This is one design that truly stands out in a crowd. The Beijing Olympic Torch design has a number of very interesting characteristics, as it was made to be environmentally responsible, durable, and representative of Chinese artistic style.

Visually, it resembles a traditional paper scroll with the lucky cloud patten, symbolising harmony. It's construction enables the flame to withstand unfavorable conditions and remain visible in both photographs and videos. The propane-fueld flame is produces carbon dioxide and water as a byproduct, lowering the level of pollution.

Visit the olympic website for an interactive look at the torch design.

Source: http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn

Torch-related links

• New York Times interactive evolution of the Olympic torch
• National Geographic News: Olympic Torch Tech

Torch-related downloads

• IOC brochure on the history of Olympic Flame (1 MB PDF)