| Salt Lake City |
 |
 |
| GER |
12 |
16 |
7 |
35 |
 |
| USA |
10 |
13 |
11 |
34 |
|
| NOR |
11 |
7 |
6 |
24 |
|
| CAN |
6 |
3 |
8 |
17 |
|
| RUS |
6 |
6 |
4 |
16 |
|
| AUT |
2 |
4 |
10 |
16 |
|
| ITA |
4 |
4 |
4 |
12 |
|
| FRA |
4 |
5 |
2 |
11 |
|
| SUI |
3 |
2 |
6 |
11 |
|
| NED |
3 |
5 |
0 |
8 |
|
|
|
|
The Olympic torch and flame
The flame used in the modern Olympics pays tribute to its predecessor, representing the sacred flame burned during ancient Olympics at the altar of Zeus. The flame suggests the spirit of the Olympic movement and is also recognized as a symbol of peace.
An Olympic flame made its debut at the 1924 Paris Summer Games and then returned for the 1932 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
But it wasn't until the 1936 Berlin Summer Games that the torch became an integral element of the Olympics. Carl Diem, the chairman of the Berlin organizing committee, suggested that the torch be lit in Greece — site of the ancient Olympics — and then be transported by relay runners to Berlin for the Summer Games.
The idea was not only adopted for Berlin but became the standard for every Olympics since. Prior to each Olympic Games, the sun's rays are used — reflected off a curved mirror — to light the flame at the valley of Olympia in Greece. At Olympia, the ceremony is officiated by women dressed in robes to resemble the ancient attire of the times.
Once the flame is lit, it is passed by the women to the first runner to start the torch relay toward the host city. Thousands of runners participate in carrying the torch, with airplanes and ships taking the torch across mountains and oceans.
Each host city builds its own unique Olympic cauldron, which is lit by the torch at the opening ceremonies. The flame continues to burn for the duration of the Games.
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