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Almaty | St. Petersburg | London | Paris | San Francisco | Buenos Aires | Dar es Salaam | Muscat | Islamabad | New Delhi | Bangkok | Kuala Lumpur | Jakarta | Canberra | Nagano | Pyongyang | Ho Chi Minh City | Hong Kong | Macau
1st leg of the Torch Relay- Almaty, 2 April 2008
The first torchbearer in Almaty, where the Olympic torch arrived for the first time ever, was the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbaev. The route ran 20 km from Medeo stadium to Astana Square. Among other 79 torchbearers were Olympic champions Bakhtiyar Artayev, Yermakhan Ibraimov (boxing), Yuriy Melnichenko, Zaksylik Ushkempirov (wrestling), Anatoly Khrapaty (weightlifting); the first Olympic champion for independent Kazakhstan Vladimir Smirnov (cross-country skiing) skied his lap on a special artificial snow track; famous Kazakh singer Roza Rymbaeva ran her lap singing a song about Kazakhstan.
The Relay team in Beijing, set to depart for Almaty, Kazakhstan.1st leg of the Torch Relay- Almaty, 2 April 2008
The first torchbearer in Almaty, where the Olympic torch arrived for the first time ever, was the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbaev. The route ran 20 km from Medeo stadium to Astana Square. Among other 79 torchbearers were Olympic champions Bakhtiyar Artayev, Yermakhan Ibraimov (boxing), Yuriy Melnichenko, Zaksylik Ushkempirov (wrestling), Anatoly Khrapaty (weightlifting); the first Olympic champion for independent Kazakhstan Vladimir Smirnov (cross-country skiing) skied his lap on a special artificial snow track; famous Kazakh singer Roza Rymbaeva ran her lap singing a song about Kazakhstan.
The Relay team in Beijing, set to depart for Almaty, Kazakhstan.Videos
The international leg of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay is the longest in Olympic history. The route touches 6 continents in under one month. From its beginnings in Olympia, Greece
The Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay will traverse the longest distance, cover the greatest area and include the largest number of people, according to plans released 26 April 2007 during a grand ceremony held in the China Millennium Monument in Beijing by BOCOG, the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of XXIX Olympiad.
Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch
General pattern. The Beijing Olympic Torch boasts strong Chinese characteristics, and showcases Chinese design and technical capabilities. It embodies the concepts of a Green Olympics, a High-tech Olympics and the People's Olympics.
The torch is 72 centimeters high, weighs 985 grams and is made of aluminum.
The torch is of a curved surface form, with etching and anodizing being used during its production.
A torch can usually keep burning for approximately 15 minutes in conditions where the flame is 25 to 30 centimeters high in a windless environment.
The torch has been produced to withstand winds of up to 65 kilometres per hour and to stay alight in rain up to 50mm an hour. The flame can be identified and photographed in sunshine and areas of extreme brightness.
The fuel is propane which is in accordance with environmental guidelines. The material of its form is recyclable.
Top view.
Bottom view. Artistic and Technical Features of the Torch
The torch of the Beijing Olympic Games has a very strong Chinese flavor. It demonstrates the artistic and technical level of China. It also conveys the message of a Green Olympics, a High-tech Olympics and the People's Olympics.
The shape of the paper scroll and the lucky clouds graphic, expresses the idea of harmony. Its stable burning technique and adaptability to the environment have reached a new technical level.
The torch of the Beijing Olympic Games is designed, researched and produced in China. BOCOG owns all intellectual property rights.
Reverse Design
Obverse Design Under the concept of a Green Olympics, environmental protection was a key element listed in the invitation documents to the design companies, by BOCOG.
The fuel of the torch is propane, which is a common fuel which also comes with a low price. It is composed of carbon and hydrogen.
No material, except carbon dioxide and water remain after the burning, eliminating any risk of pollution.
The burning system of the torch is designed by China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation. Its stable burning technique and adaptability to the environment have reached a new technical level. It can stay alight in severe weather conditions such as strong wind, rain, snow, hail, etc.
