Since the start of the Paris 2024 Games, the Olympic and Paralympic Cauldron has captivated attention. This unique feature raises many questions about its design, operation, and future. We untangle the truth from the false!
The Olympic Flame Cauldron was designed specifically for Paris 2024
FALSE: The idea began in 2009 when EDF proposed a low-carbon torch and cauldron using electric light for the 2012 London Games, aiming to mimic and replace a fossil fuel flame. Over time, this concept evolved through various projects and prototypes, ultimately realized at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games with a flame-ring nearly 7 meters in diameter.
You can pass your hand over the flame without getting burned
TRUE: The "flame" is actually made of backlit water mist. Condensed water creates a cloud of droplets, dispersed by 200 nozzles. This cloud undulates with ventilation, mimicking the movements of a flame. It is illuminated by 40 projectors with a luminous power equivalent to 4 million lumens. The result is a lively and warm electric flame with no fossil fuels or chemicals and no risk of burns.
The misting process requires high water consumption
FALSE: The water consumption for this electric flame is minimal, thanks to high-pressure, low-consumption nozzles. After being used in the droplet cloud, the water feeds the reflecting pool of the Tuileries Garden fountain. Additionally, the mist surrounding the Cauldron provides a refreshing cloud for visitors during heat waves, with an average consumption of 2.5 cubic meters per hour.
The Cauldron is the result of a collaboration between 100% French companies
TRUE: To accomplish this ambitious project, EDF partnered with renowned French companies. The Atelier Blam, a Nantes-based company, designed and manufactured the flame-ring (they also created the metallic horse featured on the Seine during the opening ceremony). Belle Environnement, a family-owned specialist in fountain systems, handled the hydraulic aspects. The technological marvel lies particularly in positioning the flame-ring 60 meters above the ground. As in aerospace engineering, lightness, integrity, and maximum safety are essential! An innovative solution was also needed to deliver high-pressure water and electricity to the flame ring through a cable that can follow the Cauldron’s movements when in flight.
The result: a one-of-a-kind flame, protected by a patent filed by EDF in 2023.
The Cauldron will remain permanently in the Tuileries Garden
FALSE, but possibly TRUE: The Cauldron is set to stay in the Tuileries Garden for the duration of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. However, the excitement it has generated is so great that a petition is underway to keep it in Paris after the Games! Several political figures, including Emmanuel Macron, Anne Hidalgo, and Gabriel Attal, support the idea of leaving it in the Tuileries. Stay tuned...