Thomas Heatherwick’s London 2012 Olympic cauldron is lit

Thomas Heatherwick’s London 2012 Olympic cauldron has been lit as the Games get under way.

Cauldron

Source: Ceremonies Explorer

The cauldron was lit on 27 July at the end of the end of the Olympics opening ceremony, which was directed by Danny Boyle.

Cauldron

Source: Ceremonies Explorer

It was lit by seven young athletes, each selected by an Olympic Ambassador, after the Olympic torch had been carried into the stadium by five-times Olympic gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave. You can see the cauldron being lit here www.bbc.co.uk.

Cauldron

Source: Ceremonies Explorer

The design of the cauldron had been one of the most closely-guarded secrets of the opening ceremony.

Cauldron

Source: Ceremonies Explorer

When the competing delegations arrived in London, they each received a copper petal, inscribed with the name of their country and the words ‘XXX Olympiad London 2012’.

Cauldron

Source: Ceremonies Explorer

The carried these petals into the stadium during the opening ceremony before laying them down on the cauldron.

Cauldron

Source: Nick J Webb

When all the petals had been laid down, the seven torchbearers each ignited a single tiny flame within one of the copper petals on the ground, triggering the ignition of all 204 petals.

Cauldron

Source: Nick J Webb

The Cauldron’s long, stainless-steel stems then rose towards each other and converged to form one single flame.

The 16 tonne, 8.5m-high cauldron has now been moved to the south end of the Olympic Stadium, from its ceremony position in the centre of the field of play.

The flame was placed in a special miner’s lamp overnight as the cauldron was moved.

At the end of the Games, each team will take their petal home and the London 2012 Cauldron will cease to exist.

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  • phil.schofield November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    I don’t write to strangers or programmes and am not on a social website BUT I HAD to congratulate Thomas Heatherwick on his S T U N N I N G cauldron!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • jon bailey November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    The hilight for me – amazing piece of sculpture.

  • Mike Reed November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    D&AD Gold in the bag. A glorious, miraculous thing.

  • Roger Fuller November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    If this does not receive a D&AD Gold there is no justice. Totally, utterly – and, dare I use this overworked adjective? – AWESOME!

  • Art Donovan, Steampunk Curator November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Magnificent in both it’s concept and execution.

    Bravo, Mr. Heatherwick!

  • Graham Wileman November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Lump in my throat moment!

  • søren jacobsen November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    beautiful and a great idea, but I think its a total miss that the flame is not visible unless you go and get a ticket for the athletics arena…

  • melanie moore November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Simply stunning!

  • Gary November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    stunning work and a beautiful concept with the nominated torch bearers.

  • Louise Downer November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    The Olympic Cauldron. Fabulous concept, amazing use of materials; design at its very best. Congratulations Thomas Hetherwick!

  • Michele November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    So sad we will never see this beautiful work of art ever again after the London 2012 Olympics and paralympics end Id love to see small replicas of this beautiful cauldron on sale on ebay and in the shops so we can own one of our own to remember it by who agrees?

  • Michele November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Its a pity that once the olympics end we will never see this beautiful structure again why cant mini model versions of the cauldron be marketed on ebay etc for people to keep forever? Would anyone on here be interested in buying one shud a mini version be marketed?

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