The Olympic cauldron at the Paris 2024 Games features a notable innovation: it is powered entirely by electricity. Lit during the opening ceremony by two famous French Olympians, the cauldron was elevated into the night sky by a hot air balloon, a nod to the pioneering Mongolfier brothers who launched the first hot air balloons in 1783 in Paris.
The cauldron's flame is created by 40 LED spotlights illuminating water vapor from 200 high-pressure misting nozzles, aligning with Paris 2024's goal to be the greenest Olympics ever. For the first time, the cauldron can also fly, as it did during the opening ceremony. It is placed in a central, green space in Paris, accessible to the public with tickets issued for specific viewing times.
The organizers expect 10,000 visitors daily, reflecting the Games' motto "wide open" while maintaining orderliness.
Vocabulary:
• Cauldron: A large metal pot or container.
• Balloon: A flexible bag filled with gas, making it float in the air.
• Illuminating: Lighting up or making something visible.
• Vapor: A substance in the gas phase at a temperature lower than its critical temperature.
• Motto: A short sentence or phrase that expresses a belief or purpose.
• Greenest: Most environmentally friendly.
• Beacon: A light or signal that guides or warns.
Source: CBC News