Torino 2006, torch

The design concept of the Turin 2006 torch is innovative. It is a modern reinterpretation of the traditional torch made of wood. The flame envelopes the body of the torch, instead of coming out of a hole at the top, as had been the case in the past. The fruit of advanced technology, it was produced to meet certain very precise criteria. It can be lit and remain alight in poor weather conditions such as rain, snow and wind. The flame of each torch burns for 15 minutes and must not be higher than 10 centimetres.

Paolo Pininfarina: “I was looking for dynamism to escape the perfect symmetry of previous models. It represents Italy, our territory, nature, the leaves of our trees. The object is a good compromise between the aesthetic and industrial demands we set ourselves. The torch is minimalist but hides state-of-the-art technology, like the burner we invented (...) The outer shell is made of aluminium alloy covered with a polymer resin which can withstand high temperatures. Snow and rain are no problem, and the flame does not go out, even with gusts of 120kmh.”

Pininfarina’s torch obtained the “Lorenzo il Magnifico” award, the highest distinction of the Biennale, with the following citation: “Lorenzo de Medici ‘Il Magnifico’ bows before the beauty of pure synthesis of the Olympic torch born from the multiform Turin-type genius and from the sublime master of design, Pininfarina”.