London 2012's gold torch has already been likened to a wastepaper bin, hotel ashtray, ice cream cone and melted-down Argos jewellery. But unlike the Argos tat- it's very unlikely that this torch will make past Olympic hosts green.
The torch’s gold-coloured aluminium frame, adorned with a discreet London 2012 logo, contains 8000 holes, representing each of the runners who will carry the flame for the 70 days it is transported around the United Kingdom and Ireland. The three sides represent the three London Olympics: 1908, 1948 and the imminent 2012, as well as the Olympic motto – “higher, faster, stronger” - somewhat like that Kanye tune... The designers wanted the beacon to resemble a piece of sporting equipment rather than a trophy. I guess the shape does some-what mirror a cricket bat, but the torch- for me, resembles something rather like the student trusty cheese-grater with its pyramid shape and its polka dot holes. Sorry designers but to say "at least it doesn't look like a sex toy" just doesn't really cut it.
But what were previous designs?
London's 1948 design was very much the epitome of the masculine torch- imagine the wooden stick with the ball of burning cloth on top- held by the Neanderthal man.
The last torch holders;Beijing and their 2008 beacon was colourful and bold and resembled all the oriental promise that the opening games fulfilled. A piece of art that burnt bright and raised the temperature for the games follow.
Back in its home town of Athens in 2004, the Olympic torch was sleek and modern-neither to be condemned or exalted. Greece played it safe.
My favourite beacon has to be Sydney's 2000 Olympic torch with its sleek, modern and sophisticated design it is all Australia claims to be.
But the giant-spliff, vuvuzela, cheese-grater, wastepaper bin come ice cream cone stands as 2012s beacon of hope. Lets hope our opening games and contestants don't follow in the beacons footsteps.
-ZB
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