Photo: Olympic Torch Tech: How Flame Survives Weather & Worse

Email to a Friend << Back to Full Story


A Greek actress lights an Olympic torch during the handover ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic flame at Athens's Panathenian Stadium on March 30, 2008.

Days earlier the 2008 Olympic flame was first kindled at ancient Olympia. That flame is the same one that will light the Olympic cauldron in Beijing on August 8, thanks to technology and planning that ensure the flame is never extinguished.

Photograph by John Kolesidis/Reuters

MOST VIEWED NEWS

PICTURES: 2012 Doomsday Myths Debunked

2012: Six End-of-the-World Myths Debunked

APOCALYPSE PICTURES: 10 Failed Doomsday Prophecies
NEWS FEEDS    After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed. After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed.

Get our news delivered directly to your desktop—free.
How to Use XML or RSS

ADVERTISEMENT

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S PHOTO OF THE DAY

Today's National Geographic Photo of the Day

• Today's Photo

• Download as Wallpaper

50 Drives of a Lifetime

National Geographic Traveler has scoured the globe for the world's most beautiful, interesting, and off-beat road trips. Dive in to get drive directions, quizzes, photos, and more.