1. What Happens When It Is Cloudy at the Flame Lighting Ceremony in Olympia
For the 2024 Paris Games, the flame lighting ceremony was scheduled for April 16. [7] However, the weather in Olympia was cloudy that day. Reports say the organizers used a backup flame that had been collected from the sun during the final rehearsal the day before [7]. Similarly, for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games, the forecast for the main ceremony was cloudy. [6] So, on November 24, 2025, a rehearsal was held to light a backup flame using a parabolic mirror. It is said that the fire lit in about 7 seconds, and no artificial means were used [6]. Even though sunny weather is not guaranteed, sunlight is used for the lighting. Why do they stick to this method?
Safety note: Never try to light a fire with sunlight or mirrors without adult supervision. Always stay outdoors and keep water nearby.
2. Why the Olympic Flame Is Lit with a Parabolic Mirror and Sunlight
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) describes the lighting method used in the 1936 Berlin Games as collecting sunlight with a parabolic mirror. They explain this as an "old method from ancient times to ensure the purity of the fire" [1]. Some sources suggest this idea came from a poetic thought. There is a story that an archaeologist named Philadelphus proposed that lighting the fire directly from the Greek sun would be "much more poetic" [2]. However, this is based on the introduction of the source, and the details of the proposal are not clear. Here, "purity" does not mean the chemical makeup of the fire. It refers to the meaning of having a fire that comes from the sun. Using a lighter would be easier, but using the sun has special meaning. Note that the sources used here do not show evidence that ancient people used mirrors to light fires. So, what was the ancient fire like?
3. Fire in Ancient Greece: Sacred Fires and the Myth of Prometheus
In ancient Greece, fire was considered the property of the gods. [4] A myth says that Prometheus stole fire from the gods [4]. At the ancient Olympics, a sacred fire was kept burning at the altar of Hestia, the goddess of the hearth, in the sanctuary during the festival. It is said that fires were also lit at the temples of Zeus and Hera every four years [4]. Because fire was sacred, "how to prepare the fire" became a meaningful question, not just a show, even in modern Games. When did fire appear in the modern Olympics?
4. How the Torch Relay Began at the 1936 Berlin Games
Fire first appeared in the modern Games at the 1928 Amsterdam Games. It was burned in a large bowl on top of a tall tower called the Marathon Tower. This let people far away know where the Games were being held [4]. However, there was no torch relay at that time. The relay carrying the flame from Olympia to the host city was first introduced at the 1936 Berlin Games [4]. On July 20, the flame was lit in Olympia using a parabolic mirror made by the German company Zeiss. [5] It is said that the dancer Kura Platsika lit the fire [5]. The flame passed through 7 countries from Greece to Germany, with about 3,000 runners. Numbers vary by source, so we keep them approximate [5]. Sources also disagree on who started the idea. Some say Carl Diem proposed it in 1934 to connect ancient and modern times [3]. Others mention a theory that it started at a birthday party in 1931 [2]. Another source says Alfred Schiff had the idea, and Diem carried it out [4]. We cannot say exactly whose idea it was. What if the fire goes out during the run?
Note: The torch relay from Olympia to the host city was introduced in 1936. The flame was lit on July 20 in Olympia using a Zeiss parabolic mirror, with dancer Kura Platsika lighting it.
5. What Happens If the Olympic Flame Goes Out During the Relay
If the flame goes out during the relay, it can be relit quickly. A backup flame, lit by sunlight and a parabolic mirror, is said to be kept nearby [3]. Both the lighting before the Games and the relighting during the run use the same "sun fire" as a reserve. This system helps keep the connection to the same fire, even if it is interrupted. In Japan, sources mention that flame lighting with parabolic mirrors was done in various places across the country during the Tokyo Paralympics.
6. How to Try Focusing Sunlight with a Magnifying Glass
If you want to try this yourself, you can experiment on a sunny day with an adult. Use a magnifying glass (a convex lens) to focus sunlight onto black paper. The smaller and brighter the spot of light, the easier the paper will scorch. You may not have a parabolic mirror at home, but the idea of focusing light is the same. To prevent burns and fires, always do this with a parent or guardian, keep water nearby, and stay outdoors. Never point the light at people or animals [1]. You can try measuring the time it takes for the paper to scorch. If you want to know more, the IOC website has pages about the history of the Olympic flame. It is interesting to check for yourself how well the "from ancient times" explanation is supported by evidence.
Safety note: On a sunny day, with a parent, use a magnifying glass to focus sunlight on black paper and measure the time until it scorches. Always do this outdoors with water nearby, and never point the light at people, animals, or flammable objects.