What happened to the London Olympic torch?

The cauldron was relit in its new spot by Austin Playfoot, who had carried an Olympic torch in both the 1948 and 2012 Games. For the closing ceremony, the operation of the cauldron was played in reverse: it opened out until flat on the ground, and the flames in the petals extinguished one by one.

Why does the Olympic torch never go out?

Some legends hold that it has been kept burning ever since the first Olympic Games. In truth, it is relit a few months before each new Olympic Games. Many see the Olympic flame as a symbol of the life and competitive spirit of the Olympic Games. In that sense, one could say that the flame never goes out.

Does the Olympic torch never go out?

Has the Olympic torch ever gone out? You may be wondering what happens if the flame goes out. Believe it or not, it’s actually rare for that to happen. But lanterns containing flames from the lighting ceremony are available during the relay if needed.

How long does it take to pass the Olympic torch?

The relay took 12 days, beginning with the flame ceremony in Olympia and passing through seven countries taking part in the Games—Greece, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Germany, and their capitals. The 3,075-kilometer relay was completed solely by runners.

How many London Olympic torches are there?

8,000
This source will in turn ignite every one of the 8,000 three-sided aluminium alloy torches carried by bearers between Saturday and 27 July, when an as-yet unnamed final carrier lights the cauldron inside the Olympic stadium. Throughout the relay only a single flame will be visible to the public at any one time.

Why is the Olympic flame so small?

But famed Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou, the director behind the opening ceremony, told multiple Chinese media outlets the smaller flame had to defy Olympic traditions to reduce carbon emissions.

Does the Olympic torch always stay lit?

And however the flame arrives at its final destination—relit once, several times, or miraculously intact—it remains burning until the Olympic closing ceremony. Then it’s formally extinguished to mark the end of that season’s Games.

Why are there no Olympic cauldrons?

(The cauldron) is nothing rare. And because it’s visually too small, it has lost its solemn status in people’s heart,” wrote user “uncle without ambition” on China’s Twitter-like Weibo social media platform. Others appreciated the design and thought the cauldron was the show’s highlight.