Comment:  Classy and modern, nice blend.  However, I was about to choke myself when the first reaction I got from spotting the black circular design (for the flame part) was: ou, the symbol from Naruto (symbol of the Leaf Village)... I think I should get away from manga/anime for a while...

Article:
Can a computer company design a torch? Yes, according to the committee behind the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, which has selected a design by China-headquartered PC manufacturer Lenovo as the model for the games' iconic torch. According to a press conference on Thursday morning hosted by Lenovo, which is also a worldwide sponsor of the Olympics, the design was chosen from over 300 contenders.

According to Lenovo, the torch design took ten months and was the product of more than 30 engineers and design specialists. The end result, called "The Cloud of Promise," incorporates elements of both modern design and traditional Chinese culture. It's modeled off the design of a scroll--remember, China is the birthplace of paper as we know it--and is decorated with red lacquer and cloud motifs derived from Chinese art traditions. Lenovo's representatives stressed that like its PCs, the Olympic torch has been designed with both aesthetics and functionality in mind. The streamlined, 28-inch-long torch is a light load, weighing only 2.2 pounds. The company is touting it as the most technologically-advanced Olympic torch yet.

Keeping in tradition with the Olympic Games since 1936, the torch will be lit in Olympia, Greece. The 2008 version will then travel through 20 countries beginning in March, followed by Taiwan, Macao, and Hong Kong before reaching China.

Lenovo has planned to incorporate its Olympic sponsorship and torch design connections into its marketing and publicity campaigns, and hinted at the press conference that it's possible that the "Cloud of Promise" design may be used in a PC design sometime in the near future.

Despite the fact that it was designed by a high-tech company, the torch will still be lit by plain old fire. A question at the press conference inquired, "Are there any semiconductors inside?" and was met with some good-natured laughter.

Source: Crave



北京奥运会火炬以漆红为主体色，红色祥云图纹在亮银底色下从火炬正中部向上升腾。和谐而鲜明的设计，不仅强烈体现出中国传统艺术与现代设计的交融，而且与北京奥运会的主景观保持了完美的一致。 -北京奥运会火炬采用了一系列先进的设计理念和工艺，运用了高品质纯铝自由曲面延展成型，立体蚀纹雕刻，独创的双色氧化着色，以及金属表面高触感橡胶漆喷涂等多种领先工艺。

在北京奥运会火炬的设计中体现了联想一贯坚持的人本理念，无论是火炬的高度(720mm)、重量(985克)，还是握柄尺寸(截面 50mm*40mm)和握手搬的触感都追求最便捷、舒适的感受，透露出人文关怀。北京奥组委相关负责人表示：“每一届奥运会的火炬都是奥运精神和举办国文化的结晶，联想集团设计的北京奥运会火炬不仅体现了中国文化的哲学理念，同时也象征着科技奥运、人文奥运和绿色奥运的和谐统一。相信伴随着奥运会全球接力，它将更加有效地促进北京奥运和中国文化在全球的传播。”

北京奥运会火炬设计由来自联想创新设计中心的34名设计师组成的国际团队历时1年多合作完成，共有来自中国、德国、意大利和法国的设计师参与创作，跨越工业设计、平面设计、材料工程、机械工程、人类学和社会学等十大学科专业。在奥运会火炬设计的创作过程中，设计师在传承中寻求创新，不断探索，仔细推敲外观设计、制造过程和工艺控制流程中的每一个细节。最终，历经无数个不眠之夜，攻克了难以想象的技术难关，终于换来“祥云”火炬的诞生。

Source: sport.org.cn, qianlong.com

红色我喜欢!

上下连接太生硬了....
最好还能一体化一点

漂亮~

挺有特色的

加油中国