Olympic Legacy - Alcyonenews

Miscellany

Posted August 9, 2024

Olympic Legacy

By Lena Varzeliotis

With the Paris Olympics coming to a close, I am reflecting on my own family’s journey with the Olympics.

In 1948, the first Olympic games after the Second World War were held. This was a monumental occasion for many reasons.

Following a twelve-year hiatus caused by the outbreak of World War II, the 1948 Olympics were the first Summer Olympics held since the 1936 Games in Berlin. They came to be known as the "Austerity Games" due to the difficult economic climate and rationing imposed in the aftermath of World War II. A record 59 nations were represented by 4,104 athletes, 3,714 men, and 390 women in 19 sport disciplines.

The torch relay for this Olympics was nicknamed the “Relay of Peace” due to the torch crossing through several European countries including Italy, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg and Belgium. The torch relay for these games took place from July 17th to 29th with a distance of 3,160 kilometres and 1,416 torchbearers. The flame travelled from Olympia, where the flame was and is still lit, to the port of Katakolon where it boarded a ship to continue its journey to London where the games were being held.

The torch relay from Olympia to Katakolon was a special occasion for my family. My dad, Tom, who comes from Pyrgos, a village some 21 kilometers from Olympia, was chosen to run with the Olympic torch. Once he had completed his 1 kilometer run, he was given a torch as a keepsake, which has become a source of pride in our family, and, of course, something that will be kept in the family.

Years later, the torch played a very important role in another extraordinary memory for me and my family.

For the 1988 Calgary Olympics, my family was living in Vancouver and I was attending elementary school with some very cool teachers. One of my teachers was chosen to run with the Olympic Torch and she decided to organize a mini Olympics at the school. My father’s torch was made operational again and as my teacher ran by with the flame she stopped and lit my dad’s torch! We had the real Olympic flame for our mini Olympics – what a an incredible moment and memory.

As the Paris Olympics conclude, I want to congratulate all of the athletes for all of their accomplishments.