Beijing will light the Olympic flame for a second time with a "flying ribbon" torch, whose ethereal yet dynamic design was unveiled as the symbol of the 2022 Winter Games on Thursday.
The torch made its debut at a ceremony at an iconic Beijing Olympic venue, the National Aquatics Center, on the day marking the start of the one-year countdown to the opening of the Winter Games on Feb 4, 2022.
Developed by a creative team from e-commerce giant Alibaba, the torch spirals upward to create the image of two overlapping, fluttering ribbons. The inner, red ribbon evokes rising flames, to which the silver-plated outer ribbon creates a striking contrast.
The design is meant to convey dynamism and vitality and present a metaphor for fire and ice, in a way that will bring light and warmth to the winter sports gala.
The torch features the Beijing 2022 emblem and the Olympic rings etched on its upper section, with red patterns of clouds painted on the bottom gradually evolving into snowflakes.
As the torch turns, the whirling red line inside gives the appearance of stretching endlessly, representing mankind's relentless pursuit of brightness, peace, excellence and the values promoted by the Olympic Movement, organizers said.
"By introducing the torch at the start of the one-year countdown, we expect to kindle the enthusiasm and anticipation for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games all around the world," said Wang Xiangyu, deputy director of the Culture and Ceremonies Department of the Beijing 2022 organizing committee.
"The successful design of the torch has proved again that the Olympics always set the stage for the integration of sports, culture, art and science," Wang said.
Using a combustion system developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, the torch's flame, fueled by eco-friendly hydrogen, was designed and has undergone rigorous testing to burn reliably in all weather conditions and to withstand strong winds and extreme, low temperatures.
The torch is made of carbon-fiber materials developed by Sinopec and is light in weight and resistant to high temperatures.
To honor Beijing's status as the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics, the 2022 torch features a design similar to the 2008 Games' main cauldron, which resembled a giant scroll, highlighting the Olympic spirit's legacy in the Chinese capital.
The cloud patterns covering the handle also drew inspiration from the main visual element of the 2008 torch, according to the design team.
"By using the same color combination and by sharing similar artistic elements with the 2008 torch, we aim to extend auspicious greetings to the world as we did at the Summer Games and to showcase Beijing's rich Olympic culture," said Li Jianye, the designer of the torch's appearance, from Alibaba.
Sharing the same structure and patterns, the torch for the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, which was also unveiled on Thursday, features a gold and silver color scheme. The bottom of the torch is engraved with Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Braille.
Another design highlight allows both torches to lock into each other at the top when bearers exchange the flame during the Torch Relay, symbolizing Beijing 2022's vision to promote mutual understanding and respect between different cultures.
The final design was selected from 182 entries in a global competition that started in April 2020 and was approved by the International Olympic Committee's Executive Board on Dec 7.
The combination of Chinese aesthetic value, traditional cultural connotations and advanced technology helped the winning design stand out, according to one of the judges.
"The current design strikes a perfect balance between the expression of the host nation's culture, Olympism and the demonstration of the latest industrial technology," said Lu Xiaobo, a member on the judging panel and dean of the Academy of Arts and Design at Tsinghua University.
Planning for the Torch Relay and selection of torchbearers for the Games are underway, with detailed information to be released in due course, according to the Beijing 2022 organizing committee.
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