Every Olympic Games of the last 70 years has begun with the Olympic Torch Relay, an amazing journey that’s a test of both human endurance and the Olympic spirit.

In a ritual inspired by the ancient Games, the Olympic Flame is lit in the original Olympic stadium. From Olympia, Greece it travels, from torchbearer to torchbearer, for thousands of kilometres, spreading its light and its message.

Take a step back in time and discover the history of the Coca–Cola’s® proud tradition with the Olympic Flame.

Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games

This year, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch will travel across Canada. Over 10,000 torchbearers will have the honour of carrying this Torch.

Beijing 2008 | Summer Games

The Olympic Torch of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Summer Games was inspired by a the shape of a paper scroll – one of China’s great inventions – and enamelled with a traditional pattern called “lucky clouds.” After travelling across six continents and an incredible 137,000 kilometres in 129 days, the torch was used by gymnast Li Ning to officially begin the XXIX Olympiad.

Torino 2006 | Winter Games

The Olympic Torch carrying the Olympic Flame to Torino, Italy, in 2006, was a sleek modern interpretation of a traditional wooden torch. Made of steel and high-tech polymers, it was designed to stay burning even in harsh winter weather. Carried by over 10,000 torchbearers, it travelled to every region in Italy, as well as several neighbouring countries, before cross-country skier and 10-time medal winner Stefania Belmondo lit the Olympic Cauldron.

Athens 2004 | Summer Games

The Athens 2004 Olympic Torch was inspired by the olive leaf, an ancient symbol of Athenian democracy and a global symbol of peace. Made of high-tech metals and olive wood, it celebrated both Greece’s modernity and long Olympic tradition.

Presented by Coca-Cola®, this was the first truly worldwide Olympic Torch Relay, visiting 35 cities and 27 nations in all five world regions represented by the Olympic rings

Salt Lake City 2002 | Winter Games

The 2002 Olympic Torch was crafted of various native materials including silver and copper. It was sculpted to symbolize various aspects of the Olympic Winter Games, its shape resembling an icicle. The Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Torch Relay was the largest in the history of the Olympic Winter Games, travelling more than 13,500 miles across 46 states and all previous U.S. Olympic host cities.

Sydney 2000 | Summer Games

In 2000, the Olympic Games were finally held on the sixth continent, Australia. The distinctive Olympic Torch was influenced by the ocean waves, the shapes of the Sydney Opera House and the curve of the traditional boomerang. Its three layers represents the elements of earth, fire, and water. These elements were used in the lighting ceremony, as Aboriginal runner Cathy Freeman ignited the cauldron in a pool of water.

Nagano 1998 | Winter Games

Based on traditional Japanese design, this torch’s hexagonal form represents snow crystals and bears the inscription “The XVIII Olympic Winter Games, Nagano 1998.” As a presenting sponsor, Coca-Cola® helped select five young people to be torchbearers, passing the Olympic Flame to figure skater Midori Ito who lit the Cauldron to open the Nagano 1998 Olympic Winter Games.

Atlanta 1996 | Summer Games

When Atlanta hosted the Centennial Olympic Games in 1996, Coca-Cola® was the exclusive presenter of the Olympic Torch Relay. We helped select 2,500 torchbearers through the nominations of friends and family.

The Olympic Torch itself was inspired by classical Greek architecture, with 22 metal “Reeds” bound together by a brass ring inscribed with the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Summer Games emblem. In the most touching moment of the ceremony, medallist and boxing legend Muhammad Ali lit the Olympic Cauldron, despite experiencing the effects of Parkinson’s disease.

Lillehammer 1994 | Winter Games

The winter games in Lillehammer, Norway marked the first time that international runners participated in a Winter Olympic Torch Relay. Sponsored by Coca-Cola®, 30 athletes from 13 countries, helped carry the Olympic Flame on its 8,000 km journey by foot, ski, kick-sled, horseback and wheelchair before it flew into the stadium in the hands of a champion ski-jumper.

Barcelona 1992 | Summer Games

Barcelona marked the beginning of Coca-Cola’s® proud tradition as a presenting sponsor of the Olympic Torch Relay. This relay featured more than 150 torchbearers from 50 different countries – the first time torchbearers from around the world participated. After a nearly 3,500-mile journey through Spain, the Olympic Flame was used to kick off the games in spectacular fashion, as Paralympic archer Antonio Rebollo fired a flaming arrow in to the Cauldron.