This torch was designed by George Huel and Michael Dall and produced in aluminum by Queensway Machine Products, Toronto, Ontario. Its length was 67.5 cm and its weight 540 grams. The stem of the torch was painted red in contrast to the white Olympic logo on it. The fuel used was essentially made of processed olive oil evoking the ancient Greek tradition. A special means of transport was used, since the flame was transformed into an electronic pulse. From Athens, this pulse was sent via satellite to Canada, where a laser ray was used to light the torch again. From there it was transported on horseback, with canoes and on bikes.

The Olympic Flame was lit by two young athletes representing two populations living in Canada: the Anglo-Saxon represented by Sandra Henderson and the francophone represented by Stéphane Préfontaine, also to symbolize the importance of youth and coexistence of the people. Women’s events in basketball, rowing and team handball all made their Olympic debut. Hockey was played on an artificial pitch for the first time, and boxer Clarence Hill of Bermuda earned a bronze medal to give Bermuda the honor of being the least populous nation (53,500) ever to have one of its athletes win a medal at the Summer Games. Fourteen-year-old gymnast Nadia Comaneci of Romania was the undoubted star of the Games. She shot to fame when, for her performance on the uneven bars, she was awarded the first-ever perfect score of 10. She went on to earn seven times the perfect mark.