www.olympic.org - Site Officiel du Mouvement Olympique

Montreal 1976. Sandra Henderson
and Stéphane Préfontaine are the
final torch bearers.

It was at the Montreal 1976 Games that, for the first time in the history of the Games, technology played a role in the torch relay.

The sacred Olympic Flame was electronically transmitted from Athens to Ottawa by satellite and from there it was transported by runners to Montreal. On this occasion the final igniting ceremony was performed by Sandra Henderson and Stéphane Préfontaine, two athletes aged 15 and 16, who lit the big bowl together.

A few days after the flame had been lit, a drenching rainstorm extinguished the sacred flame. Only very briefly, however. An official with a cigarette lighter was nearby, and the flame sprang forth once more. Sacrilege! Fortunately the organisers had kept a reserve flame, originating at Olympia, burning in case of accident, and the "impure" fire was soon extinguished and replaced by a genuine Olympic flame.

• Opening Ceremony - Montreal 1976
• Olympic Museum audio guide