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2010 Winter Olympics cauldron

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Coordinates: 49°17′22″N 123°07′04″W / 49.289371°N 123.117685°W / 49.289371; -123.117685
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2010 Winter Olympics cauldron
The public cauldron at Jack Poole Plaza in 2022.
Map
LocationVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
TypeCauldron

The 2010 Winter Olympics cauldron was erected for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. A version of the cauldron was used as part of the opening ceremony at BC Place, while a permanent, public cauldron was constructed in Jack Poole Plaza, in compliance with protocol stating that the lighting of the Olympic flame should be visible outdoors to the public.

Design and construction

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The cauldron was designed by Canadian aerospace manufacturer Bombardier, alongside the torches used for the torch relay; it consists of four, crystal-like "arms" and a central burner.[1] During the opening ceremony at BC Place, the four arms were to emerge from doors in the stadium floor, with each arm jointly lit by the final four torchbearers: Catriona Le May Doan, Steve Nash, Nancy Greene, and Wayne Gretzky. However, a technical glitch with the system controlling the doors caused only three of the arms to rise—inadvertently leaving out Le May Doan.[2] The glitch was referenced and rectified during the prologue to the closing ceremony, where a mime "repaired" the cauldron, allowing Le May Doan to finally light it.[3][4]

The partially-raised cauldron during the opening ceremony at BC Place.

The protocol specified by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) states that the lighting of the Olympic flame must be witnessed by those in attendance of the opening ceremony, and should be visible outside to the residents of the host city. The latter was not possible because this was the first Olympic opening ceremony to take place in an indoor stadium.[5][6] Prior to the ceremony, the manufacturing firm Axton, Inc. was contracted by VANOC to construct a permanent replica of the cauldron in Jack Poole Plaza on the mezzanine of the Vancouver Convention Centre; it was constructed from steel, polycarbonate, and glass, with each of its arms being 16 metres (54 feet) long, and the entire cauldron standing 9.4 metres (31 feet) tall. Its burners were manufactured by FCT Flames, which had provided the burners for past Olympic cauldrons.[7][8]

The public cauldron was manufactured under a 14-week deadline, and assembled under a scaffolding concealed by tarps during the lead-up to the opening ceremony.[7][8] Following the conclusion of the opening ceremony, Gretzky was transported by truck to Jack Poole Plaza to light the public cauldron.[9][7]

Controversially, public access to the cauldron was restricted during the Games, with the plaza being protected by fencing that also obstructed photos. The fences were later moved closer to the cauldron, and modified to include viewing windows.[7][10]

After the Games

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Following the 2010 Winter Paralympics, the cauldron's base was renovated to enhance its appearance and help deter vandalism, adding a reflecting pool with water fountains, along with additional security systems.[7][8]

The glass exterior of one of the arms was vandalized in 2022, requiring $50,000 in repairs.[11]

The cauldron's flames are re-lit for special occasions, including Canada Day, Remembrance Day, and subsequent Olympic Games.[7][8]

Legacy

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Fearing a repeat of the issues that manifested in the 2010 opening ceremony, Danny Boyle—director of the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony—told designer Thomas Heatherwick in a brief on his task to design the Games' cauldron, "whatever you do, no moving parts." Ultimately, the cauldron would be a very intricate design with a large number of moving parts, including individual stems and flames representing each participating country. Of the design, Heatherwick said that “when we proposed the most moving parts ever in an Olympic cauldron, we were nervous and feeling a bit guilty about that. But the same man who’d said that to us was the first person to say yes.”[12][13] A part of the cauldron malfunctioned during the final rehearsal—a development that the team deliberately withheld from Heatherwick.[14]

The notion of a second "public" cauldron outside of the ceremonies venue has been revisited by subsequent Olympiads:

References

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  1. ^ "Bombardier unveiled as official Olympic torch and flame cauldron maker". Ottawa Citizen. 2008-06-16. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  2. ^ "Anxious moments during cauldron malfunction". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2010-02-14. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  3. ^ Killeen, Mike (2020-02-13). "Tragedy, glitches, redemption: Reliving the 2010 Olympic ceremonies through John Furlong's eyes". CBC News. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  4. ^ Kines, Lindsay (March 1, 2010). ""These Games have lifted us up," Furlong tells Olympians". The Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  5. ^ "2010 Opening Ceremony: Colour, culture, Gretzky and the accidental tripod". Vancouver Sun. CanWest Publishing. Feb 13, 2010. Archived from the original on 15 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
  6. ^ "Vancouver Olympics Open With Indoor Ceremonies". NPR. February 12, 2010. Archived from the original on August 11, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Behind the secret project to build Vancouver Olympic Cauldron". Daily Hive. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  8. ^ a b c d Nassar, Hana Mae (2020-02-15). "Built in secret, Olympic cauldron now sits as one of Vancouver's most iconic landmarks". CityNews Vancouver. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  9. ^ Crawford, Tiffany (February 13, 2010). "People chase Gretzky through the streets of Vancouver". Vancouver Sun. CanWest Publishing. Archived from the original on February 16, 2010.
  10. ^ "Keeping the cauldron at bay". CBC News. 2010-02-19. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  11. ^ "$50,000 cost to repair smashed glass of Vancouver Olympic Cauldron". Daily Hive. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  12. ^ Nayeri, Farah (19 November 2012). "Olympic Cauldron Designer Heatherwick Looks to Future". Bloomberg. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  13. ^ Danny Boyle: Creating Wonder Amy Raphael, London: Faber and Faber, 2013, p. 406
  14. ^ Jones, Sam (29 July 2012). "Betty the Olympic cauldron moves away from centre stage". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  15. ^ Brunhuber, Kim (12 August 2016). "Formerly homeless boy who lit Olympic cauldron now has 'beautiful life'". CBC.ca. Archived from the original on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  16. ^ Klotz, Fabio (6 August 2016). "Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima se eterniza como herói e ganha a medalha de ouro" [Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima immortalizes himself as an Olympic hero and 'wins' gold]. O Dia. Archived from the original on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016..
  17. ^ "Rio Olympic cauldron may be moved during Games; medal design approved". NBC Sports. 2016-03-08. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  18. ^ "Olympic Flame finds permanent home for Games at Tokyo waterfront area". www.insidethegames.biz. 2021-07-24. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  19. ^ "Uyghur athlete lights Olympic Cauldron as Beijing 2022 officially opens". Inside the Games. 4 February 2022. Archived from the original on 4 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  20. ^ Flatman, Ben (July 30, 2024). "French Designer Behind Innovative Olympic Cauldron That 'Burns' Without a Flame". Building Design. Retrieved September 11, 2024. Free access icon
  21. ^ Katsikopoulou, Myrto (29 August 2024). "Mathieu Lehanneur's Balloon-Shaped Cauldron Rises to Celebrate the Paralympics' Opening". Designboom. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
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49°17′22″N 123°07′04″W / 49.289371°N 123.117685°W / 49.289371; -123.117685

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