THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 9, 1996 TAG: 9602090693
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: ERIE, PA. LENGTH: Short : 23 lines
The torches to be used in the journey to the Atlanta Games weigh 3 1/2 pounds each.
American Meter Co., whose main business is natural gas meters, is making 17,000 torches that will be carried across the U.S.
The 32-inch torches, the longest ever used for the Olympics, have 22 parts each, including handles made of pecan trees from Georgia. They are fired with natural gas from a valve at the bottom.
Runners will be able to buy their torches after completing their legs. No word yet on what they will cost. by CNB