Paris 2024 Unveils Nouveau Olympic Torch Design

Building upon last month's announcement of the torch relay route for next summer, Paris today revealed its 2024 Olympic torch design, with blended themes of equality, fluidity and tranquility. 

Or to be more precise, the new torch is "inspired by equality, water and peacefulness" according to press materials shared under embargo until today's unveiling in the French capital. 

On a press preview call last week, Paris 2024 officials shared numerous details in anticipation of the announcement du jour, the penultimate date for tomorrow's "one year to go" milestone for next year's opening ceremony.

When the design competition opened, each of the 10 entrants enjoyed near carte blanche options to dazzle the selectors. From a finalist field of three, French designer Mathieu Lehanneur earned the assignment "chosen for his poetic and highly symbolic approach, along with his ability to grasp the values and expectations of Paris 2024," according to this announcement. 

On the press call, Lehanneur also shared that organizers encouraged his team to submit multiple design proposals, but in spite of this option, they went all-in and did not deviate from the final, reflective concept that was at once elegant in its simplicity and complex in its operational features to withstand intense wind, rain or other forces of nature. 

"We wanted to be sure it achieved balance with a message," said Lehanneur. "We [later] discovered in the process that it is a super complex design to keep the flame beautiful and visible."

The Paris 2024 torch is sleek and original, for the first time equal in shape and curves from the center to its top and its base handle. The "perfect symmetry" features an "equator" of gold. 

Perhaps a figurative "toast" to the torchbearers, my take is each of the halves resemble stylized bottles of wine fused at their bases. 

While the top half of the torch is smooth with a Champagne-colored matte finish -- showcased in the press kit as "bead-blasted" -- the lower half is fluid and mirrors light like waves of, and reflections from, surf or a running stream, symbolic of the Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay's planned journey across the Mediterranean Sea and four oceans. 

When I asked if this torch was designed for use beneath the surface -- like the flame sticks of Sydney 2000 and Sochi 2014 held by scuba divers -- officials confirmed there are "no plans" for this torch to be submerged, but that "new surprises" will be revealed during upcoming months, including the cauldron from the same firm.

The design's hollow, round top enables the fire within to burn up and out, but also a "flame slip" cut into the steel will encourage fire to wave outward "like a flag" as the torchbearer walks or jogs forward. 

Other facts about the new torch:

• Fabricated from 100% recycled scrap steel with equipment typical of auto manufacturing lines
• Finished with a high-tech coating that "cleans easy" while encouraging patina from flame ignition
• Weight is 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg)
• Measures just over 27.5 inches (70 cm) long
• Widths = 1.38 inches (3.5 cm) to 3.94 inches (10 cm) 
• The smooth, groovy "waves" enable even nerveuse/nerveux torchbearers to get a grip
• While the torch exterior and assembly is tous Français, the inner workings rely in-part upon engineering used for the Tokyo 2020 torch design as well as fabrication in partnership with Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal, which built the public art/attraction "Orbit Tower" at London 2012's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and will install the cauldron as well as monumental Olympic rings of steel at iconic Parisian sites.

One surprisingly petit number for the Paris 2024 torches is the quantity produced: Only 2,000, which was a conscientious decision by organizers in the name of sustainability. 

I personally wondered, but stopped short of asking, whether they realize this vast reduction from over 10,000 may make the collector's market go fou furieux (berserk), but then, their mission had nothing to do with the relay's likely aftermarket. 

When more than one reporter pressed about the quantity, organizers explained that "some" (dozens? hundreds?) replica torches of the original size will be made, but not carried in the relay, for sponsor, educational/museum or ceremonial purposes. Miniature replica torches also will be produced, presumably for retail sale. 

Now that LVMH signed on as a Paris 2024 sponsor, maybe the torchbearer uniforms will be touched by Dior or Louis Vuitton.

Back to the inspiration behind Lehanneur & Co.'s bold work: In terms of equality, the parity of female:male entrants at Paris 2024 led to the reflective, symmetrical design from the center of the torch outward. 

In addition to the seas and oceans the flame will cross, Paris' "backbone" the Seine and "waves, reliefs and vibrations" influenced the fluid forms that resemble the "Ocean Memories" series of surreal furnishings in his New York studio's portfolio. 

Finally, the soft curves, rounded edges and gold touches via the 2024 Games' blended Olympic/Paralympic logo are intended to convey generosity and peace to those who witness the relay.

"Our intention was to break away from past designs" which Lehanneur described as "vaselike" or typically featuring a larger diameter at the flame end in the last several Olympiads. 

Videos posted to the design firm's Instagram account show some of the wind tests and other engineering feats -- such as slicing one of the "flame slips" with a steel cutting device -- are impressive. 

"Form is the substance which rises to the surface," said one of the greatest French writers of all time. Of the Paris 2024 torch design, I think Victor Hugo would, and all of France should, be proud. 

Most photos via Paris 2024 press preview documents; Eiffel Tower reflection image by Piotr Jacqewski/Getty Images.