Olympic Torch Design For London 2012 Unveiled

A month after announcing the dates and preliminary locations of the Olympic Torch Relay route for London 2012, the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) today unveiled prototypes of the Olympic Torch that will travel the length and breadth of the United Kingdom with 8,000 torchbearers next year.

An average of 110 people a day will carry the golden torch as it travels around the UK between 19 May and 27July 2012, when it will arrive at the Olympic Stadium for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.


Torch Design

The torch was designed to reflect the celebratory nature of the Olympic Torch Relay and the Olympic Games. Its triangular shape was inspired by multiples of three found across the Olympic Movement, including the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect and the fact that the 2012 Games will be the third Olympic Games held in London (1908, 1948 and 2012).

The design also features 8,000 perforated circles, which represent the 8,000 torchbearers and the estimated 8,000 miles (12,875 kilometres) the Olympic Flame is expected to travel during the 70-day relay.

The torch measures 80 centimetres and weighs 0.8 kilogrammes.


Significant Symbol

LOCOG Chairman Sebastian Coe said: “The torch that carries the Olympic Flame during the Olympic Torch Relay is one of the most recognisable and significant symbols of an Olympic Games. Members of the public right across the UK are busy nominating inspiring people to be torchbearers, and I am thrilled we have a beautifully designed, engineered and crafted torch for them to carry.

“Integral to the design are the 8,000 circles, a lasting representation of the torchbearer stories of personal achievement or contribution to their local community that will be showcased with every step of the Relay.”

For more information on the London 2012 Olympic Torch, please visit the LOCOG web site.


LONDON 2012


London was elected as the host city for the Games of the XXX Olympiad on 6 July 2005 at the 117th IOC Session in Singapore. London eventually succeeded in the fourth round of voting, taking 54 votes from a possible 104. London faced stiff opposition during the vote from the other four Candidate Cities: Paris, New York, Moscow and Madrid. There will be 26 sports on the Olympic programme in London in 2012 and around 10,500 athletes.