An olive leaf crafted from wood and magnesium will carry the Olympic flame around the globe to the homecoming Games in Athens in 2004, after organizers unveiled the latest Olympic torch in January.

Athens organisers (ATHOC) leant heavily on the peaceful symbolism of the olive tree, using a wreath for their logo and now the shape and wood from tree for the torch.

Spirit of Greece

"We were inspired by the way this torch will reflect the spirit of Greece along with the values of peace and hope to every place it will travel," said Athens Organising Committee chief Gianna Angelopoulos.

The unveiling of the torch capped a successful start to the year for Athens organisers, coming a day after IOC chief Jacques Rogge saluted "outstanding" progress over the last 18 months.

The olive tree, whose branches have come to symbolise peaceful compromise, is a commonplace in the Greek countryside and wreaths made from these leaves were awarded to winners in the ancient Olympics.

The metal and olive-wood creation, which will be the first to pass through all five continents, was chosen to highlight the link between Greek history and the modern Olympic Games, said officials.

Powerful symbol

"The torch relay has become a very powerful symbol of the peaceful uniting of countries," said Rogge.

The idea of a torch and runner covering the distance from ancient Olympia to the host city is a modern invention inspired by the use of torches at the smaller-scale Panathenean Games.

The 1936 Berlin torch, which remains one of the most impressive, was made with steel from the Krupps munitions factory, central to the Hitler's war preparations.

Athens smooth oval form with its pure and simple design replaces Sydney's blue-and-white metallic boomerang, with its three-arched tribute to the city's world famous opera house.

"The torch had to include as many aspects of Greek culture as possible and the olive tree contains all of Greece," said designer Andreas Varotsos.

Torch relay

Standing at 68cm and weighing 700g, the latest ergonomic model will pass through as many as 20,000 pairs of hands in a relay beginning in Ancient Olympia in Spring 2003.

Personally I like it a lot and I hope it will be to the tastes of the international public, said Greek Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos.