The Olympic torch relay was invented by the Nazis.
An interesting fact as the BBC seem utterly obsessed with where this fucking thing is every second of the day. Seems the whole ceremony was created for the 1936 Olympics to give it a suitably mystical angle.
( pobblepop time flies like an arrow fruit flies like a banana, Tue 29 May 2012, 12:59, Reply)

Indeed
Not sure that definitely means we should depart with it though. Various posters have a go at the Guardian for a lazy article about the link, here:

www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/may/16/torch-nazis-lit-olympic-flame
(SnowyTheRabbit occasionally Fearless Egbert, Tue 29 May 2012, 13:14, Reply)

just cause the nazis invented it doesn't mean we shouldnt use it
asprin: tested on jewish prisoners

VW beetle: the peoples car

Hugo boss: uniform designer....
(DefyingDarwin is an expert in the martial art of Cuddle-FU, Tue 29 May 2012, 13:15, Reply)

The Olympics has a tradition of being beastly to the Jews, why change it for more fashionable faddy
trends? It traditions like this which made us what we are, and fits perfectly with the olympic ideal of the promotion of corporations on the back of sport.
(PhosphorBurnedEyes old borstal tie, Tue 29 May 2012, 13:21, Reply)

Good point
I guess people are just latching on to it as an argument against it.
The torch seems to be a bit of a Marmite thing..you love it or hate it.
I do think the torch relay is a good idea but I think the highjacking of it by corporations and allowing celebs to carry the torch is a scandal.
I thought the idea was for communities to vote for their local heros to carry the torch and of course retired sports people.
Seeing William or the Doctor Who actor with the torch made me feel sick!
(Mokum420, Tue 29 May 2012, 13:25, Reply)

seeing those blown up kids in syria made me feel sick
this barely irritates me.

edit: i had to google syria...lol
(DefyingDarwin is an expert in the martial art of Cuddle-FU, Tue 29 May 2012, 13:52, Reply)

Of course that made me feel sick too..
but this is a thread about the torch not some fucked up madman killing his own people ;)
(Mokum420, Tue 29 May 2012, 16:45, Reply)

I think the original plan for 2012 was to have put the flame on a heinkel
and then for it to drop loads of little torches all over the east end while vera lynne did her greatest hits from an anderson shelter buried under the velodrome.
(benito vaselini half Cherokee and Chocktaw, Tue 29 May 2012, 15:14, Reply)