List of torchbearers at the lighting of the Olympic cauldron shows famous torchbearers – NBC4 Washington

Many traditions will take place before the start of the 2024 Olympic Games.

But none of them is as symbolic as the lighting of the Olympic cauldron. Every two years, the host countries hold a full ceremony to kick off the event, culminating in the lighting of the cauldron, either by an athlete, a famous personality or another person of their choice.

So what is the story behind the lighting of the cauldron? And who are all the people who did this honor?

Here is a complete breakdown of the history of the torch carrying and lighting of the Olympic cauldron:

When did the tradition of the Olympic cauldron begin?

The first flame appeared at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, but it was only a symbolic flame. Eight years later, the Olympic flame and the Olympic torch relay were introduced at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.

Who are the most famous people who lit the Olympic cauldron?

Every two years, host countries send their brightest stars to compete for the special honor of lighting the Olympic cauldron. Here are three of the most notable individuals who have taken on the task:

Muhammad Ali, 1996 (Atlanta)

The 1960 Olympic gold medalist lit the torch in Atlanta with a surprise appearance. Ali was suffering from Parkinson’s disease at the time, which caused his hand to shake as he battled the pain while holding the torch.

Wayne Gretzky, 2010 (Vancouver)

Gretzky helped light the cauldron in 2010, along with fellow Canadian athletes Steve Nash, Nancy Greene and Catriona Le May Doan. Gretzky, widely regarded as the greatest hockey player of all time, put the finishing touches to the ceremony by lighting the final torch.

Naomi Osaka, 2020 (Tokyo)

The torch relay route was changed for the Tokyo Olympics due to the COVID-19 pandemic, postponing the Games for a year. But when everyone had gathered in the Japanese capital, the then 23-year-old tennis player lit the cauldron.

Full list of Olympic torchbearers

1936 (Berlin): Fritz Schilgen, athletics

1948 (London): John Mark, Athletics

1952 (Oslo): Eigil Nansen, non-athlete

1952 (Helsinki): Paavo Nurmi and Hannes Kolehmainen, Athletics

1956 (Cortina d’Ampezzo): Guido Caroli, speed skating

1956 (Melbourne): Ron Clarke, athletics, and Hans Wikne, equestrian

1960 (Squaw Valley): Ken Henry, speed skating

1960 (Rome): Giancarlo Peris, Athletics

1964 (Innsbruck): Josef Rieder, Alpine Skiing

1964 (Tokyo): Yoshinori Sakai, Athletics

1968 (Grenoble): Alain Calmat, figure skating

1968 (Mexico City): Enriqueta Basilio, Athletics

1972 (Sapporo): Hideki Takada, non-athlete

1972 (Munich): Günther Zahn, Athletics

1976 (Innsbruck): Christl Haas, alpine skier, and Josef Feistmantl, tobogganer

1976 (Montreal): Sandra Henderson, gymnastics, and Stéphane Préfontaine, athletics

1980 (Lake Placid): Charles Kerr, non-athlete

1980 (Moscow): Sergei Belov, Basketball

1984 (Sarajevo): Sandra Dubravčić, figure skating

1984 (Los Angeles): Rafer Johnson, Athletics

1988 (Calgary): Robyn Perry, figure skating

1988 (Seoul): Chung Sun-man and son Mi-chung, non-athletes, and Kim Won-tak, track and field athlete

1992 (Albertville): Michel Platini, football, and François-Cyrille Grange, alpine skiing

1992 (Barcelona): Antonio Rebollo, archery

1994 (Lillehammer): Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway, non-athlete

1996 (Atlanta): Muhammad Ali, Boxing

1998 (Nagano): Midori Ito, figure skating

2000 (Sydney): Cathy Freeman, Athletics

2002 (Salt Lake City): US Olympic ice hockey team of 1980

2004 (Athens): Nikolaos Kaklamanakis, Sailing

2006 (Torino): Stefania Belmondo, cross-country skiing

2008 (Beijing): Li Ning, artistic gymnastics

2010 (Vancouver): Steve Nash, basketball, Nancy Greene Raine, alpine skiing, Wayne Gretzky, ice hockey and Catriona Le May Doan, speed skating

2012 (London): Desirèe Henry, Katie Kirk, Aidan Reynolds and Adelle Tracey, athletics, Callum Airlie, sailing, Jordan Duckitt, non-athletes and Cameron MacRitchie, rowing

2014 (Sochi): Irina Rodnina, figure skating, and Vladislav Tretiak, ice hockey

2016 (Rio de Janeiro): Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima, Athletics

2018 (Pyeongchang): Yuna Kim, figure skating

2021 (Tokyo): Naomi Osaka, Tennis

2022 (Beijing): Dinigeer Yilamujiang, cross-country skiing, and Zhao Jiawen, Nordic combined

2024 (Paris): Will be announced

What does it mean to light the Olympic cauldron?

The lighting of the Olympic cauldron is considered the official start of the Games. When the last torchbearer lights the flame in the stadium at the opening ceremony, it is a moment that symbolizes the start of the competition.

It is an honour for someone to be chosen to light the cauldron in their home country. The responsibility is traditionally given to a sporting legend of the country, whether active or retired.