Olympic Cauldron Extinguished so it can be Relocated

The flame's Cauldron, a symbol of the Olympic Movement, has been put out so it can be moved from the center of the stadium to a new position, still on the stadium. This happened last night, 29th July, 2012 at 9pm, and it is definitely not normal. The Olympic Cauldron is supposed to burn throughout the Gaming period.

The Olympic cauldron after the flame had been extinguished last night. It was put out about 9pm and re-lit in its new position at 7.50am this morning

The Organisers confirmed it was put out temporarily in order that the 28 feet high structure be moved to the edge of the stadium. LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe also added that the Cauldron is not a tourist attraction and that is probably the reason for it being positioned in the Stadium.

Torchbearer Austin Playfoot, 82, who was also in the 1948 torch relay, re-lights the cauldron this morning after it was moved to the edge of the Olympic Stadium

The cauldron, designed by Thomas Heatherwick out of copper and silver, and it took seven young athletes to light it up at the opening ceremony on Friday. This was after a 70-day torch relay covering 8,000 miles and all corners of Britain.  It was however re-lit at 7.50am this morning although it kept burning in a miners' lamp overnight. 

The new position of the cauldron will make it easier for both track and field events to take place in the stadium

The Cauldron, made up of 204 steel pipes and individually designed copper petals with each country's name inscribed on them, now stands at the southern end of the stadium, ahead of the finish line for the 100m and in the same place where the giant bell marked the start of the Opening Ceremony. At the end of the Games, the cauldron is to be dismantled  each of the copper petals will be returned to the competing 204 National Olympic Committees to keep.


Courtesy:
Story by Louise Eccles and Adam Shergold, DailyMail