I'm Tom Ciszek from Santa Monica.
I want to carry the Olympic torch in 2028.
"It is better to run with a torch than sit in darkness."
When the Olympic torch comes through for the 2028 Games, I want to be carrying it. This site is where I follow the relay news and the history, and where I'm asking people to back me when nominations open.
The Olympic flame has always been carried mostly by ordinary people someone nominated. I'm training for it, and I'd like to be one of them.
Not affiliated with
IOC • USOPC • LA28
This is a personal initiative and public record.
Torchbearers usually aren't chosen for being athletes. They're chosen for what they've done for the people around them. This is what I care about.
Ran in Santa Monica on housing and homelessness.
The people on the boardwalk and the workers priced out of this city are a big part of why I ran, and why I'm doing this.
My faith asks me to see the dignity in every person. That shapes how I work and how I show up for my city.
I've spent my career building tools for the people who make and move things, and I want those tools to help workers.
The Olympic torch has always been about more than sport. It's about hope, unity, and the belief that we can be better. I want to carry that message through my city, for the people who need to see it most.
Since 1936, the flame has traveled from ancient Olympia to host cities around the world.
The Olympic torch relay tradition began at the Berlin Games, conceived by Carl Diem. The torch, designed by sculptor Walter Lemcke and produced by Krupp, traveled from Olympia, Greece through Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Germany. This inaugural relay created the symbolic link between ancient and modern Olympics that continues today.
Dubbed the 'relay of peace,' London's torch relay symbolized hope and renewal after World War II. Designed by Ralph Lavers, the torch featured solid fuel tablets (hexamine and naphthalene) that burned for about 15 minutes. The flame traveled through Greece, Italy, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and England, using three types of torches including a butane gas torch for maritime segments.
Oslo hosted the first Winter Games torch relay. Uniquely, the flame was lit in Morgedal, Norway, known as the 'cradle of skiing', at the hearth of Sondre Norheim, rather than in Olympia. It established the tradition for Winter Olympics.
The Helsinki torch relay traveled from Olympia through Greece, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland. The relay emphasized Nordic unity and the peaceful spirit of the Games, covering a significant distance through Northern Europe.
The Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Games torch relay traveled through Italy, highlighting the beauty of the Italian Alps. The flame journeyed from Rome to the mountain resort, celebrating Italy's winter sports heritage.
The Melbourne torch relay was unique as it traveled to Stockholm for equestrian events (due to quarantine laws), then to Australia. The relay covered vast distances, including the first torch relay in the Southern Hemisphere.
Organized by Walt Disney, who chaired the Pageantry Committee, this was the first Winter Games torch relay in the Americas. Uniquely, the flame was not lit in Olympia, Greece, but in Morgedal, Norway. The torch, designed by John Hench, traveled through Norway, Denmark, and the United States to Squaw Valley, California.
The Rome torch relay connected ancient and modern history, traveling from Olympia through Greece and Italy. The flame's journey to the Eternal City symbolized the continuity of Olympic tradition from ancient times to the modern era.
The Innsbruck Winter Games torch relay traveled from Olympia for the first time for a Winter Games, emphasizing the link to ancient Greece. It traveled through Austria's Tyrol region, celebrating the country's rich alpine skiing heritage.
Japan's first Olympic torch relay featured Yoshinori Sakai, born in Hiroshima on the day the atomic bomb fell, lighting the cauldron as a powerful symbol of peace and recovery. The relay covered 26,065 km across Asia.
The Grenoble torch relay traveled through France, showcasing the French Alps and the country's winter sports culture. The relay emphasized France's role as a winter sports destination.
The Mexico City relay retraced Christopher Columbus's route to the New World. Enriqueta Basilio, a 20-year-old track and field athlete, made history as the first woman to light the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony.
The first Winter Games in Asia featured a torch relay that traveled through Japan, celebrating the country's winter sports culture and the beauty of Hokkaido, where Sapporo is located.
The Munich torch relay traveled through Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Austria, and Germany. The relay emphasized European unity and peace.
When Denver withdrew, Innsbruck stepped in to host again. The torch relay celebrated Austria's alpine tradition and the country's ability to organize world-class winter sports events on short notice.
