One of the exciting traditions leading up to the Olympics is the torch relay, when people can go out and see the Olympic torch as it travels from Greece, where it's lit by the sun and a parabolic mirror, to the Olympic flame in the host city. The relay is prepared for potential bad weather — like rain and wind — as well as other conditions that could cause the flame to go out. However, there are still rare times when the flame does go out. So how do Olympic organizers ensure that the flame lit in Greece is still the same one that arrives in the host city for the Olympics? The flame always travels with a backup, just in case. Officials carry specially-designed containers — similar to a miner's lamp — that house the original flame and a backup for everything from the airplane (a private plane, of course) to the car that gets the flame from Greece to the relay and then keeps the flame lit throughout its journey. If the flame goes out for a torch bearer during the journey, the backup container is used to relight the flame. The relay has typical issues with the flame that could necessitate relighting it during the relay, such as bad weather or a runner taking too long during the relay and using up all the fuel in a torch before it can be passed on. Officials are hoping that none of that happens at this year’s Winter Olympics. The 2026 Winter Games, taking place in Italy, run from today through February 22.