The flame can also be identified in sunshine and areas of extreme brightness so as to satisfy the requirements of capturing photographic images and video footage.
2005 August BOCOG developed the design concepts and requirements of the torch.
2005 December BOCOG recruited potential torch designs from the design society. In total, BOCOG received 388 pieces of works.
2006 June-August BOCOG selected the structural designer and the burning system designer.
2007 January Beijing Olympic Torch was approved by IOC
The torch stand is used to display and support the torch, and its design borrows from the architectural styles of the Han and Tang dynasties. The base design of the torch stand shows "lucky clouds" drifting away, as if gently calling out to the torch.
Map of the torch relay.
Click on image to see actual size.The Olympic Torch Relay (OTR) is one of the strongest links between the Modern Olympic Movement and the Ancient Olympic Games, and may be considered the second most important communications tool after the Games themselves. The Olympic flame is lit in Olympia, Greece, from rays of the sun in traditional ceremony among the ruins of the original Olympic stadium. The flame is carried back to the newest host country, and may travel in the Olympic Torch Relay for up to 100 days, spreading the message of humanity and light integral to the Games.
One of the highlights of this leg will be the attempt to bring the Olympic Flame to the highest peak in the world Mt. 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 torchbearer team 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.
Arrival of Olympic Flame at Mt. Qomolangma
The transport of the Olympic Flame to Mt. Qomolangma was an undertaking made by China when it was bidding for the Olympics. It symbolized the Beijing Olympic Games desire to take the Olympic Flame to new heights and to celebrate the best of human achievement. The desire also symbolizes the three concepts of the 2008 Olympic Games: a Green Games, a High-tech Games and the People's Games. It symbolizes the victory of the human spirit to be able to persevere, overcome obstacles and attain their goals. The ascent will also highlight the beautiful landscape of Tibet, not unlike how the underwater portion of the 2000 Olympic Torch Rely showcased the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
Because of the specific weather conditions at Mt. Qomolangma, the arrival of the Olympic Flame at Mt. Qomolangma may span 3 months. Considering the uncertainty of many aspects at Mt. Qomolangma and the fact that it will not affect the whole torch relay program, the IOC approved the following plan.
During the arrival ceremony for the flame into China on March 31, 2008, one of the lanterns with the Olympic Flame will be kept in Beijing. The mountaineering teams and torchbearers will climb the mountain in May 2008 when the weather conditions are expected to be suitable for the ascent. As the flame is about to reach the top of Mt Qomolangma, the domestic relay will be suspended for the period in makes it final ascent. This is to avoid two relays occurring at the same time.
After its arrival at the summit of Mt. Qomolangma, the flame will travel back to Lasa and await the arrival of the domestic relay when it will be rejoined with that flame.
The Torch Relay lantern will be used to store the Olympic flame. Its main purposes will be to receive the Olympic flame kindled in Olympia, to light the Olympic torch and to exhibit the sacred flame.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) requires the flame remain lit during the entire course of the Torch Relay in order to protect the sanctity of the Olympic flame and the purity of the Torch Relay. If the torch flame should be extinguished, it must be relit using the mother flame stored in the lantern. This is to ensure that the flame used to light the Olympic cauldron at the Opening Ceremony comes from the sacred Olympic flame kindled in Olympia.
The inspiration for the original design of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay lantern comes from the traditional lanterns used inside ancient Chinese palaces. The silver luster of the lantern coupled with crystal-clear glass serve as a foil to the flame and communicates the Olympic flame's sanctity and purity.
The Torch Relay for the 2008 Beijing Olympics will be the longest torch relay in Olympic history- an 85,000-mile, 130-day route that would cross five continents and scale Mount Everest.
The planned route, revealed by Luo Gan, member of the standing committee of the Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee, joined by International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, would last 130 days and travel 137,000 kilometers.
