A rare piece of footage from the 1964 Tokyo Olympics from bobster855 on Flickr.
The lighting of the cauldron represents the most symbolic moment in the history of the Olympic Games.

The matter of who will be chosen as the torch bearer at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games is one of intense speculation and anticipation.

In Tokyo, 1964, Yoshinori Sakai, a student was selected for this honour. Sakai had been born on August 6 1945. This was the day that the atomic bomb exploded over Hiroshima. The significance of Sakai’s  selection to bear the Olympic Torch was not lost on the domestic and international audience.

The above black and white video footage shows Sakai entering the stadium. Although it is a short clip, it is memorable in depicting a deeply historic occasion.

1964 Torch Bearer

The footage also makes a wonderful comparison to the photograph. This is Sakai in 2009. He volunteered to help promote the Tokyo2016 bid at a local event. It is a wonderful shot of him recreating the atmosphere of the 1964 Opening Ceremony by bearing a hand-made torch for a group of kindergarten children and later discussing his role in that event.

Many of the childrens’ parents were present at this local event. They looked on in awe realising that Sakai was recreating an event that had occured before even they were born.

It was wonderful to see that there was a feeling of excitement in this small recreation of the lap of honour the torch bearer ran that day. It reminded them that Tokyo was bidding for the Games again.