The themes of previous Olympic Torch Relay (photos attached)

The themes of previous Olympic Torch Relay (photos attached)

H S Bignall (right) hands over the Olympic torch at Redhill, Surrey, during the flame's journey from Dover to Wembley Stadium, London, for the opening of the 1948 London Olympics. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)

The relay of peace

In a Europe sorely afflicted by the war, the 1948 relay carried a welcome message of peace. The first runner, Corporal Dimitrelis, took off his military uniform before carrying the flame, commemorating the sacred truce observed in Ancient Greece. The planned route highlighted border crossings, where festivities were organized to celebrate the return of peace. (London 1948)

The future King Constantine of Greece (right) hands over the Olympic flame, which will be transported from Greece to Italy on board the Amerigo Vespucci for the Rome Olympics, 14th August 1960. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

The ancient relay

The relay shone the spotlight on the two poles of classical civilization: Athens and Rome. Lesser-known ancient sites in Greece and Italy were thus brought to the public's attention. (Rome 1960)

The Olympic Flame is held aloft by a 'High Priestess' at the ancient Greek city of Olympia, from where it will be carried to Mexico City for the start of the Olympics, 26th August 1968. (Photo by Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

The relay to the New World

The relay retraced the steps of Christopher Columbus to the New World. The idea was to underline the link between Mediterranean and Latin-American civilizations and between ancient (Greco-Latin) and Pre-Hispanic civilizations. A direct descendant of the great navigator, Cristóbal Colón de Carbajal, was the last runner on Spanish soil. (Mexico 1968)

13 September 1988: One of the Olympic Torch bearers makes his way to the Olympic Stadium in Seoul in preperation for the opening ceremony of the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul South Korea. (Credit: Getty Images)

The oriental relay

The relay showcased the traditions of Korea. Its route, which was a zigzag from east to west, symbolized the harmony to be found in the balance between two opposite poles. (Seoul 1988)

27 Jun 2000: Wendy Craig-Duncan a Marine Biologist on the Great Barrier Reef ,Australia,carries the Olympic torch underwater on day 20 of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Torch Relay at Agincourt Reef,Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia Mandatory Credit: Adam Pretty/ALLSPORT (Credit: Getty Images)

The "Down Under" relay

The relay had a twofold goal: to situate Australia within Oceania and to promote the culture and heritage of the different regions in the country. The start of the relay on the Australian continent was in the "red centre" at Uluru (Ayer's Rock), a sacred site for the indigenous population. The Aboriginal athlete Nova Peris-Kneebone, Olympic field hockey champion, was the first runner in the relay. (Sydney 2000)

ATHENS - MARCH 31: The 2004 Olympic Torch Relay arrives at the Panathinaiko Stadium March 31, 2004, in Athens. This is the end of the first part of the domestic route in Greece before the Torch starts the International Route on June 4, 2004. (Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)

The relay of the Olympic Games returning to Greece

Their ancient birthplace and to Athens, the city of their revival - The Athens 2004 Olympic Games took the home-returning as the theme to celebrate the re-hosting of the Olympic Games in Greece 100 years later. Therefore, the Athens Olympic Torch Relay went to every country and city that had hosted the Olympic Games (34 cities in 27 countries in all). The Olympic flame was carried to Africa and South America. For the first time in history, the torch relay crossed the five continents. The International Olympic Committee believed that this torch relay spread and popularized the Olympic spirit to an unprecedented extent and reached the goal of making a contribution to the popularization and communication of Greek civilization. (Athens 2004)