Unveiling the process: the creation of the Paris 2024 Olympic, Paralympic Torches, Rings, and Agitos revealed
In a historic first, the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games are set to dazzle the world with a blend of tradition and modernity, sustainability, and innovative design. ArcelorMittal, a global steelmaking company, has taken the lead in this groundbreaking endeavour, creating mini-cauldrons that collect the flame from the Paralympic Torches during the relay.
The torch design for the Paris 2024 Paralympics aligns with the city's goal to halve the environmental impact compared to previous Olympic Games. The torch was crafted in collaboration with French artist Mathieu Lehanneur, who described the torch, cauldron, and Olympic cauldron as chapters in one great story, embodying the spirit of the Paris Games.
The video series 'The Steel and the Torch', released by ArcelorMittal, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process and leadership behind the design. The first episode introduces the challenges of intertwining traditions and the ancient origins of the games with a contemporary twist. The second episode, 'The Manufacture', focuses on the manufacturing process of the Paralympic torches in recycled steel.
The cauldron takes the form of a ring of fire suspended above a liquid surface, appearing to float and reflected in its metallic base. Unlike traditional cauldrons, this one does not use combustion fuel but is illuminated electrically by 40 computer-controlled LEDs shining through a water/aerosol spray ring, symbolizing sustainability while referencing France's ballooning history with a helium sphere resembling a hot air balloon. The actual flame burns in a lantern displayed next to the cauldron, maintaining tradition while innovating on environmental impact.
The Paralympic Torch relay split into 12 separate flames upon its arrival in Calais, France, and journeyed through 50 cities in France from August 25 to August 28, 2024. The Paralympics in Paris started on August 28, 2024, and were preceded by a four-day Torch relay that started in Stoke Mandeville in England.
The Paralympic torches, cauldrons, and Olympic cauldron can be seen on display across Paris' famous landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. The final episode of the series, 'The Spectaculars', showcases the top-secret production and installation of the Olympic Rings and Paralympic Agitos.
The Paris 2024 Games prioritize a design philosophy blending French cultural history, innovation in illumination and sustainability, and careful symbolic references—especially evident in the cauldron concept and supported by the creative direction of the ceremonies and broader Games visual identity. The design ethos of elevated symbolism combined with modern production techniques can also be seen in the Olympic and Paralympic logos designed by Sylvain Boyer and Royalties Ecobranding, which integrate iconic French imagery such as Marianne alongside the Olympic flame and medal symbolism.
By using recycled scrap material in the torch production, the carbon footprint is significantly reduced, making the Paris 2024 Games not only a spectacle of sports but also a testament to sustainable innovation.
Sports enthusiasts may find interest in the innovative design of the Paralympic torches for the Paris 2024 Games, which incorporate sports-betting elements as spectators can predict the color sequence of the LED lights on the cauldron, adding a new layer of engagement to the events.
The LED lights on the cauldron of the Paris 2024 Paralympics, represented in the 'The Steel and the Torch' video series by ArcelorMittal, can be interpreted as a symbol of sports-betting, as they offer an opportunity for spectators to predict their colors.
