You are right, "[...] the idea of a symbolic fire was introduced during the 1928 Summer Olympics, an employee of the Electric Utility of Amsterdam lit the first symbolic flame in the Marathon Tower of the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam" (source: Wikipedia, Olympic flame, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_flame). This being said, the origin of the Olympic flame goes way back to ancient Greece where a fire was kept burning on Hestia's alter throughout the duration of the ancient Olympics. Hence, "welcoming the flame" refers directly to this specific symbol of continuity between the ancient Olympic Games and the modern iteration, even though a physical flame had not been used prior to 1928.
The Olympic flame did not make its debut until well after 1900. It was 1936, I believe.
You are right, "[...] the idea of a symbolic fire was introduced during the 1928 Summer Olympics, an employee of the Electric Utility of Amsterdam lit the first symbolic flame in the Marathon Tower of the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam" (source: Wikipedia, Olympic flame, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_flame). This being said, the origin of the Olympic flame goes way back to ancient Greece where a fire was kept burning on Hestia's alter throughout the duration of the ancient Olympics. Hence, "welcoming the flame" refers directly to this specific symbol of continuity between the ancient Olympic Games and the modern iteration, even though a physical flame had not been used prior to 1928.