The Montreal torch relay introduced new technology, using a satellite transmission to transport the flame signal from Athens to Ottawa, where it triggered a laser to relight the flame. The relay then traveled through Canada.
The Lake Placid torch relay traveled from Olympia to Lake Placid. The relay celebrated America's winter sports tradition and the small town's ability to host the world.
The Moscow torch relay traveled through Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, and the Soviet Union. The relay emphasized the unity of socialist nations and the global reach of the Olympic movement.
The Sarajevo torch relay spanned Yugoslavia, split into two routes (east and west) meeting in Sarajevo. The relay celebrated the unity of the Yugoslav nations.
The LA Games torch relay was revolutionary, covering 15,000 km across America. It was the first relay funded primarily by corporate sponsorships (notably AT&T) and allowed ordinary citizens to carry the torch by donating to charity. Rafer Johnson became the first Black athlete to light the Olympic cauldron.
The Calgary torch relay traveled across Canada, celebrating the country's winter sports heritage. The relay emphasized Canada's role as a leading winter sports nation.
The Seoul torch relay traveled through Greece and South Korea. It featured a zigzag route through Korea symbolizing harmony and progress.
The Albertville torch relay traveled through France, showcasing the French Alps. The supersonic Concorde transported the flame from Athens to Paris.
The Barcelona torch relay traveled from Olympia through the Mediterranean, celebrating the region's shared history and culture. Paralympic archer Antonio Rebollo lit the cauldron with a flaming arrow.
The Lillehammer torch relay covered approximately 18,000 km through Europe. On January 16, 1994, the torch traveled to the Arctic Circle. Prince Haakon lit the cauldron.
The Atlanta torch relay covered 26,875 km across the U.S. An unlit torch was carried into space aboard Space Shuttle Columbia. Muhammad Ali, despite battling Parkinson's disease, lit the cauldron.
The Nagano torch relay traveled through Japan, celebrating the country's winter sports culture. It featured three separate routes converging in Nagano.
The Sydney torch relay visited Oceania and traversed Australia. The torch was carried underwater at the Great Barrier Reef and visited Uluru.
The Salt Lake City torch relay covered 21,275 km across the United States. The relay celebrated the American West, and the torch was carried by the 1980 'Miracle on Ice' hockey team to light the cauldron.
The Athens torch relay was a global journey that returned the flame to its birthplace. The relay traveled to all previous Summer Olympic host cities, celebrating the Olympic movement's history.
The Turin torch relay traveled through Italy and briefly into neighboring countries. The relay emphasized Italy's passion for sport and culture.
Beijing's torch relay was the longest in Olympic history, spanning 137,000 km across six continents. It reached the summit of Mount Everest. The relay faced significant protests but showcased China's global ambition.
The Vancouver torch relay was the longest domestic relay in Olympic history, covering 45,000 km across Canada. It visited over 1,000 communities and places of interest.
The London torch relay traveled throughout the United Kingdom, visiting landmarks and communities to ensure 95% of the population was within an hour of the route.
The Sochi torch relay was the longest in Winter Games history. It went to the North Pole, the top of Mount Elbrus, and even to the International Space Station (unlit).
The Rio torch relay was the first in South America, traveling through Brazil's 26 states. It celebrated the country's biodiversity and culture, despite facing some local protests.
The PyeongChang torch relay traveled through South Korea. It utilized diverse transport including robot, zip wire, and steam train, emphasizing technological advancement.
Held in 2021 due to the pandemic, the Tokyo relay traveled through all 47 prefectures. The flame was kept alight in a lantern for a year after the postponement.
Beijing became the first city to host both Summer and Winter Games. The relay was significantly shortened due to COVID-19 precautions, held over just three days.
Celebrating 100 years since Paris 1924. The flame traveled from Olympia to Marseille on the Belem ship. It visited all French territories, including overseas regions like Tahiti.
