Living up to its nickname, the “City of Lights,” Paris dazzled under a veil of rain on Friday night, as the 2024 Olympic Games kicked off in a truly unprecedented fashion. For the first time ever, the opening ceremony unfolded outside the confines of a stadium, with spectacular light displays, pyrotechnics, and live performances illuminating the banks of the River Seine. Among the highlights was Céline Dion’s tribute to Edith Piaf from the Eiffel Tower. Yet, it was the lighting of the Olympic cauldron that truly stole the spotlight.
The Olympic cauldron, a fixture of the Games since Amsterdam 1928, saw a novel twist in its design for Paris 2024. What sets this year’s cauldron apart?
Olympics Day 1 Live Updates
Unlike traditional cauldrons, which are grounded at a prominent location near the main venue for the duration of the Games, Paris has introduced a groundbreaking hot air balloon design. This innovative cauldron will float gracefully above the city, suspended in the sky, particularly during evening events.
During the day, the cauldron will be stationed at the Tuileries Gardens. In the evening, the hot air balloon mechanism will elevate the cauldron to a height of 30 meters, with the cauldron itself reaching up to 60 meters above the ground.
The cauldron’s base features a 7-meter-diameter ring symbolizing fraternity, one of the core values of the French Republic. This ring encases the Olympic flame.
How the Floating Olympic Cauldron Works
The Paris 2024 cauldron is powered by electricity rather than fossil fuels. This year, 40 LED lights around the base ring project onto a mist of water vapor, created by 200 high-pressure nozzles, producing the flickering effect of real flames.
Designer Mathieu Lehanneur described the cauldron as embodying the spirit of the Games. “It’s light, magical, and unifying—a beacon in the night and a sun within reach during the day. The flame, made of light and water, is like a cool oasis in the heart of summer,” he said.
The electrical and water systems are supplied from the ground to the floating structure, thanks to Paris 2024 partner EDF.
Luc Rémont, Chairman and CEO of EDF, praised the innovation: “For the first time, the Paris 2024 cauldron will shine with a 100 percent electric flame. This ‘electric revolution’ is a result of the incredible work by our teams and designer Mathieu Lehanneur, creating a flame without fossil fuels—just water and light.”
Published By:
Cricket Khabhar
Published On:
July 27, 2024