The torch that will be used to carry the Olympic flame around France and on its final leg at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Games next July is a sleek silver-colored cylinder of recycled steel that is gracefully tapered at both ends and is being made in limited numbers.
Paris organizers unveiled French designer Mathieu Lehanneur’s torch design Tuesday — part of a week of activities that mark the year-to-go countdown to the July 26 opening.
Organizers said 2,000 torches — five times fewer than for some previous editions of the Olympics — are being produced from recycled steel.
Each one weighs 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) and is 70 centimeters (27.5 inches) tall.
Paris is using the same torch design for both the Olympics and Paralympic Games.
Once lit in Ancient Olympia, Greece, the flame will be transported by boat to the southern French city of Marseille.
The torch relay will start from there on May 8, with 10,000 torchbearers taking turns to carry it — the last of them lighting the cauldron at the opening ceremony.
Take a look —
What do you think?!
About 11,000 torchbearers will carry these throughout the Olympic and Paralympic torch relays for Paris 2024.
(📸 @paris2024) pic.twitter.com/uniyy7jhss
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 25, 2023
Paris 2024 unveiled the design of the Olympic torch as France marked one year until the opening ceremonies. Made of lightweight polished steel in a champagne color, the torch's lower half features a relief pattern that mimics the movement of the Seine https://t.co/6XbRgcbe3E pic.twitter.com/NGGiPi7diE
— Reuters (@Reuters) July 26, 2023
The #Paris2024 Olympic torch has been revealed! 🔥🇫🇷
From Los Angeles 1984 to @Paris2024, here's a quick lookback at 40 years of Olympic torches. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/DdGUWimqgL
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 25, 2023
The Associated Press contributed to this article.