First Olympic torch relay staged for Berlin GamesJul 20, 1936Labels: Carl Diem, Berlin Olympics, OlympiaUSHMMWorld AthleticsHistory com
First postwar relay brings flame to LondonJul 17, 1948Labels: 1948 London, naval transport, torch designs1948 RelayOfficial Report
Helsinki adds “Midnight Sun” second flameJul 6, 1952Labels: Helsinki 1952, Midnight Sun, Finnish LaplandIOC RelayHelsinki RelayTeam USA
Mexico City relay crosses Atlantic to the AmericasOct 6, 1968Labels: Mexico City, Veracruz, Enriqueta Basilio1968 RelayOlympic MuseumTIME Photos
Montreal uses satellite “laser” flame transmissionJul 13, 1976Labels: Montreal 1976, satellite transmission, Athens signal1976 RelayCanada CeremoniesOfficial Report
Los Angeles relay plan sparks commercialization backlashFeb 1, 1984Labels: Los Angeles, Youth Legacy, Greek officials1984 RelayIOC LA84
Barcelona cauldron lit by a flaming arrowJul 25, 1992Labels: Barcelona 1992, Antonio Rebollo, flaming arrow1992 CeremonyParalympicOlympic Museum
Atlanta relay ends with Muhammad Ali lighting cauldronJul 19, 1996Labels: Atlanta 1996, Muhammad Ali, US relay1996 RelayIOC Ali
Sydney cauldron emphasizes reconciliation, then malfunctionsSep 15, 2000Labels: Sydney 2000, Cathy Freeman, ring cauldron2000 CeremonyABC NewsSydney Cauldron
Beijing relay hit by major protests and route disruptionsApr 9, 2008Labels: Beijing 2008, protests, San FranciscoGuardian SFAl JazeeraAl Jazeera
Sochi relay expands scale with space and North Pole stopsNov 7, 2013Labels: Sochi 2014, North Pole, International SpaceSochi RelaySI Recap2014 Games
Rio relay draws backlash after jaguar dies in ceremonyJun 22, 2016Labels: Rio 2016, Manaus ceremony, jaguarTIMECond Nast
Tokyo torch relay postponed and restarted under COVID-19 limitsMar 25, 2021Labels: Tokyo 2020, Fukushima restart, COVID-19 limitsIOC RelayKyodo2020 Relay