For the first time in Olympic history, two cauldrons will burn simultaneously: one at Milan's Arco della Pace and one in Cortina d'Ampezzo's Piazza Dibona. The flame, lit in Ancient Olympia on November 26, 2025, traveled through Venice by gondola, reached Cortina exactly 70 years after the 1956 Games, and featured Jackie Chan carrying it through Pompeii. The Leonardo da Vinci-inspired cauldrons expand from 3.1m to 4.5m with 244 articulation points.
Los Angeles will host for the third time. The relay is expected to celebrate California's diversity and innovation, continuing the legacy of the 1984 community-focused relay.
Becoming an Olympic torchbearer is a dream for many. The selection process varies by host country, but typically involves nominations from Olympic sponsors, community organizations, and public applications. Torchbearers are chosen for their:
For LA 2028, LA28 will pick torchbearers from public nominations, and its presenting partners will pick some too. The relay starts in Atlanta in spring 2028 and visits all 50 states. Nomination details are due in the coming months.
Between now and July 2028
2026
Collecting the names of people who would nominate me
2027
LA28 publishes the route, and the nomination forms should open
2028
Atlanta in the spring, all 50 states, Los Angeles on July 14
Learn more about the Olympic torch relay, LA 2028, and how to get involved in the running community.
Follow the journey to LA 2028 and get updates on the torch relay, torchbearer nominations, and community events. The Olympic flame represents the best of us: unity, hope, and excellence.
Join the NewsletterWant to help? I'm looking for a few partners for the run-up to 2028: gear, community runs, or help telling the relay's story.
Companies, clubs and individuals are all welcome. Send me a note and I'll reply personally.
Following the flame and working toward my goal
Atlanta to Los Angeles: the First 50-State Torch Relay
Starts in Atlanta, spring 2028. Opening Ceremony July 14, 2028
LA28 confirmed the Olympic flame will begin its US journey in Atlanta, host of the 1996 Games, in spring 2028, then visit all 50 states on the way to the July 14 Opening Ceremony. Coca-Cola, JPMorganChase, Allstate and Xfinity will present the relay, and torchbearers will be chosen from the public through a nomination process. The full route comes in 2027.
Everything LA28 announcedBig site update: you can now add your name to my torchbearer nomination wall, and the article library has grown to 34 deep dives: the 50-state relay, start-city rumors, torchbearer selection, opening ceremony, volunteering, torch design, and the full history of America's relays.
How to become a torchbearerThe Winter Games flame was extinguished after 17 days of competition. The Olympic spotlight now swings fully to Los Angeles, and to the road across all 50 states that the flame will travel in 2028.
The Olympic flame arrives at San Siro Stadium in Milan for tonight's Opening Ceremony. For the first time in Olympic history, TWO cauldrons will be lit simultaneously: one in Milan at Arco della Pace and one in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Follow the flameThe Milano Cortina 2026 torch is on its 58th stage, passing through historic villages and rural landscapes on its way to Milan. Notable torchbearers include short track legend Arianna Fontana and Olympic rowing champion Piero Poli.
Track the relayThe flame reached Cortina d'Ampezzo exactly 70 years after the 1956 Winter Games, the last time the Olympics visited this Alpine town. A moving tribute to Italian winter sports heritage.
After being lit in Ancient Olympia on Nov 26 and traveling through Greece, the Olympic flame arrived in Rome to begin its 12,000 km journey through all 110 Italian provinces.
Started this site to document my journey toward becoming a torchbearer. The 1984 LA Games revolutionized the torch relay by letting ordinary citizens carry the flame. In 2028, I want to be part of that legacy.
LA28 CEO Reynold Hoover announced the 2028 relay will visit all 50 states over more than three months, ending at the July 14, 2028 opening ceremony. No previous relay has covered the full map. This is the announcement this whole campaign is built around.
Everything we knowMilano Cortina 2026 made history with twin cauldrons burning simultaneously in Milan and Cortina. Inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's knots, each cauldron expanded from 3.1m to 4.5m in diameter, featuring 244 articulation points and 1,440 precision components.
See the cauldron designLA28 will pick its torchbearers from public nominations. The forms aren't open yet. Add your name and I'll email you the link the day they are, so you can nominate me where it counts.
Don't know me yet? Here's my LinkedIn.
Relay news and campaign updates by email.