Pass the torch of love in the heart

Author: Renmin University of China School of Humanities and Olympic Studies
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: You came from afar, carrying the flame of ancient Greek civilization. You traversed the plains of Peloponnese, walked through the peaks and gorges of history. You are grand, you are sublime, you are the eternal-standing Olympic Mountains. You came from afar, you are Prometheus who stole fire from the heavens, you are the messenger of light. You lit the flame before the Temple of Hera at Olympia, and from then on, you held high the flame and passion, spreading it across the five continents. Oh, the sacred fire, the sacred fire, when countless strong arms raised you, you traced the giant shape of the five rings on the earth. Oh, the sacred fire, the sacred fire, as you pulled the chariot of ancient Greek power, beauty, and reason toward the East, East-West cultural dialogue and fusion began here, and the ancient civilization thus shone with brilliant radiance.
Several decades ago, Pierre de Coubertin passionately predicted: "From now on, when the torchbearer accepts the torch, they also accept the sacred mission of passing on the Olympic flame. Let the Olympic flame be passed from the hands of the younger generation to the younger generation, and let all young people around the world be always ready to spread the Olympic flame across the globe." Today, in 2004, the Olympics returned to its birthplace and rebirthplace, and this prophecy finally became reality. Today, in 2004, humanity achieved the ideal of spreading the Olympic flame across five continents for the first time since 1936. Oh, the sacred fire, the sacred fire, you came to us from afar, entering our hearts. Oh, the sacred fire, the sacred fire, you came to us in all your splendor, guiding us toward the endless future of the Olympics.