Jin of BTS participates in the Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay on July 14, 2024.
Courtesy of BIGHIT MUSIC
Over the decades, tens of thousands of people have served as torchbearers ahead of the biennial Olympic Games. And many of those carefully selected participants have been some of the world’s biggest musicians, from BTS’ Jin in 2024 to John Legend in 2012.
In the past, Olivia Newton-John, Will.i.am, Loretta Lynn, Lance Bass, Mel C and more have all also accepted the honor of representing their countries by helping to transport the Olympic flame in an on-foot relay from Greece to the site of each Games, a practice that dates back to the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. The weather-resistant torches that carry the blaze look different each, boasting unique designs that represent the host country of any given year. At the end of the relay – which has included anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand torchbearers through the years – one final person lights the Olympic cauldron to signify the beginning of the historic contest, not to be extinguished until the Games have ended.
“A modern invention inspired by practices from ancient Greece, the Olympic Torch Relay heralds the start of the Olympic Games and transmits a message of peace and friendship along its route,” reads the Olympics’ website.
From pop stars to producers, instrumentalists and boy band stars, many a musician has helped carry on the torchbearing tradition of the Olympic Games. Keep reading to see which of your favorite artists have had a hand in Olympic history, plus photos of each star carrying the fateful flame, below.
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Olivia Newton-John
Image Credit: Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images Olivia Newton-John holds the Olympic torch, Sept. 14, 2000, in front of Sydney Opera House.
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Howie Dorough
Image Credit: Todd Warshaw/Pool/Allsport/Getty Images Howie Dorough carries the Olympic Flame during the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Torch Relay on Dec. 7, 2001, in Winter Park, Fla.
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Loretta Lynn
Image Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images Loretta Lynn carries the Olympic Flame during the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Torch Relay Dec. 16, 2001, in Louisville, Ky.
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Lance Bass
Image Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images Lance Bass of *NSYNC carries the Olympic Flame during the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Torch Relay Jan. 15, 2002, in Newport Beach, Calif.
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Ryan Seacrest
Image Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images Ryan Seacrest carries the Olympic Flame during Day 12 of the Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay on June 16, 2004, in Los Angeles.
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Sean “Diddy” Combs
Image Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images Sean “Diddy” Combs carries the Olympic Flame during Day 15 of the Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay on June 19, 2004, in New York City.
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Will.i.am
Image Credit: LOCOG/Getty Images Will.i.am carries the Olympic flame on May 21, 2012, in Taunton, England.
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Mel C
Image Credit: LOCOG/Getty Images Melanie Chisholm carries the Olympic Flame on the Torch Relay leg between Birkenhead and Liverpool on Day 14 of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay on June 1, 2012, in Birkenhead, England.
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Jedward
Image Credit: LOCOG/Getty Images John (left) and Edward Grimes — aka Jedward — carry the Olympic Flame on Day 19 of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay on June 6, 2012, in Dublin, Ireland.
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John Legend
Image Credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images John Legend carries the Olympic Torch during the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay on June, 13, 2012, in Edinburgh, Scotland.
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Sir Cliff Richard
Image Credit: LOCOG/Getty Images Sir Cliff Richard carries the Olympic Flame on the Torch Relay leg between Smethwick and Birmingham on Day 43 of the Olympic Flame Torch Relay on June 30, 2012, in Birmingham, England.
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The Wanted
Image Credit: LOCOG/Getty Images Siva Kaneswaran of The Wanted carries the Olympic Flame with other members of his band on the Torch Relay leg from Great Wyrley to Leamore on Day 43 of the Olympic Flame Torch Relay on June 30, 2012, in Newton, England.
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Eddie Izzard
Image Credit: LOCOG/Getty Images Eddie Izzard holds the Olympic Torch in front of ‘The Italian Job’-inspired instillation “Hang on a Minute Lads” by artist Richard Wilson above the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill on Sea during Day 60 leg of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay on July 17, 2012, in Bexhill on Sea, England.
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Paloma Faith
Image Credit: LOCOG/Getty Images Paloma Faith carries the Olympic Flame on the Torch Relay leg through the borough of Newham during Day 64 of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay on July 21, 2012, in London.
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Dizzee Rascal
Image Credit: LOCOG/Getty Images Dylan Mills — aka Dizzee Rascal — carries the Olympic Flame on the Torch Relay leg between the boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Hackney during Day 64 of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay on July 21, 2012, in London.
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Lang Lang
Image Credit: Rob Welham/Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/Getty Images Lang Lang carries the Olympic torch in Hornchurch in the London Borough of Havering on July 22, 2012.
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Mark Ronson & Katy B
Image Credit: LOCOG/Getty Images Kathleen Brien — aka Katy B — passes the Olympic Flame to Torchbearer 096 Mark Ronson at Brunel University during Day 67 of the Olympic Torch Relay on July 24, 2012, in London.
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Labrinth
Image Credit: LOCOG/Getty Images Labrinth carries the Olympic Flame on the Torch Relay leg between Harrow (London Borough) and Brent (London Borough) during Day 68 of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay on July 25, 2012, in London.
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Beverley Knight
Image Credit: LOCOG/Getty Images Beverley Knight carries the Olympic Flame on the Torch Relay leg through Brent (London Borough) during Day 68 of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay on July 25, 2012, in London.
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Jin
Image Credit: Courtesy of BIGHIT MUSIC Jin of BTS participates in the Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay on July 14, 2024.