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Olympic Torch Design: Cool, but Heavy

By Core Jr - January 28, 2006

in Materials

As olympic torches go, this one's pretty sweet. The shell of The Torch for the games in Torino is aluminium alloy with the internal equipment in steel, copper and technopolymer. The surface finishing provides an embossing to make the grip easier and a special painting resistant to high temperatures. The Torch is stoked with a hydrocarbon mixture (propylene-butane) contained in a spray-type canister in standard aluminium.

The styling concept of the design by Italian firm Pininfarina is a modern reinterpretation of the traditional wooden torch in which the metal itself appears to catch fire and burn. When lit, the flame wraps the body of the Torch rather than coming out from a hole on the top, as in the past editions.

There's only one little problem: it's a bit heavy. At nearly 4.4 lbs (2 kilos), runners carrying the aluminium torch in relay across Italy to the opening ceremony say it is difficult to hold aloft for long. (Article)

If you want to get your own, you can buy one on eBay.

Additional links here and here.

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Robin Yawn

17 years ago

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The Olympic TOrch of Torino is ssssssoooooo COOL!!!
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joe

18 years ago

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It looks like an Arabian sword to me. It was wierd seeing it.
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George Giannikopoulos

18 years ago

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It would be interesting to wright an article about Olympic games' torches and have a voting for the best design ever!
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lars

18 years ago

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this thing looks like the tentacle of an octupus.
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