Berlin hosted the 1936 Summer Olympics, the first Games to use an Olympic torch relay.
The relay carried a flame from Olympia in Greece to the host city, creating a ceremonial link between the ancient Games and the modern event. The first torch was lit at Olympia and transported through several countries before reaching Berlin. The relay has since become one of the most recognizable Olympic traditions.
The Berlin Olympics were held under Nazi rule and were used extensively for political propaganda. Despite the regime’s racist ideology, African American athlete Jesse Owens won four gold medals, becoming one of the most celebrated figures of the Games.
The torch relay itself was a new modern invention, not an uninterrupted ancient custom. Ancient Greek festivals used sacred fires, but the modern relay from Olympia was introduced specifically for Berlin 1936. The 1936 Games also became the first Olympics to be televised, although the broadcasts reached only a limited audience.