Why does the torch have to be lit throughout the duration of Olympics?
The Olympic Flame, Olympic Fire, Olympic Torch, Olympic Light,
Olympic Eye, and Olympic Sun is a symbol of the Olympic Games.
Commemorating the theft of fire from the Greek god Zeus by
Prometheus, its origins lie in ancient Greece, when a fire was kept
burning throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics. The
fire was reintroduced at the Olympics in 1928, and it has been part
of the modern Olympic Games ever since. The modern torch relay was
introduced by Carl Diem, president of the Organisation Committee
for the Berlin Games of 1936, as part of an effort to turn the
games into a glorification of the Third Reich [1]. But despite its
Nazi origin, the torch ceremony is still practiced as of 2006.
Traditionally, the Olympic Torch is "lit by the Sun on Mount
Olympus" and the torch carrier brings the Flame on foot to the site
of the Olympic Games. The Olympic Torch is nowadays ignited several
months before the opening celebration of the Olympic Games at the
site of the ancient Olympics in Olympia, Greece. Eleven priestesses
(played by actresses) light the fire by placing a torch in a
concave parabolic mirror which concentrates rays from the Sun. The
torch is then transported to the host city of the upcoming Olympics
by means of a torch relay. Though traditionally, the fire is
carried on foot, other means of transportation have been used as
well. The runners have included athletes and celebrities, but many
previously 'unknown' people have also carried it, often chosen for
their personal merits and achievements. The Olympic Torch Relay
ends on the day of the opening ceremony in the central stadium of
the Games. The final carrier is often kept secret until the last
moment, and is usually a sports celebrity of the host country. The
final bearer of the torch runs towards the cauldron, usually placed
at the top of a grand staircase, and then uses the torch to start
the flame in the stadium. It is generally considered a great honour
to be asked to light the Olympic Flame. After being lit, the flame
continues to burn throughout the celebration of the Olympics and is
extinguished at end of the closing ceremony of the Games.