As olympic torches go, this one’s pretty sweet. The shell of The Torch for the games in Torino is aluminium alloy with the internal equipment in steel, copper and technopolymer. The surface finishing provides an embossing to make the grip easier and a special painting resistant to high temperatures. The Torch is stoked with a hydrocarbon mixture (propylene-butane) contained in a spray-type canister in standard aluminium.

The styling concept of the design by Italian firm Pininfarina is a modern reinterpretation of the traditional wooden torch in which the metal itself appears to catch fire and burn. When lit, the flame wraps the body of the Torch rather than coming out from a hole on the top, as in the past editions.

There’s only one little problem: it’s a bit heavy. At nearly 4.4 lbs (2 kilos), runners carrying the aluminium torch in relay across Italy to the opening ceremony say it is difficult to hold aloft for long.  core77

If you want to get your own, you can buy one on eBay.