[Transcript]It's the very first official act of this event that happens every 4 years. Runners cross thousands of kilometres in a relay race to hand over this crucial part of sports history. This is the Olympic Torch! Most of us know the history of Ancient Greece and the Olympiads, but what about the torch itself? Its history isn't as ancient as you may think! Welcome to Further Records, the podcast where you can stay One Step Ahead of Your English practice. I'm your host, Forest.We've all seen illustrations of ancient torches carrying the symbolic flame of the Olympics. It's one of the oldest images we see from the second we learn about the Olympiads. Surely, this event has been in place from the very first games, right? Well, you're in for a surprise, because I sure was.The Olympic flame was first used in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.Let me say that again. 1936... in Berlin. Ring a bell?Alright, this episode will NOT be about Nazi Germany, but we need to know about the context, ok? The Olympic flame was the idea of architect Jan Wils, who constructed the stadium for the 1936 games. Hitler (yes)... he was very fond of Ancient Greek gods and culture, and wished to use them to his own benefit. (https://web.archive.org/web/20090424114315/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/14/sports/olympics/14torch.html?ex=1207972800&en=732b3844bc19c839&ei=5070) Alright, that’s enough World War Two history. The NICE meaning of the Olympic Torch is that it's a link to Ancient Greece, where the original games were held. (https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/Documents/Document-Set-Teachers-The-Main-Olympic-Topics/The-Olympic-Flame-and-Torch-Relay.pdf) During ancient times, every time the games were held, it was a celebration for the king of the Gods, Zeus. And in his honor, a ceremonial flame was lit. The goddess of the Hearth, Hestia, was the one who kept flames secure. And so, thanks to her, the flame continues to burn throughout the entire Olympic Games. Taking the flame from Olympia to wherever the competitions are being held is also a symbolic heritage of the legacy of the original athletes and ceremonies, which continue to this very day.