Los Angeles

The torch for these Games was crafted from brass and aluminum, with a leather-wrapped handle, and featured the Games' coat of arms and Latin motto on both the top and bottom. The chalice had the silhouette of the L.A. Stadium imprinted on it. I was transported from Greece to the United States on an airplane provided by the White House, and then carried over 15,000 kilometers across U.S. territory by over 3,600 torchbearers, some of whom made multiple stops, including Gina Hemphill, the granddaughter of Jesse Owens. The opening ceremony was a celebration of American history and achievements, and the cauldron, the same one used in the 1932 edition, was positioned 45 meters above the ground. Torchbearer Johnson faced a steep staircase with a gradient of over 50 degrees to reach it. Despite a boycott by the Soviet bloc countries, 140 nations participated in the Games. Notable moments included Carl Lewis' 100-meter race and the historic victory of El Moutwake, the first Moroccan woman to win an Olympic competition.