London

For the first Olympic Games following World War II, organizers selected a torch design inspired by ancient Greco-Roman lamps. To complete the long relay race from Olympia to London (3365 km), three types of torches were used: a standard torch, one fueled by gas to ensure my safe transport across the sea, and a special torch designed to light the cauldron. Starting with this edition of the Games, I - the flame - have also become a symbol of peace. The first torchbearer, a military man named Dimitrelis, removed his uniform before beginning his route to honor the traditional sacred truce observed between nations during the Games. Unfortunately, the competitions that year excluded countries like the USSR, Germany, and Japan.