In Ancient Greece all the athletical events were related with the worship of gods. The most important of them, the Olympics, were dedicated to Zeus. After the end of the games, the winners had to preserve, at their own expenses, the burning flame, thanking in that way Zeus for his. The lighting ceremony relived in the Modern Olympics, as well as the tradition of the torch relay. Prior to every Olympics, a special ceremony takes place in Ancient Olympia, during which the torch is delivered to the Host City. The opening ceremony is strongly connected with the lighting of the torch, which burns until the end of the games. After the closing ceremony, the mayor of Athens regains it, in order to give it to the next city. In that way, an ancient tradition continues its course through time and history.