The 2024 Summer Paralympics torch relay was held from 24 to 28 August 2024. The torch relay began with the lighting of the Paralympic Heritage flame in Stoke Mandeville, United Kingdom, on 24 August. The next day, the torch arrived in France via the Channel Tunnel, thus beginning the torch relay. The torch was split into 12 parts and visited 12 different cities across France. The French leg ended during the opening ceremony when it was used to light the Paralympic cauldron. The cauldron was erected at the Tuileries Garden's central fountain.[1][2][3] In total, the relay visited 50 cities and had 1000 torch bearers.
The French Olympic Committee commissioned Mathieu Lehanneur(fr) (born 1974),[4][5] to design the cauldron, torch, and ceremonial cauldrons along the torch relay route: Lehanneur developed a concept of having these three items symbolise France's national motto, "Liberté, égalité, fraternité" ("Liberty, equality, fraternity"), and gold, silver, and bronze medals respectively.[6] Lehanneur described them as "three chapters in the same story", with the cauldron representing liberty, medals, and serving as "the epilogue and the ultimate symbol of that story. Light, magical and unifying."[7] The torch relay cauldrons – 2000 of them – don a wave and ripple design that represents water texture of the River Seine that runs through Paris. They were made of XCarb by ArcelorMittal, a Paris 2024 Olympics Official Partner.[8]
Torch symbolism
Olympian symbolism for humanity and culture
Sustainable Torch Designs: Incorporating 100% recycled scrap steel in torch designs offers a pathway for future Olympic and Paralympic torches to embrace more sustainable production methods.
Unified Torch Designs: Choosing, for the first time, identical torch designs for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games was done in the spirit of promoting equality and inclusivity in other global events. Lehanneur thoughtfully kept the designs identical. The Paralympic agitos symbol is the only difference.
Culturally Symbolic Torch Elements: Including symbolic features like the rippled texture inspired by the River Seine provides an opportunity to create torches that reflect the culture and heritage of the host country.
Olympian symbolism for innovation and sustainability
Sports Equipment Manufacturing: Innovating torch designs for global sporting events offers sports equipment manufacturers a platform to demonstrate their design and manufacturing capabilities.
Recycling Sector: The use of 100% recycled steel underscores the role of sustainable practices, presenting collaboration opportunities for the recycling industry with event organizers and designers.
Event Management: Designing inclusive and distinctive torches for events like the Olympics and Paralympics requires event management professionals to ensure flawless execution and an unforgettable experience for all involved.[9]
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