Engineering news
Engineers and designers have less than a week left to register for a chance to design and manufacture the London 2012 Olympic Torch.
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is looking for designers and engineers to make 8,000 Olympic torches for the London 2012 games.
The committee wants design consultancies, engineering firms and manufacturers to register their interest in developing and manufacturing the iconic torch at www.competefor.com.
At least 8,000 Olympic Torches will be needed to keep the Olympic flame burning while it travels around the UK during the 70 day relay in the build up to the start of the 2012 Olympics in East London. Designing and developing the Paralympic Torch as well as lanterns, mini cauldrons and other related products for both Torch Relays are also part of the three separate briefs for design, engineering and manufacture.
Paul Deighton, chief executive of LOCOG said: “The creation of the torches to carry the Olympic and Paralympic Flame is a unique opportunity for London 2012 to literally shine a light on the UK’s best design, engineering and manufacturing talent.
We are looking for an expert team to create the torches that will be held by thousands of people that represent the very best of our nation as the UK begins its Olympic and Paralympic celebrations with the Torch Relays in the summer of 2012.”
LOCOG is partnering with the Design Council to encourage designers to participate. Engineering firms and manufacturers can submit expressions of interest at www.competefor.com until midnight on Sunday 22 August 2010.
LOCOG, the Design Council, Olympic and Paralympic sport, will form a panel within the next month to shortlist five designers, who will receive a detailed brief and funding to develop their design of the Torches, from which the winning design will be chosen in October. The panel will also select the successful engineers and manufacturers to take forward the production of the torches and other accessories.
The Olympic and Paralympic torches will be unveiled in 2011 as part of the celebrations to mark ‘one year to go’ to the start of each of the Torch Relays.
Responses to one of the three briefs, two briefs or, indeed, all three briefs are welcomed from both individual companies and consortia. LOCOG and the Design Council will help to match up companies if necessary to assemble the very best team to deliver the suite of products.