Page "Olympic flame" Paragraph 18

Over the years, it has become a tradition to let famous athletes, former athletes and / or athletes with significant achievements and milestones be the last runner in the Olympic torch relay and have the honor of lighting the Olympic Cauldron.

The first well-known athlete to light the cauldron in the stadium was ninefold Olympic Champion Paavo Nurmi, who excited the home crowd in Helsinki in 1952.

Other famous last bearers of the torch include heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali ( 1996 ), Australian aboriginal runner Cathy Freeman ( 2000 ), and ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky ( 2010 ).