1976 Summer Olympics torch relay
| Host city | Montreal, Canada |
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| Countries visited | Greece, Canada |
| Distance | 775 km |
| Torchbearers | 1,214 (approx.) |
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The 1976 Summer Olympics torch relay celebrated the first time that a Canadian city had hosted the Games.[1] Convention states that the flame should be lit at Olympia in Greece and then transported to Athens, making its way onwards to the host city. On this occasion a signal was sent via satellite to transmit the flame to Ottawa where it would then make its way to the 1976 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Montreal and a second ceremony in Kingston, Ontario.
Relay elements
[edit]Torch
[edit]
The torch was primarily made of aluminium and weighed 836 grams. It was fuelled by olive oil in part to further strengthen the link to the Greek origins of the events.[2]
Torch-bearers
[edit]There were around 1,214 torch-bearers who travelled a combined total of 775 km through Greece and Canada.[3] For the section of the relay within Canada there were more than 4,000 applicants for just over 700 positions. Various criteria were enforced to ensure the quality of the runners, including the ability to run a kilometre in five minutes or less. For the first time a computer was used to select the torch-bearers based on these criteria. Unsuccessful candidates were encouraged to escort the torch-bearer during their run.[2]
For the first time in history, there was prior training for all selected torchbearers a copy of the "Flame Bearer's Guide".This guide book was send several months before the event and in this guide all the rules and the specific details about how they should carry the torch and how to transfer the flame.[2]
Route
[edit]During the bidding process,the Canadian Olympic Committee and the OCO'76 considered reproduce the route taken by the country's discoverer, Jacques Cartier, but they realized it would be very similar toto the 1968 Summer Olympics torch relay held in Mexico. Several alternatives were considered, but there were also issues related to the budget and duration of the relay, as there was already a consensus that the torch relay would take five days between Ottawa and Montreal.[2]
As tradition dictates, the torch was lit in the Temple of Hera in Olympia and traveled throughout Greek territory for a week until reaching the Panathenaic Stadium.Given the logistical issue, the torch would have to go to Canada, but as budget and time would be tight, a creative solution was created to move the fire to the other side of the Atlantic without the use of the sea. However, the organizers had an innovative solution. The Olympic flame lited a 90 cm urn in front of a sensor that detects ionised particles and was then encoded into impulses and sent them via satellite to Ottawa. The arrival of the signal activated a laser that recreated the Olympic flame in an equal 90 cm urn in the Canadian city.[2][4][5]
Continuation of the relay
[edit]Though the flame had reached the Olympic Stadium and was used to mark the opening of the Games the relay actually continued to a second venue. Many sailing and yachting events were going to be held in Kingston, Ontario and the flame was taken there using a variety of unusual transportation methods. The torches were carried to the city on horseback, bicycle, and canoes as well as the more traditional running relay.[2]
Lighting of the cauldron
[edit]For the first time in the history of the torch relay two athletes lit the cauldron. The two final torch-bearers, Stéphane Préfontaine and Sandra Henderson, were 15 and 16 years old, respectively.[3][5]
Route
[edit]Route in Greece
[edit]Route in Canada
[edit]| Location | Map |
|---|---|
References
[edit]- ^ "Olympic Ceremonies: Montréal 1976". Government of Canada. 23 December 2009. Archived from the original on 2012-01-18. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "Official Report of the Games of the XXIst Olympiad Montréal 1976 (Volume 1)" (PDF). LA84 Foundation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 May 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ a b "The Olympic flame and torch relay" (PDF). The Olympic Museum. 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ "Montreal 1976 (All Facts)". The Olympic Museum. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ a b "General overview of Modern Summer Olympic Torch relay (photos attached)". The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. 20 April 2007. Archived from the original on 2012-11-04. Retrieved 31 July 2012.