Then the Olympic flame made its way by airplane across the ocean in a lamp, and by the time the flame reached its opening-ceremonies cauldron in Rio de Janeiro, it had been carried by 12,000 different runners. It burned there until it was extinguished Aug. 21, 2016, during the closing ceremonies.

Is the Olympic flame ever extinguished?

It is not uncommon for the Olympic flame to be accidentally or deliberately extinguished during the course of the torch relay (and on at least one occasion the cauldron itself has gone out during the Games). ... When a torch goes out, it is re-lit (or another torch is lit) from one of the backup sources.

How is the Olympic flame extinguished?

The Flame was extinguished when the Olympic Cauldron which was designed like a flower to embody vitality and hope was closed.