Nobody expects the Italians to take lightly on design - and this is also valid when it comes to the Olympic torch. However what I didn't know about this seemingly innocent piece of burning stick, are all the tough technical requirements that have to be met:





It mustn't be relighted, it mustn’t be extinguishable even in adverse weather conditions such as rain, snow and wind up to 120 km/h, the exposed flame must have a constant and controlled height. Last but not least, the flame must be a yellowy-orange colour so as to be visible on TV during the day and night; the smoke must be non-toxic and odourless.

According to the manufacturers they had 25 people running an extensive test program. (I can vividly picture scientist running around in the lab.)

In my simple mind I figured there were one original and then a couple of backups, but the Torino Olympics have ordered 12.000 numbered units for the Winter Games.

According to the design company Pininfarina the styling concept of the design is a modern reinterpretation of the traditional wooden torch. Therefore the flame wraps the body of the Torch rather than coming out from a hole on the top, as in the past editions. To develop this concept they had to develop a a new combustor system to assure at the same time stability of the flame, resistance to extinction and visibility.

As for the materials used, the shape shell has been made of aluminium, while 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 internal combustor system is composed by a double combustor chamber that gives stability to the flame.

Wow! Whatever happened to that old burning stick?