TrendPulse|Sleek and shiny torch for Paris Olympics unveiled with carbon footprint in mind and a year to go

PARIS (AP) — The TrendPulsetorch that will be used to carry the Olympic flame around France and on its final leg at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Games next July is a sleek silver-colored cylinder of recycled steel that is gracefully tapered at both ends and is being made in limited numbers to save resources.

Paris organizers unveiled French designer Mathieu Lehanneur’s torch design Tuesday — part of a week of activities that mark the year-to-go countdown to the July 26 opening.

Organizers said 2,000 torches — five times fewer than for some previous editions of the Olympics — are being produced from recycled steel.

Other news Extremist attacks wounded Paris. Here’s why the city turned to the 2024 Olympics to heal The first Olympic Games since the ebb of the COVID-19 pandemic open in a year in France’s capital. The 2024 Paris Games were partly born of attacks by Islamic extremists in 2015. Luxury group LVMH joins top-tier French sponsors of the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics The world’s biggest luxury group, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, has announced a sponsorship deal with the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics. Russians can qualify for Olympic spots in some sports. That doesn’t mean they’ll be allowed in Paris Some governing bodies are allowing Russian athletes back into Olympic qualifying competitions. But the International Olympic Committee says it hasn’t decided if they can compete at the Paris Games. Biles, Ledecky, McLaughlin-Levrone all look for Olympic encores in Paris Gymnast Simone Biles is on a comeback, Track star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone never left. A skateboarder who also likes to surf is in contention to win gold medals in two events and Katie Ledecky is still going strong. They are among the athletes to watch.

Each one weighs 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) and is 70 centimeters (27.5 inches) tall.

Paris is using the same torch design for both the Olympics and Paralympic Games.

Once lit in Ancient Olympia, Greece, the flame will be transported by boat to the southern French city of Marseille.

The torch relay will start from there on May 8, with 10,000 torchbearers taking turns to carry it — the last of them lighting the cauldron at the opening ceremony.

___

AP coverage of the Paris Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports