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What is the big torch in Atlanta?

Author

Sarah Smith

Published Jan 06, 2026

Beloved or not, Anderson's Olympic torch tower has become a fixture of Atlanta's low-level skyline, a visual landmark that if nothing else serves as a conversation starter that begs the question, “WhatIzIt?” (Olympic pun intended).

Is the Olympic torch still in Atlanta?

Georgia State University lit the iconic cauldron in celebration of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic U.S. Marathon Trials that took place in downtown Atlanta back in February 2020. The cauldron sits just outside Georgia State Stadium at the intersection of Capitol Avenue and Fulton Street.

Does the Olympic flame ever go out?

It is not uncommon for the Olympic flame to be accidentally or deliberately extinguished during the course of the torch relay (and on at least one occasion the cauldron itself has gone out during the Games).

What happens to the Olympic flame?

The flame is lit according to the ancient method of the sun's rays in the parabolic mirror. The Olympic flame can only be lit in this way. The flame is placed in an urn and transported into the ancient stadium where it is given to the first runner by the high priestess responsible for this operation.

How many times has the Olympic flame went out?

The Olympic cauldron itself has been extinguished by accident once, when a rainstorm hit the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It was initially re-lit using a cigarette lighter, before being extinguished again and re-lit using a backup flame.

15 related questions found

Why is the Olympic flame so small?

China's Olympic opening ceremony director: We had a small flame on purpose Back to video. The faint flame reflected unity and the original aspiration of human beings, said Zhang Yimou. “The cauldron and the lighting process have surprised many people.

How many people carried the torch to the opening ceremony location 2022?

The relay is scheduled between February 2 and 4, 2022 (date of the opening of the Games) with the participation of 1,200 torchbearers. The three host zones of the Games Beijing's city proper, Beijing's Yanqing District and the city of Zhangjiakou in the neighboring Hebei Province will welcome this traditional relay.

Who lit the Olympic flame 2022?

“Dinigeer Yilamujiang has the right to participate in the Games and all ceremonies as an Olympian for Beijing 2022,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said this week.

Who is the torch bearer Olympics 2022?

The 2022 Winter Olympics kicked off Friday in spectacular fashion as one of the final torchbearers in the opening ceremony was revealed to be Uyghur cross-country skier Dinigeer Yilamujiang.

How do they keep the Olympic flame lit?

A parabolic mirror and the sun's heat are used to light the awaiting torch (and if the day of the lighting isn't particularly sunny, officials will pull out a backup flame, lit using the same method a day or two earlier).

Who lit the Olympic torch 2021?

Tennis star Naomi Osaka of Japan had the distinct honour of serving as the final torchbearer of the Olympic Torch Relay, lighting the cauldron inside Olympic Stadium for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 in 2021.

How is the Olympic flame transported?

The flame is placed into a specially designed container for flights. This looks a bit like a miner's lamp. Several of these lamps are placed on the aircraft, then, if one has an issue, it can be extinguished without the flame being lost.

Who lit the Olympic torch in Atlanta?

July 19, 1996: Muhammad Ali holds the torch before lighting the Olympic Flame during the Opening Ceremony of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. It is a moment that so many across the U.S. will never forget, especially Olympian Janet Evans.

Where is the Olympic torch in Georgia?

Savannah's Olympic Torch

The riverfront sculpture is a monument to Savannah's role as host of the Yachting events of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. The stunning monument serves as a lasting memorial on the city's beautiful waterfront promenade.

Who lit the torch in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics?

Twenty five years ago, the opening ceremony of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games held in Atlanta. The unforgettable, unexpected, gasp drawing moment, the great Muhammad Ali lighting the Olympic caldron.

Where is the Olympic torch right now 2022?

Beijing 2022The Torch

Beijing is the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. The design of the 2022 torch honours the Olympic legacy in the Chinese capital by featuring a similar design to the cauldron of the 2008 Olympic Games, which looked like a giant scroll.

Who was the final torch bearer?

John Mark was the final torchbearer at the Opening Ceremony of the London Olympics, three years after WWII.

What does the Olympic flame 2022 look like?

What does the Beijing 2022 torch looks like? The 2022 torch design is reminiscent of the 2008 Summer Games cauldron which was shaped like a giant ribbon. Its spiral construction resembling a floating ribbon echoes its name "Flying". The emblem of Beijing 2022 rests on the central portion of the torch.

How old is the Olympic flame?

A burning flame has been part of the modern Olympics since 1928, but the tradition goes all the way back to the ancient Games in Greece. So the Olympic flame lighting ceremony, which was first incorporated along with the torch relay for the 1936 Berlin Games, is held at the ancient Olympic site of Olympia in Greece.

Where is the Olympic flame from?

The flame is one of the most important symbols of the Olympic Games. It represents the fire Prometheus stole from the Greek god Zeus. In fact, the tradition of lighting a flame started in ancient Greece. Back then, organizers of the games kept a flame burning throughout the events.

What happens if the Olympic torch goes out?

However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) keeps backup lanterns on hand that were lit from the same flame as the Olympic torch at the original ceremony back in Olympia. The IOC has a protocol in place for relighting an extinguished torch.

How much is Olympic torch worth?

Torch selling price and Olympic Games: 1980 Lake Placid: $38,250. 1976 Innsbruck: $25,124. 2020 Tokyo: $18,529.

What does the red line on the Olympic torch represent?

The swirling red line across the body of the torch represents the following: the winding Great Wall; the Games ski slopes; and humanity's relentless quest for light, peace and excellence.