The French Olympic Committee commissioned Mathieu Lehanneur (fr) (born 1974),[1][2] to design the cauldron, torch, and ceremonial cauldrons along the torch relay route: Lehanneur developed a concept of having these three items symbolise France's national motto, "Liberté, égalité, fraternité" ("Liberty, equality, fraternity"), and gold, silver, and bronze medals respectively.

Instead, the presence of the Olympic flame was simulated via an LED lighting system, consisting of 40 lamps illuminating a cloud of mist generated by 200 water jets.

[13] During the Olympic opening ceremony, the ring was lit by judoka Teddy Riner and sprinter Marie-José Pérec of Guadeloupe.

During the Paralympic opening ceremony, French Paralympians Alexis Hanquinquant, Nantenin Keïta, Charles-Antoine Kouakou, Fabien Lamirault, and Élodie Lorandi lit the cauldron.

[19] The cauldron has been acclaimed for its poetic symbolism, modern environmental consciousness, and the way it integrates French history into the global spirit of the Olympics.