2020 Summer Olympics Cauldron | |
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Artist | Oki Sato |
Year | 2020 |
Location | Tokyo, Japan |
35°40′N139°49′E / 35.667°N 139.817°E |
The 2020 Summer Olympics cauldron was made for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. In fact, there were two cauldrons, one inside the Olympic Stadium that was used only at the (opening and closing ceremony only) and the actual one, which was located on Tokyo's new waterfront on Ariake West Canal, which was lit after the Opening Ceremony and remained alight throughout the Games. [1] [2] The cauldron was designed by Canadian-Japanese designer Oki Sato, who attended Waseda University, the same university as Yoshinori Sakai, the cauldron-lighter in 1964. [3] The steps to reach the cauldron, symbolising Mount Fuji, were "designed to evoke the image of a blooming sakura flower." [4]
Designed by Nendo founder Oki Sato, the white cauldron evokes the opening ceremony's concept of "All gather under the sun, all are equal, and all receive energy". The panels opened to reveal the Olympic torch, at the ending of the opening ceremony, and was lit by Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka. "At the end of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, the cauldron 'blooms' to welcome the final torchbearer," said Nendo. "This expresses not only the sun itself, but also the energy and vitality that can be obtained from it, such as plants sprouting, flowers blooming, and hands opening wide toward the sky." [5]
The cauldron's flame was the first at the Olympics to burn hydrogen as a fuel. The hydrogen was produced via the electrolysis of water using solar power produced at a plant in the Fukushima Prefecture. Hydrogen produced by this process is known as green hydrogen. The hydrogen burns with an invisible, colourless flame unlike propane, which has is traditionally used as a fuel in previous Olympic flames. In order to create a yellow and visible flame, sodium carbonate is sprayed. "[We] adjusted the movement and shape of the flame to shimmer like firewood was stoked; such an attempt to 'design flames' was unprecedented." said Nendo firm.
After the 2020 Summer Olympics, the true waterfront cauldron has remained in place as a reminder of the Games, as in 2016. [6]
The Olympic flame is a symbol used in the Olympic movement. It is also a symbol of continuity between ancient and modern games. Several months before the Olympic Games, the Olympic flame is lit at Olympia, Greece. This ceremony starts the Olympic torch relay, which formally ends with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The flame then continues to burn in the cauldron for the duration of the Games, until it is extinguished during the Olympic closing ceremony.
The 2020 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXXII Olympiad and officially branded as Tokyo 2020, were an international multi-sport event held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some preliminary events that began on 21 July 2021. Tokyo was selected as the host city during the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 7 September 2013.
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The Olympic Games ceremonies of the Ancient Olympic Games were an integral part of these Games; the modern Olympic games have opening, closing, and medal ceremonies. Some of the elements of the modern ceremonies date back to the Ancient Games from which the Modern Olympics draw their ancestry. An example of this is the prominence of Greece in both the opening and closing ceremonies. During the 2004 Games, the medal winners received a crown of olive branches, which was a direct reference to the Ancient Games, in which the victor's prize was an olive wreath. The various elements of the ceremonies are mandated by the Olympic Charter, and cannot be changed by the host nation. This requirement of seeking the approval of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) includes the artistic portion of opening and closing ceremonies.
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The 2020 Summer Paralympics, branded as the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, was an international multi-sport parasports event held from 24 August to 5 September 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. They were the 16th Summer Paralympic Games as organized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
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The 2020 Summer Olympics, officially known as the "Games of the XXXII Olympiad", was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan, from 23 July to 8 August 2021. Originally scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020, it was postponed in March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and was held largely behind closed doors with no spectators permitted under the state of emergency. Despite being rescheduled for 2021, the event retains the Tokyo 2020 name for marketing and branding purposes.
The closing ceremony of the 2020 Summer Olympics took place in the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo for about two and a half hours from 20:00 (JST) on 8 August 2021. The closing ceremony of the Olympic Games, which was postponed for one year due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, was held without spectators. The scale was also reduced compared to past ceremonies as athletes were required to leave the Olympic Village 48 hours after their competitions finished.
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The 2008 Summer Olympics cauldron is the Olympic flame holder that was used during the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China. It was first lit on August 8, 2008, as part of the opening ceremony of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad and last extinguished as part of the closing ceremony of the games of the Paralympics on September 17. Originally located on the inside roof of the Beijing National Stadium, it was relocated to outside the stadium on the Olympic Green following the completion of the Games.
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Oki Sato is a Japanese architect, designer, and the founder of the Nendo design studio. He was born in Toronto, Canada, attended Waseda University in Tokyo and graduated in 2002 with a Masters of Arts degree in architecture. He subsequently founded Nendo in his parents garage in Tokyo. He has said that "Design is about making decisions. A person can only make a certain amount of decisions each day, [i]t's really important to keep your mind empty."
The Ariake West Canal is a canal located between Ariake, Koto-ku, in Tokyo and Odaiba, Minato-ku.
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