Olympic Torch

Olympic torch was unveiled on 3 July 2015 morning in Brasília.  The three qualities that form the essence of the Rio 2016 Olympic torch are:

• movement
• innovation and
• Brazilian flavour

About Olympic Torch

• It is an important symbol in the history of Olympic games.
• It represents peace, unity and friendship.

Design: 

• The 2016 Olympic torch was designed by São Paulo studio Chelles & Hayashi (Chelles & Hayashi )has been revealed for next year olympics which are to be held in Rio de Janeiro.
• The design expands vertically when it comes into contact with the flame to reveal a series of coloured resin sections.
• The blue and green resin sections revealed –beneath, along with the yellow flame, are designed to represent the sea, mountains, sky and sun, and are also the hues found in the Brazilian flag.
• The torch’s triangular shape – similar to Barber and Osgerby’s design for London 2012 – alludes to the three Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect.
• “The design of the Rio 2016 Torch was inspired by the Olympic spirit, our country’s nature, and the harmonious diversity and energy of our people,” said director Beth Lula.

• Its horizontal segments, once open, reveal the sky, mountains, sea and the ground, represented by the promenade of Copacabana

Selection of Chelles & Hayashi

• a relatively unknown studio that works with product, packaging and brand identity.
• It was selected from a nationwide competition that included 76 agencies.
• The winning design was refined in collaboration with the Rio 2016 Organising Committee.

Event and Attendees

The torch was revealed at a special event which was attended by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, Rio 2016 President Carlos Arthur Nuzman and a host of sport figures, and Olympic sailing medallists Torben Grael and Isabel Swan, and volleyball stars Leila and Paulão.

Characteristics:

• Weight: weighs between 1 and 1.5 kilograms.
• Measures: measuring 63.5 centimetres high when contracted and 69 centimetres when expanded.

Process:

• When the flame is passed from one runner to another, in an action known as “the kiss of the torches”, the sections towards the top of the baton will automatically open up.
• The torch will pass through 300 cities and towns on its 100-day journey across Brazil – the first South American country to host the games.
• The torch relay will conclude at the Olympic Stadium in Rio.
• Date: Rio 2016 Olympic Games will take place from 5 to 21 August.

History:

• The tradition of the Olympic torch relay dates back to the 1936 Berlin games and has been feature of each subsequent event.
• The fire was introduced at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, and it has been part of the modern Olympic Games ever since.
• The Olympic Torch today is ignited several months before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games at the site of the ancient Olympics inOlympia, Greece.
• Eleven women, representing the Vestal Virgins and perform perform a celebration at the Temple of Hera.
• The flame is lit in Athens – where the games first originated – then flown to the host country before travelling around on a set route before lighting a cauldron during the opening ceremony, which burns for the duration of the tournament.

Key Points:

• Brazil is the first country in South America to host the biggest sporting event on the planet.
• The journey will begin in May 2016 and will last between 90 and 100 days.
• There will be about 12,000 torchbearers, each one carrying their torch about 200m, then passing the flame.
• The torch will travel 20,000km by road and another 10,000 miles by air over the North and Midwest parts of the country, between the cities of Teresina and Campo Grande, without the flame ever going out.