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Olympic Flame to Burn Bright for China

The 2008 Olympic Games torch and torch relay were unveiled at a launching ceremony held on April 26, 2007, in Beijing, with the torch tube in the shape of a Chinese scroll containing a red and silver cloud-design.

BOCOG President Liu Qi said, “As a prelude to the Games, the torch relay is one of the most important ceremonies and a major means to spread and promote the Olympic spirit,” at a ceremony held at the China Millennium Monument. “As one of the grand ceremonies for the Beijing Olympic Games, the torch relay of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games has set its theme as the ‘Journey of Harmony’ and its slogan as ‘Light the Passion, Share the Dream’.”

The Olympic torch will be carried across all five continents, along the ancient “Silk Road” and through 135 cities, covering 137,000 kilometres over 130 days, the longest time the flame has ever been carried.

Liu said that Beijing Olympic Torch Relay will once again spread the Olympic spirit all over the world and demonstrate Chinese people’s passion for the Olympic Movement. He hopes the relay will “showcase the people, beautiful scenery, cultural heritage in countries, regions and cities along the relay route,” and “enhance mutual understanding and friendship among people of different countries.”

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) praised the planned route.

“By travelling along the ‘Silk Road,’ a symbol of ancient trade links between China and the rest of the world, crossing the five continents and going to new places, the Beijing 2008 Torch Relay will, as its theme says, be a ‘journey of harmony,’ bringing friendship and respect to people of different nationalities, races and creeds,” IOC President Jacques Rogge said.

“I have no doubt the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay will leave many extraordinary memories and create new dreams for people around the world.”

The Olympic flame will be lit in Olympia, Greece on March 25, 2008. From March 25–30, the torch will travel across Greece, ending at the Panathinaiko Stadium, the site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. After a handover ceremony in the stadium, the flame will arrive in Beijing on March 31.

World Olympic partners Coca-Cola, Samsung and Lenovo will serve as sponsors of the relay.

One of the highlights of this leg will be the attempt to bring the Olympic flame in May to the highest peak in the world—Mount Qomolangma. During the arrival ceremony for the flame into China on March 31, 2008, one of the lanterns with the Olympic flame will be kept aside. The torchbearers will then attempt to take the flame to the highest peak on a day in May that presents the best climatic conditions for the ascent.

“Lifting the Olympic flame to the peak of the world is one of our commitments in the bidding, which shows our respect for the Olympics,” BOCOG Executive Vice-President Jiang Xiaoyu said.

“To reach the peak of the mountain, athletes and torchbearers should make great efforts, which is in line with the Olympic spirit of ‘higher, stronger and faster’.”

BOCOG says carrying the Olympic flame to Mount Qomolangma would not affect the natural environment there.

“Green Olympics is one of the three concepts of the Beijing Games; we have issued a special environmental protection manual for Mount Qomolangma,” Jiang said. “The passing on the mountain will be a journey of green.”

The design of the torch takes advantage of Chinese artistic heritage and technological expertise. The design of the aluminium torch features traditional scrolls and “Lucky Clouds.”

The torch, enhanced by technological innovations, is said to be able to remain lit in winds of up to 65 kilometres an hour and in rains of up to 50 millimetres an hour. 

According to BOCOG, other technological advancements prevent colour discoloration and corrosion around the cone from which the flame burns. The torch construction is also environmentally conscious. The materials are recyclable, and the propane fuel meets environmental requirements.

“The Beijing Olympic torch contains distinctive Chinese cultural features, technical excellence and sophisticated materials. It will carry the friendship of Chinese people to the world and the Olympic spirit to the five continents and to the peak of Mt. Qomolangma,” said Liu.

“The torch and the Olympic Flame are symbols which embody the Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship. They inspire us to be the best we can be in all that we do,” said Rogge. “The magnificent design of the torch for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay will also add a very unique Chinese flavour to the relay, as the ‘Clouds of Promise’ carry the Beijing Games’ message to the world.”

The torch casting was designed by the Lenovo Creative Centre and the burning system inside the torch was designed by China Aerospace Science and Industry Group.