Validated by IOC, the Olympic Flame will be lit in Olympia, Greece according to tradition on March 25, 2008. From March 25 - 30, the Torch Relay will travel across Greece, ending at the Panathinaiko Stadium, the site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. After the handover ceremony in the stadium, the Olympic Flame will arrive in Beijing on March 31, 2008. In Beijing, a ceremony will be held for the arrival of the flame into China and Beijing 2008 Olympic torch relay will commence.
The Route will pass through these cities:
International Leg Domestic Leg (within China) 25 March Olympia, Greece 2 May Hong Kong 30 March Athens, Greece 3 May Macau 31 March Beijing, China May- August 2 April Almaty, Kazakhstan Hainan Sanya, Wuzhishan, Wanning, Haikou 3 April Istanbul, Turkey Guangdong Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Huizhou, Shantou 5 April St. Petersburg, Russia Fujian Fuzhou, Quanzhou, Xiamen, Longyan 6 April London, UK Jiangxi Ruijin, Jinggagshan, Nanchang 7 April Paris, France Zhejiang Wenzhou, Ningbo, Hangzhou, Shaoxing, Jiaxing 9 April San Francisco, US Shanghai 11 April Buenos Aires, Argentina Jiangsu Suzhou, Nantong, Taizhou, Yangzhou, Nanjing 13 April Dar es Salam, Tanzania Anhui Hefei, Huainan, Wuhu, Jixi, Huangshan 14 April Muscat, Oman Hubei Wuhan, Yichang, Jingzhou 16 April Islamabad, Pakistan Hunan Yueyang, Changsha, Shaoshan 17 April New Delhi, India Guangxi Zhuang Guilin, Nanning, Baise 19 April Bangkok, Thailand Yunnan Kunming, Lijiang 21 April Kuala Lampur, Malaysia Guizhou Guiyang, Kaili, Zunyi 22 April Jakarta, Indonesia Chongqing 29 April Canberra, Australia Sichuan Guang'an, Mianyang, Guanghan, Leshan, Zigong, Yibin, Chengdu 26 April Nagano, Japan Tibet (Xigaze) Shannan, Lhasa 27 April Seoul, South Korea Qinghai Golmud, Qinghai Hu, Xining 28 April Pyongyang, North Korea Xinjiang Uygur Ürümqi, Kashi, Shihezi, Changji 29 April Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Gansu Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, Jiuquan, Tianshui, Lanzhou Ningxia Hui Zhongwei, Wuzhong, Yinchuan Shaanxi Yan'an, Yangling, Xianyang, Xi'an Shanxi Yuncheng, Pingyao, Taiyuan, Datong Inner Mongolia (Nei Menggu) Hohhot, Ordos, Baotou, Chifeng Heilongjiang Qiqihar, Daqing, Harbin Jilin Songyuan, Changchun, Jilin, Yanji Liaoning Shenyang, Benxi, Liaoyang, Anshan, Dalian Shandong Yantai, Weihai, Qingdao, Rizhao, Linyi, Qufu, Tai'an, Jinan Henan Shangqiu, Kaifeng, Zhengzhou, Luoyang, Anyang Hebei Shijiazhuang, Qinhuangdao, Tangshan Tianjin Beijing
The Torch Relay Graphic of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The torch relay graphic is one of the key image elements for the torch relay of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The torch relay graphic together with the torch relay symbol, torch relay colors, torch relay fonts, and torch relay slogan, forms the basic image of the torch relay of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. These elements will be applied in the torch relay image & look designs, including the torch relay uniforms, torch relay convoys, torch relay publications and the city landscape design of the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. They will create a unique visual image for the torch relay of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, spread Chinese culture and the torch relay theme, and build an excellent environment for the torch relay. The elements will create a celebrative atmosphere throughout the cities which the relay will pass, promote the sanctity of the Olympic flame, encourage Torchbearers and Escorts Runners, enhance people's experience of the torch relay, and to provide a visual setting for the recording and broadcasting or the torch relay to the world.
