Author Topic: The Nazi Origins of the Olympic Torch Relay. (Read 291 times)

RG · « **on:** July 28, 2012, 04:30:31 PM »

By Martin Rogers

LONDON – When the most famous flame in sports winds its way through the streets of London before entering the Olympic Stadium and providing the 2012 Games with one of its most iconic images, it will be seen as a touching gesture of symbolism, grace and a nod to the ancient world.

Yet while the torch relay began once again at the historic site of Olympia on May 10 and is an integral part of any Games, its modern incarnation comes laced with sinister undertones that can be traced back to Adolf Hitler's Nazi Party and the controversial 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

Many of those witnessing the final journey of the flame July 27 will have little idea that its origins do not lie in ancient Greece, and was instead formulated as a major part of the Nazis' plot to shift international opinion in their favor.

"There had been no such torch relays in the ancient Games or, for that matter, in any of the 10 modern Summer Olympics preceding the Berlin Games," wrote renowned author David Clay Large in his outstanding book, "Nazi Games: The Olympics of 1936," which was published in 2007. "The torch relay was one of but many ways in which the Nazi Games helped define the modern Olympic experience as we know it today."

Read more: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/olympics--torch-relay-nazi-adolf-hitler-london-berlin-ancient-greece-flame-.html

Cheers.

Apollyon · « **Reply #1 on:** July 28, 2012, 05:13:31 PM »

This is partly true, it did start in NAZI Germany. But in general, most of the ancient world, whether europe or the near east, revered fire and the sun because it was viewed as the source of life-giving energy. And part of NAZI ideology was a desire to return to ancient practices and cultures of Europeans (although ironically the ancient Germans had relatively little cultural similarities with the ancient Greeks); Hitler believed Christianity, which came later, was well-meaning but unsustainable.

Iran Military Forum

Author Topic: The Nazi Origins of the Olympic Torch Relay. (Read 291 times)

RG

The Nazi Origins of the Olympic Torch Relay.

Apollyon

The Nazi Origins of the Olympic Torch Relay.