New York City

June 19, 2004 Rain or Shine

The ATHENS 2004 Olympic Organizing Committee announced the first-ever global journey of the Olympic Torch in November of 2003. The relay spans 34 cities and 27 countries over 35 days before the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games start on August 13, 2004. Four U.S. cities, Los Angeles, California, St. Louis, Missouri, Atlanta, Georgia, and New York City, will have the honor of hosting the journey of the Olympic flame.

On June 19, 2004, New York City will celebrate the arrival of the Olympic Torch with an approximate 34-mile run through the streets of the City, followed by a public celebration honoring the Olympic Spirit and the ATHENS 2004 Games. The Olympic flame was lit by the sun's rays during a traditional ceremony in Ancient Olympia, Greece on March 25, 2004, the anniversary of the date that the modern Olympic Games were revived in 1896. The flame traveled from Olympia to the Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens, the site of the first Olympic Games of the modern era, before beginning its historic worldwide relay. The Olympic flame will travel to all cities that have hosted the summer Olympic Games, as well as several other selected cities on its trek. The relay will take the flame to each continent that is represented by the five Olympic rings, and will, for the first time, visit the continents of Africa and South America.

"On behalf of all New Yorkers, we are honored that the ATHENS 2004 Organizing Committee has selected New York to participate in the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay," said Mayor Bloomberg. "As a participant in this great international event, New York will join 34 cities in a worldwide tour that will return the Olympic Torch to its ancestral home in Greece. When the Olympic Torch arrives in New York, we will join the world in honoring the spirit and the unifying principles of the Olympic Games, and the Torch Relay presents us with a unique opportunity to highlight the shared passion, energy and excitement New Yorkers feel for the Olympic Games.”

Be a part of it and cheer the torchbearers as they carry the Olympic Torch through our City on June 19, 2004!

Students from the Publicolor Paint Club volunteer to paint welcome banners for the arrival of the 2004 Athens Olympic Torch Relay

Note: The ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay presented by Coca-Cola and Samsung taking place in New York City on June 19, 2004 is a partnership between the City of New York, the Athens Olympic Committee (ATHOC), Coca-Cola and Samsung. The ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay is not associated with NYC2012, the committee leading New York's bid to host the Olympic Games in 2012.