The design concept of the torch relay graphic
Phoenix is the king of birds and belongs to Fire in Five Elements. It is the spirit of fire. The soaring phoenix with graceful bearing and dignified air is the totem of fire. The legend "phoenix nirvana and rebirth out of ash" also symbolizes man's constant striving spirit.
Down the ages, "Long" (Chinese dragon) and "Phoenix" are the traditional totems embedded with people's blessing and hope.
Phoenix has left a deep imprint in Chinese civilization. The auspice and hope represented by it has always been a part of people's daily life.
Visual creation concept: Passion, Vigor, Culture and Celebration.
In conformity with the concept of "People's Olympics" of the Beijing Games, we aim to express Chinese people's hospitality in inviting the world and blessing the world, to exhibit the vitality and passion of the Olympic Games, and to deliver China's long history and unique culture with modern technique.
According to this design concept, we determined our ultimate goal as under the guidance of the basic values of the Olympic Games, taking the unique culture of the host country and host city as the basis of the visual design, to create a Chinese humanistic style, unique and vigorous core graphic for the Olympic Games.
Logo of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay. The torch relay graphic is comprised of the core graphic of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and the traditional Chinese phoenix pattern.
The torch relay graphic comprises the lucky cloud pattern exquisitely with the phoenix pattern, achieving the effect of vivid and distant. The modern design deeply expresses the unique integration of hardness and softness, implicitness and elegance in traditional Chinese arts.
The phoenix joins the great Olympiad, brining the hope of luck and peace to the world, representing the core connotation of the torch relay graphic.
Relay Symbol
The Logo of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay owes much of its inspiration to the traditional concept of "fire phoenix", and presents the image of two runners holding the Olympic Flame high. As ancient Chinese legend has it, phoenix is the king of all birds, and symbolizes good fortune, eternity, nobility and happiness. The use of the phoenix image in the Torch Relay logo conveys the idea that the Torch Relay will send the best wishes from the Beijing Olympic Games to people all over China and the rest of the world.
Slogan of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay. The theme of the relay is "Journey of Harmony".
The theme embodies the Olympic ideal of 'placing sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity'. 'Harmony' boasts strong Chinese characteristics, and expresses the traditional Chinese philosophy in pursuit of a balance between man and nature, among people and between man's body and soul. It also supports Chinese people's wish of building a harmonious society of enduring peace and common prosperity.
The slogan of the relay is "Light the Passion Share the Dream".
The slogan is highly expressive of the theme and distinctive in sentence structure. "Light the passion" captures the spirit of Olympic Torch Relay and is inspiring. "Share the Dream" falls within Olympic language terminology and correlates with the staging concepts of the Beijing Olympic Games and its "One World One Dream" slogan. The slogan is simple, meaningful and easy to remember, read and share.
Cauldron
The Olympic cauldron plays a major role in the Olympic Torch Relay. The lighting of the Olympic cauldron symbolizes the end of the Olympic Torch Relay and the beginning of the Olympic celebration.
The Beijing Olympic cauldron is based on the concept of a "round heaven and square earth" and takes after a typical cauldron from the Chinese Bronze Age. The cauldron shares with the torch and lantern the design element of the "lucky cloud."
The 56 "lucky clouds" hollowed out of the curved plate of the Olympic cauldron symbolize well wishes to the world from the 56 ethnic groups in China. The base of the cauldron has four legs with eight faces, symbolizing that the Beijing Olympic Games welcomes friends from all directions across the world. The Olympic cauldron stands 130 centimeters high, symbolizing the 130-day duration of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay. The cauldron plate is 29 centimeters deep, symbolizing the 29th Olympiad. The cauldron post is 112 centimeters tall, symbolizing the 112 years that have passed between the staging of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and the 2008 Olympic Games.
- http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/image/flash/
- Flash presentation complete with detail information and interactive 3D views of the torch is available on the Official Beijing 2008 Olympics website.
- http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn
- Official website of the torch relay.