Olympic Torch Lighting Ceremony: A Look Back At The Olympic Flame

The Olympic flame during the opening ceremony of the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. Photo: Getty Images

The Olympic torch arrives in Madrid, on its way to the opening ceremony of the Mexico Olympics, 5th September 1968. Photo: Getty Images

The Olympic flag and flame at the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Photo: Getty Images

Priestesses carry the Olympic flame out of the Temple of Hera in Olympia, Greece in 2001. Photo: Getty Images

The Olympic flame during the 1992 Winter Olympic Games in Albertville, France. Photo: Getty Images

Dancers perform in the opening ceremony of the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games in South Korea. Photo: Getty Images

Veteran runner H J Bignall (right) hands over the Olympic torch to Fred Prevett at Redhill, Surrey, during the flame's journey from Dover to Wembley Stadium, London, for the opening of the 1948 London Games. Photo: Getty Images

Ron Clarke of Australia lights the Olympic Torch at the opening ceremony of the 17th Olympic Games held in Melbourne during 1956. Photo: Getty Images

The Olympic Flame is carried to Athens from the Temple of Hera in Olympia, 16th July 1976. Photo: Getty Images

Greek athlete Costas Fillipidis, the first torchbearer, recives the flame from actress Theodora Siarkou who plays the role of high priestess during the Ceremony of the Lighting of the Olympic Flame for the Torino 2006 Winter Olympic Games. Photo: Getty Images

Circa 1980: The Heraeum, a temple of Hera at Olympia, probably the earliest Doric building known, in which stood the table where the garlands prepared for the victors in the Olympic games were placed. Photo: Getty Images

Theodora Siarkou, who plays the role of high priestess, holds the torch for the Turin 2006 Olympic Winter Games. Photo: Getty Images