Olympic torch tradition started by the Nazis?

Factual Questions
1

I just read that the modern tradition of passing the Olympic torch started during the 1936 Berlin Olympics. True?

2

Do you have a link to what you read?

3

Yes, the torch relay began with the 1936 Berlin Olympics:

http://www.museum.olympic.org/e/news/special_events/olympic_flame_e.html

But the tradition wasn’t “started by the Nazis.” It was started by Carl Diem, Secretary General of the Organising Committee for the Berlin Games.

http://www.collectors.olympic.org/e/fimo/fimo_gallery_e.html

Carl Diem continued to be active in the Olympics:

http://www.ioa.leeds.ac.uk/1960s/64018.htm

I haven’t found much personal history about him, but since the above page discusses work he did for the Olympics in 1942 and in 1961, it’s obvious he wasn’t considered a Nazi.

4

Along these lines, I’ve heard it mentioned that the idea for a parade during the Opening Ceremony came from the Nazis, too. I guess anyone can have a parade, but the idea apparently came from the Nazis using this time to parade their military muscle around - like pre-Cold War USSR would do.

Glad the US doesn’t feel the need to show off like this!

  • Jinx