Olympic Ceremony Torch Lighters: Teenage Lighters Highlight London Surprises

One of the biggest mysteries heading into the opening ceremony for the 2012 Olympic Games was who would have the honor of lighting the torch. Great Britain decided that not one, but seven teenage athletes should get the opportunity of a lifetime, and ultimately the nation made the right move.

Names like David Beckham and Roger Bannister were expected to light the historic torch, with Chad Finn of the Boston Globe even saying the latter was the heavy favorite to do so. Instead of going with national stars who have enough great moments to their name, ceremony director Danny Boyle decided to give young athletes a moment of a lifetime.

Surely, it would have been a great honor for Bannister, Beckham or any of the other speculated torch lighters to get that opportunity, but if you asked any of those athletes if they enjoyed watching those seven kids light the torch, I'm sure that every one of them would tell you they did.

Due to the fact the summer games are only played every four years, most national teams are made up of some of each sport's top young stars. For example, a sport like gymnastics sees athletes as young as 16 competing.

Whether it was Boyle's intention or not, by letting the seven teenage athletes light the torch he decided to celebrate all the young athletes that would play crucial roles for their respective countries as these games played out.

He chose to do something that was unorthodox and unexpected, which would get people talking, but he also celebrated the names like Aly Raisman and Jordyn Wieber, who will represent their country before they've even reached the age to vote.

Above all else though, Boyle gave those seven torch lighters something to tell their loved ones for years to come. While those lighters may never make the Olympic stage as athletes, they will always have their Olympic moment—an unexpected but highly classy decision by Boyle.