The idea for the flame first had been suggested by Theodore Lewald, a member of the International Olympic Committee, who later became one of the chief organizers of the 1936 Berlin Games.

• 而在现代史中，奥运圣火于1928年首次出现在阿姆斯待丹奥运会上。奥运圣火这个想法是由西奥多.；列沃德首先提出的。他是国际奥委会成员，后来成为1936年柏林奥运会的主要组织者。