Incredibly rare official Paris 2024 Summer Olympics torch—the first to be offered at auction—constructed of recycled steel, designed by Mathieu Lehanneur and manufactured by ArcelorMittal, featuring a perfectly symmetrical, flowing design that draws inspiration from three themes of Paris 2024: equality, water, and peacefulness. The torch measures 27.5˝ long and 4˝ at its widest point: the upper half sports a matte finish on a plain surface, with the Paris 2024 insignia and five Olympic rings below; the lower half features a reflective finish on a rippled surface, inspired by the serenity of the water on the majestic River Seine. In total, only 2,000 torches were produced by ArcelorMittal, five times less than what was used at other recent Games.
The torch is accompanied by an original Paris 2024 Summer Olympics torchbearer uniform, size XL, comprising a long-sleeve runner's jersey, with "Relais de La Flamme Olympique, Paris 2024" emblem on the chest and large 2024 logo across the shoulders, and white athletic pants with the 2024 relay emblem on the upper thigh.
The Olympic flame was lit in a traditional ceremony in Olympia, Greece, on April 16, 2024, and carried through Greece for more than 3,100 miles to Athens, where it boarded the Belem—a three-masted sailing ship—to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Marseille, where it embarked on its epic journey across France. The relay route takes the Olympic flame through some of France's most iconic places and architectural masterpieces, such as the Lascaux caves, the Alésia archaeological site, the medieval city of Carcassonne, the Palace of Versailles, and many other famous sites. The Olympic cauldron will be lit on July 26, 2024, at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, marking the end of the 68-day Olympic torch relay.
