This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/11/2018
Featured here is a 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics torch used in the relay. The 2008 Summer Games torch relay, named "Journey of Harmony" by the organizers, lasted 130 days and carried the Olympic flame 137,000 km (85,000 mi), making it the longest distance covered since the relay tradition started at the 1936 Berlin Games. The lovely design owes much of its inspiration to the concept of "Lucky Cloud," which represents the thousand-year-old Chinese culture of harmony between man and nature. The paper scroll shape demonstrates one of the greatest inventions China has presented to the world. The application of "China red", a special shade of red which was first used on lacquerware in China's Han Dynasty around 2000 years ago, distinguishes the Beijing Olympic torch from all previous examples.
Composed of red anodized aluminum and rubber, it measures 72 cm (28.5") long and is 7.75 cm (3") at the flame opening, weighing around 2 lbs. "Beijing 2008" is inscribed both on the lovely red and silver spiraling section and on the plain red handle. The logo of these Games and the five Olympic rings appears near the top. The number of these torches made by the Lenovo Group of Beijing is quite large; however, they are not easy to find in the hobby. This particular torch shows some burnt darkening at the very top and has some sticky residue (that can easily be cleaned if one so chooses) along the solid red handle area from the propane that fueled it. Presents beautifully in NM overall condition. Does not include its presentation box.