ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Olympic flame

Okay kiddo, so you know how the Olympics is a really big sports event where people from all over the world compete to win medals? Well, before the Olympics even starts, there is something called the Olympic flame that gets lit.

The Olympic flame is a really special fire that gets started in a place called Olympia in Greece. This is where the very first Olympics happened many, many years ago. The flame is lit using a special mirror and the sun's rays.

Once the flame is lit, it is then carried by people – kind of like a relay race – all the way to the country where the Olympics are being held. During this time, people take turns carrying the flame and passing it on to the next person.

The flame is thought of as a symbol of peace and unity. It shows that even though people are from different countries and cultures, they can come together and work towards a common goal.

When the flame finally arrives in the country where the Olympics are being held, a big ceremony takes place where the flame is used to light a torch. This torch is then used to light the big Olympic cauldron, which is a really big fire that burns throughout the entire Olympics.

So basically, the Olympic flame is a really special fire that gets started in Greece and then carries to the country where the Olympics are being held. It symbolizes peace and unity and is used to light the big fire that burns throughout the Olympics.