This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/30/2023
For the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics, a team of designers and engineers from Georgia Tech were tasked with creating a modern and symbolic Olympic Torch. It incorporated a glass crown and tapered body with vines in the shape of a stalactite. When lit, it resembled a fiery icicle in motion. The torch weighs 3 lbs. (6.6 kg) and measures 32 1/2" (83 cm) in length. It has three distinct sections: a 5" top section of grooved glass with an interior flame protector made of copper; a 15" midsection of silver-colored cast alloy engraved with the 2002 Winter Games logo, Olympic rings and "SALT LAKE 2002"; and finally a 12" bottom section of shiny silver aluminum etched with the theme of these Games, "light the fire within." The diameter expands from a 1/2 inch at the bottom to around 3 1/2 inches at the oval flame opening on top. Inscribed on the top of the flame protector is "SALT LAKE 2002 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES".
The torch comes with its internal fuel canister and remains in very good shape. The glass crown remains uncracked and has dicolored slightly due to combustion. The glue keeping the shiny aluminum handle affixed to the silver allow midsection has weakened. This can easily be fixed with stronger glue. Overall, it displays medium-heavy usage from the flame relay, which went across Greece and the U.S. The 1980 "Miracle on Ice" U.S. Men's gold medal hockey team lit the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremonies, marking the first time an entire team was chosen for such an important task. A sticker affixed to shaft reads "040" presumably to denote the edition number of the torch or perhaps the numerical order of this particular flame carrier.</p>