On the 30th June the Olympic torch will be passing through Bloxwich, where our head office I based so we are all waiting in anticipation to get a glimpse of this iconic symbol. With this news I thought it would be appropriate to do a little research into the Olympic flame, and here’s what I found!
The Ancient Games
The Torch and Relay were important elements of the cultural festivals surrounding the Olympic Games of Ancient Greece.
During the Games, a sacred flame burned continually on the altar of the goddess, Hera. In addition, heralds were summoned to travel throughout Greece to announce the Games, declaring a sacred truce for the duration.
Spreading the light from Greece: the modern Games
There is a very precise ritual which has to be followed when lighting the torch. It is lit from the sun’s rays at the Temple of Hera in Olympia, in a traditional ceremony among the ruins of the home of the ancient Games.
The torch is then part of a short relay around Greece, and then handed over to the new Host City at another ceremony in the Panathenaiko stadium in Athens.
After this the flame is then transported to the host county where it is then passed from one Torchbearer to another, spreading the message of peace, unity and friendship. Once the torch has reached the end of its journey the last torchbearer will light the cauldron and the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in the Olympic Stadium, marking the official start of the Games.
The Flame is extinguished on the final day of the Games, at the Closing Ceremony.
The route of the Olympic torch has been well documented in the papers ever since it started, and there has always been large crowds following it. Where ever there are crowds of people, portable toilet hire should be considered! You may even be throwing a Torch party to celebrate the passing of the torch through your local community. Also for any events closer to the Olympics Tardis portable toilet hire can provide temporary sanitation facilities for your guests. We have a large range of portable toilets suitable for any event.