Saturday 4 July 2009

Current issue

Latest issue

On sale now

 

The latest culture as recommended by our staff

Liz Anderson

Liz Suggests


Jobs at Telegraph

Send your comments on Clive's blog posts to clivecomments@aol.com

Why do we need an Olympic torch anyway?

Friday, 28th March 2008

Most of us tend to assume it's part of the timeless tradition? No, it's just a Nazi relic, says Mary Beard:

Hardly any commentator stops to mention that this silly torch ceremony has nothing to do with the ancient Greeks, and was really invented to be a magnificent shot in Leni Riefenstahl’s movie (choreographed by Carl Diem). This is one of Hitler’s most pervasive legacies.

Incidentally, if you're a connoisseur of Heathrow stories, Beard also has an eyewitness account of the chaos down west London way.

   Previous Back to Clive Davis   Next 

Blogs: Martin Bright | Alex Massie | Melanie Phillips | Americano | Coffee House | Faith Based | Trading Floor

Actions: Print this article  |  Email to a friend  |  Permalink  

Post this entry to:   del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit

Spectator Book Club

Search this blog

 

Spectator recommends

Spectator classifieds

BIG SAND STEEL BAND

IF YOU ARE PLANNING A CHAMPAGNE RECEPTION and looking for some light entertainment, you can now hire London's busiest steel

BOSC LEBAT, Tarn et Garonne.

BOSC LEBAT, SW France. Only 45 minutes from Toulouse Airport with daily flights from most provincial airports avoiding the horrors

ROME CENTRE

PORTA METRONIA, ROME Standing high on the top of one of the seven hills of Rome- the Coelian- this unique