ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a first-hand experience of the 2004 Athens International Olympic Flame Relay from the perspective of one of the Greek team members who accompanied the flame. It provides a rich description of the mechanics of the relay itself, demonstrating that it involved complex international exchanges. The chapter is about much more than the torchbearers. It describes life on the road with the flame, highlighting the cultural, political, and personal challenges entailed in this endeavour. The chapter explores the tensions: between sponsor interests and the spirit of Olympism; from professional ‘world’s best practices’ implementation of the relay to volunteers’ expectations of their roles and experiences; and in the division of labour between the International Olympic Committee, The Olympic Flame Relay takes place every year the Olympic Games are held. The Olympic Flame is lit in Ancient Olympia, Greece, at the archaeological site.
