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1984 Olympic Games Relay Torch RARE

Currency:USD Category:Memorabilia / Sports - Olympics Start Price:50.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
1984 Olympic Games Relay Torch RARE
1984 Olympic games RARE relay torch. The body of the torch is in bronze-tinted aluminum. The Olympic motto, “Citius Altius Fortius”, is featured at the top of the torch with a representation of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum peristyle below it. The leather-covered handled has a metal ring which bears the caption: “Games of the XXIII Olympiad Los Angeles 1984”. The emblem of the Games features twice on the piece where the handle finishes at the base of the torch.
Torches were numbered sequentially and inscribed with the Olympic motto, Citius, Altius, Fortius. The 22-inch (56-centimeter) torch weighs two pounds, four ounces and was fueled by hospital-quality propane which could burn up to 50 minutes. The flame was wind resistant up to 40 miles per hour and could also withstand light rain.
Carried for the 1984 Summer Olympic games by the late Bary Levy of Los Angeles, CA. Barry Levy was on the Olympic Organizing Committee. This torch was used by him in the torch relay and from his large Olympics memorabilia collection. The 1984 Summer Olympics torch relay was run from May 8 until July 28, prior to the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. It was commonly referred to as the AT&T Olympic Torch Relay, reflecting the lead sponsor of the event. The relay crossed the United States from New York City to Los Angeles, with 3,636 torchbearers running with the torch along a 9,375-mile (15,088 km) route. It was by far the longest Olympic torch relay that had been organized up to that point, creating the precedent for the Olympic flame to tour all parts of the host country rather than traveling directly to the opening ceremony.
It was the first torch relay to be funded primarily by corporate sponsorships. It was also the first time that ordinary members of the public, rather than carefully selected teams of runners, were permitted to carry the Olympic torch. Through the "Youth Legacy Kilometer" program, any person or group which donated $3,000 to selected charities would be permitted to run with the torch for 1 kilometer (0.62 mi). The program raised nearly $11 million for the YMCA of the USA, the Boys Club of America, the Girls Club of America, and the Special Olympics.
The relay culminated in the Olympics' opening ceremony on July 28. Rafer Johnson was the final torchbearer who lit the cauldron, becoming the first Black athlete in history to do so.
From the collection of the late Barry Levy who was on several Olympics Organizing Committees. Several other Olympic and sports memorabilia in this auction are also from his collection.