Athens

The torch used in this edition of the Games recalls the symbol of the city of Athena and that of Peace: the olive branch. Long and slender, the torch is constructed from olive wood and aluminum to mimic the two-toned appearance of the natural element it represents. My journey was quite intricate, as it commemorated the "homecoming" of the modern Olympics. I traveled around the globe, stopping at locations that had hosted previous editions and other culturally and athletically significant cities, including African soil for the first time. The Athens Games were viewed by almost four billion people worldwide, and American swimmer Michael Phelps earned six gold medals while Italian marathon runner Stefano Baldini triumphed by crossing the finish line in the ancient stadium in Athens.