The iconic Olympic flame tradition symbolizes human spirit and knowledge and is accompanied by one of the most recognizable objects in the Olympic Games: the cauldron. This event is very much inspired by ancient Greek traditions and has been an important component of the games, uniting countries in the spirit of sportsmanship.
Paris 2024 Olympic Torch design is a fusion of art and technology, emphasizing sustainability and innovation. It is made of 100% recycled scrap steel. ArcelorMittal, a steel manufacturing company, produced 2000 torches, which is less than the number of torches manufactured for the event in the past. This mythical object weighs 1.5 Kilogram and is 70 cm in height, making it easier to carry than other traditional Olympic torches. It also has a curved and rounded silhouette that evokes a sense of peacefulness while capturing the fluidity of water and the shimmering reflections of light.
Mathieu Lehanneur, the visionary French designer behind this Olympic torch, shared his inspiration for the design: “Designing the Olympic torch is a designer’s dream: a dream that only comes true once in a lifetime, like a miraculous encounter with History. As ritualistic as it is magical, the torch is a mythical object. As a symbol of cohesion and sharing, it is the veritable key to opening the Games.”
“It will cross thousands of kilometers, passed from hand to hand, over land and sea. For Paris 2024, and for the first time in its history, it will play with perfect symmetry to better express a message of equality. I wanted it to be extremely pure, iconic, and almost essential. Simple like a hyphen and fluid like a flame…” he added.
This cauldron also symbolises unity in the Olympics and Paralympics, underlining the game’s commitment towards equal representation on the global sports level. The president of Paris Olympics, Tony Estanguet stated, “As part of our strategy to build bridges between the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the latter already shared the same emblem and mascot with the former,”
The design of Olympic torches has transformed over the years, blending symbolism, innovation, and the cultural spirit of the host nation. In the last Olympic season in Beijing, the torch was designed by Lenovo. It resembled twirling ribbons with references to the Great Wall of China and snowflake patterns on the handle, symbolising the winter games.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games torch was designed by the famous architect and designer Tokujin Yoshioka, who drew inspiration from the Japanese Sakura cherry blossoms and was crafted using recycled aluminum and materials from temporary housing built after the 2011 earthquake in Japan.
Along with these, one of the most iconic cauldron designs has been the one used in the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. Inspired by Antoni Gaudí’s mosaics, it was constructed of aluminum and plastic with a titanium component atop the aluminum base and was perfectly lit by aiming the flaming arrow by the Paralympian Antonio Rebollo.
In 2024, as the torch makes its journey from France and beyond, it will carry the global message of hope, unity, and the celebration of the human spirit.
Also, here is a close-up of this year’s Olympic venues.
