The design inspiration behind the Paris 2024 Olympic Torch
Last week, the 2024 Olympic torch arrived in Le Havre, marking the final stage of its two-month long relay in anticipation of the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, which kick off on 26 July. As the world’s gaze turns to the city for what is to be the most anticipated sporting event of the year, the torch has already captured the imagination of those far and wide with its harmonious design.
Developed by French designer Mathieu Lehanneur, who is known internationally for projects that stretch the realms of product design, architecture, craft, and technology, the torch was designed to be both modest and balanced. For Lehanneur, designing the Olympic torch is “a designer’s dream: a dream that only comes true once in a lifetime, like a miraculous encounter with history. As ritualistic as it is magical, the torch is a mythical object.”
As part of his conceptualization, the Maison&Objet Designer of the Year looked at previous torches to see what has been done in the past and what could be reimagined to suit the spirit of this year’s Games. Ultimately, he attempted not to introduce too many elaborate elements, while still presenting a meaningful representation of this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games through the themes of equality, water and peacefulness.
Standing at a height of about 25 inches and weighing just over 3 pounds, the torch is made from recycled steel and was produced in collaboration with ArcelorMittal, the official partner of the Games. It is crafted in a subtle champagne hue, and is split into two parts: a polished metallic upper and sculpted bottom. The flames seep through a slit on the side of the torch before they funnel upwards.
As a nod to the fact that the Paris Games will be the first-ever to feature an equal number of male and female participants, the torch is perfectly symmetrical, both horizontally and vertically. “I wanted it to be extremely pure, iconic, almost elemental. As simple as a hyphen and as fluid as a flame,” states Lehanneur.
Water is the second element of the torch’s concept, paying tribute to Paris’ renowned River Seine. The bottom part of the torch is dented to reflect imagery of waves, such that it gives the impression of ripples — like when a stone is thrown into the water.
It is these curves that express the third design element of peacefulness. Drawing upon the Olympic tradition of generosity and fraternity, Lehanneur wanted the torch to reflect the idea of unity, gathering and community. Having crossed thousands of kilometres, from land to sea, the torch is thus a symbol of “cohesion and sharing, the veritable key to opening the Games.”
Lending to its status as a modest but powerful emblem of this year’s Games, only 2,000 operational torches have been constructed, a number five times smaller than previous Olympics. It remains to be seen which one gets the honour of lighting the cauldron later this month.
To learn more about Mathieu Lehanneur and his work, please visit his website.
