Does the flame ever go out?
Yes, the torch does go out. There are many reasons this might happen, for example, faulty fuel, really bad weather or heavy rain. Just in case the flame does go out, extra safety lanterns travel with the relay team. That way, the torch can be re-lit with flames that come from the mother flame, which is lit by the sun's rays in Olympia Greece.
Does the Torch run 24 hours a day?
No. The Torch Relay is only "on parade" 10 to 12 hours a day, and then stays overnight in different towns along the way.
Who carries the Torch?
The Sydney 2000 Olympic Torch Relay will have 11,000 Torchbearers throughout Australia. Each Torchbearer will run up about half a mile.
Where is the Torch going?
The Olympic Torch Relay route will travel within one hour's drive of 85 per cent of the Australian population. The Torch Relay arrived in Australia on Thursday, June 8, 2000, and travel in every state and territory over 100 days, to arrive at the Olympic Stadium in Sydney on Friday, 15 September 2000.
Will there be celebrations along the route?
Yes. Everyday there will be "community celebrations", where the people will come together and celebrate the arrival of the Olympic torch in their town. The flame will rest in a portable cauldron during the celebration. Community celebrations will allow almost 200 communities to share Australia's culture and heritage with the rest of the world.
How hard is it to have the Relay?
The Olympic Torch Relay is seen as one of the biggest and most difficult road events in the world. The event needs about 150 people and 50 vehicles on the road at any one time to make the Torch Relay happen. They have been working on the plans for it since 1995. Australia will have the longest Torch Relay ever, travelling for 126 days throughout Oceania and Australia. The Torch Relay is the Olympic movement's way of bringing the Olympic Games to the Australian communities.
Do they use the same Torches each Olympics?
Each host country, in this case Australia, is responsible for the design of their Olympic torch. The Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG) has worked with designers, manufacturers and fuel technologists to produce an environmentally friendly torch and flame that must withstand various weather conditions.
