in Athens, but in Olympia Greece, hence the name-Olympics. Here there is a temple to honor Hestia, the Goddess of hearth and home. Her hearth is the sacred flame of Greece. It is here that after severl days of feasting and prayer that the flame was lit to honor Zeus. This is where all Olypic torches begin.
Click on the 'Olympic Games Host Cities' link on this page and scroll down about 3/4 of the way to find the host cities of all Olympic Games dating back to 1896.