1996 Olympic Torch
PartTwo: Design Concept
The ancient Greeks called a truce so the Olympic Games could take place. The runners, called heralds of peace, traveled Greece proclaiming the beginning of the truce. In 1936 the organizers of the Olympic Games incorporated a torch lit in Olympia by the rays of the sun to tie in the ancient heritage of the modern Olympic Games. This tradition has continued with each new Olympics and the torch and the torch relay have become more spectacular. With the torch relay passing close to 90% of all US residents this aspect of the games has become the largest event, save for the opening and closing ceremonies and the games themselves.
|
 For the 1996 Olympic Torch, a visual concept in the form of a rough model had been executed by Peter Mastrogiannis, graphic designer with Malcolm Greer Associates in Providence, RI. Peter's concept was representative of a bundle of "reeds" bound by twine. The design featured a wooden handle in the middle, which made for better balance, and a shaft resembling a Classical Greek column below. The Atlanta Olympic logo and "quilt of leaves were to be inscribed on one gold ring and the names of each of the 22 host cities of the modern Olympic Games were to be featured on a second gold ring. We were given a target cost of $300.00 per torch, including the cost of the Georgia Tech design team, and asked to create a torch which would weigh under four pounds and burn with a visible flame for at least 30 minutes.
|
Olympic Torch 
Ceremonial Cauldron ... Izzy
... Olympic Torch ... Olympic Cauldron
... Landmark Torch ... Olympic Identity Program
