Celine Dion closes the Olympic Opening Ceremony with a courageous tour de force | NBC Sports

When Zara Phillips carried the Olympic flame on horseback ahead of the London Games, it was more than a ceremonial moment — it was a powerful symbol of Britain’s sporting legacy, royal heritage, and deep-rooted love for horses. A Natural Choice for the Torch Relay As an accomplished equestrian and Olympic medalist, Zara Phillips embodied the very spirit of the Games. The granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, she forged her own path in sport, earning global respect through dedication and grit rath

The Olympic torch has roots in ancient Greece where a sacred flame burned at the altar of Hestia in Olympia. The flame connected mortals to the gods. This tradition was revived in the modern era, beginning with the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Carl Diem, the chief organizer, introduced the torch relay to emphasize the link between the ancient and modern Games, with the flame traveling from Olympia to Berlin via a relay of runners. The post-war period saw the torch relay symbolizing peace and unity, not