The Path of the Beijing Olympic Torch

As the Olympics draw nearer, we hear news reports about the Olympic Torch and where it is currently located. Yet, few people ever realize where and when the passing of the torch started or how it gets from place to place. The reality is that a great deal of tradition and planning goes into setting the path for every Olympiad's torch and monitoring its progress can be quite interesting and exciting.

It takes a long time for the Olympic Torch to follow its complete path. Therefore, it actually begins its journey several months before the start of the Games. Every year it starts at the same place it is always started: the Temple of Hera in Olympia, Greece.

While at its starting location, an actress that is garbed in the elegant white robes of a Temple priestess lights the flame in the same way the ancient Greeks did when the Olympic games began. First, she holds up a curved mirror, which focuses the light from the sun into a single point, then holds the Torch in front of that concentrated sunbeam. There is one difference between the original Torch and the Torch used today - there is fuel in the Torch, which helps it to light more quickly.

After being lit, the Torch is brought to one of the altars in the Temple and the first runner lights his or her own torch from this single light. The runner leaves Olympia for the next destination and the flame from the Olympic Torch begins to spread around the world.

The route that the Torch takes is different every year. The main goal, however, is to get the light from the original Torch from Olympia to the site of the Games. The Olympic Games Organizing Committee (OGOC) decides the best route to accomplish this mission. They also determine the theme of the relay, how exactly the Torch is going to get where it's going, and where it will stop along the way. There are actually many different torches, so it is more accurate to say that it is the flame itself that travels around the world from runner to runner than to say it is the Torch that travels.

For the 2008 Summer Olympics, the Torch relay will be the longest in history, covering over 85,000 miles and spanning 5 continents. It will make one stop in North America (in San Francisco), one stop in South America (in Buenos Ares), one stop in Africa (in Dar es Salaam), one stop in Australia (in Canberra), two stops in Europe (in Paris and London), and several stops in Asia before it ultimately ends at Beijing.

Download the free Beijing, China Olympics Guide for a look at each event, local hotels, restaurants and activities to do while in Beijing.

One of the biggest challenges to the Olympic Torch Relay will be the groups of protestors that they will be present at every stop. Some stops, however, are expected to be more difficult than others as human rights activists, ex-patriot Chinese, and religious figures use the opportunity to protest the Chinese government and its activities. Some of the biggest areas of concern are:

• London. The Torch has already visited Britain. While here, it encountered its first major problems. Protestors actually tried to stop the Torch and police arrested 37 people.
• San Francisco. The Torch already visited San Francisco as well. The city has a large Asian population, including many ex-patriot Chinese. The mayor of San Francisco was sure supporters of the event would outnumber protestors 10 to 1, but that didn't happen. Many people travelled and stayed in San Francisco hotels to attend the event, which is why the mayor found it necessary to change the Torch's route at the last minute in order to confuse protestors.
• Japan. Again, the Torch has already visited this site. While in Nagano, over 85,000 protestors had to be controlled by 3000 police so the Torch could make its way through the town.
• India. The Torch has already been to India as well. Here, 170 Tibetan monks, exiled to India due to persecution from the Chinese government, were arrested near the Torch's route outside of New Delhi.
• Taiwan. Taiwan simply refused to be part of any Olympic-related events at all.
• Tibet. China remains committed to getting the Torch up Mount Everest, even though violent protests are guaranteed.

While tracking the Olympic Torch is always exciting, there is a great deal more excitement associated with this year's route as protestors attempt to make their voices and concerns heard by people around the world.