The Olympic Flame: Inspiring and Bringing People Together
Sister Cities: Ancient Olympia, Greece and Colorado Springs, Colorado
Ancient Olympia is situated in the Western Peloponnese region and was considered the most important religious center and sanctuary in ancient Greece, dedicated to Zeus. Olympia is also the place where the Olympic Games were born. The Games were held every four years in honor of Zeus. During the Games, an Olympic truce was enacted so that athletes could travel safely to attend or to participate in the Olympics. The winners received an olive wreath, known as “kotinos”, as their reward. Historical records indicate that the first Olympic Games took place in Ancient Olympia in 776 BC.
The modern Olympic Games were revived in 1896 and since then, they have been the leading international athletic event. Every two years, the Olympic Flame is lit in Ancient Olympia. In 1936, the Olympic torch relay began, inspired by the traditions of ancient Greece, where a fire was kept burning throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics. According to the International Olympic Committee, the Flame is a “manifestation of the positive values that man has always associated with the symbolism of fire,” and its purity is guaranteed by lighting it in a special way — with the sun’s rays. The Olympic Flame has traveled in space, underwater, by satellite, by Pony Express, and by camel.
The modern city of Ancient Olympia has 10 sister cities around the world: in Japan, Germany, Italy, France, China, Russia, and the U.S. Colorado Springs, Colorado and Ancient Olympia became sister cities in June 2014. Colorado Springs is Olympic City USA, home to the United States Olympic Committee Headquarters, more than 20 National Olympic Governing Bodies, more than 50 National Sport Organizations, the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center, and the future U.S. Olympic Museum. The city has long been recognized as the epicenter of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movements.
A sister cities ceremony was held at the sacred site of Ancient Olympia, where officials from both cities reiterated their commitment to the universal values of peace and friendship, symbolized by the Olympic movement. They also committed to working closer together on education, sports, and tourism.
As a result of this collaboration, Sister Cities International of Colorado Springs initiated the Young Champion Ambassador (YCA) program for the city of Colorado Springs. The YCA program’s main vision is to create awareness about the origin and legacy of the Ancient Olympic Games and about the impact of the Olympic movement on the citizens of Colorado Springs.
Marlee Tate, an 18-year-old student, won the YCA program’s 2015–2016 essay contest, in anticipation of the 2016 Rio Olympics. She wrote about how Colorado Springs and Ancient Olympia “have a similar heart and … a spirit of champions.” Marlee traveled to Greece and had the honor of attending the Olympic Flame lighting ceremony.
In an elaborate ceremony in the ruins of the Temple of Hera, an actress playing the role of “high priestess” kindled the flame using the sun’s rays in a concave mirror. She then carried it into the same stadium where athletes competed in the ancient Olympic Games nearly 3,000 years ago. She passed the torch to Lefteris Petrounias, a Greek world champion in gymnastics, launching the Rio Olympics Torch Relay. Marlee Tate was privileged to be the sixth torchbearer in the relay and carried the flame for about 100–150 meters. “It was almost like I felt something light inside,” said Marlee, describing her excitement and gratitude at receiving the flame from the previous torchbearer.
The YCA program truly embodies the spirit of collaboration between the two sister cities and is based on the values of friendship, solidarity, and fair play. True to the values and ideals of the ancient Olympic Games, it inspires and motivates young people and promotes mutual understanding, perseverance, and cooperation.
For more information on the YCA program, click here. For more information on the Ancient Olympia-Colorado Springs Sister Cities program click here.
This story is part of the #SisterCitySunday series on Medium. Each Sunday from October 2, 2016 to May 7, 2017, new stories from the 28 European Union Member States will be published. Stories will also be shared on social media using #SisterCitySunday.
To join the conversation on social media, make sure to use #SisterCitySunday and tag @EUintheUS and @SisterCitiesInt on Twitter and Instagram, and EUintheUS and SisterCitiesInternational on Facebook. Let us know about your experiences in twinned cities and share your partnership stories with us!
