Rare Olympic Torches Discovered In Charity Shop
Two rare torches, from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics, were spotted in a charity shop in the North of England, and purchased by an anonymous sports fan. Now, they are set to take their place among over 1,000 lots of sporting memorabilia in our Four Day Themed Sporting Memorabilia Auction, alongside Olympic medals, historic football shirts, and other iconic pieces of sporting history.
“The fact that an item as significant as an Olympic torch could be tucked away in a charity shop is incredible. It’s like finding a needle in a whole field of haystacks The Tokyo 2020 torch is particularly special, as it represents a moment in time when the world came to a standstill. It’s not just a piece of sporting memorabilia, it’s a reminder of a truly unprecedented period in global history.” - David Convery, Head of Sporting Memorabilia, Graham Budd Auctions.
The Tokyo 2020 torch, designed in a striking rose gold finish inspired by Japan’s cherry blossoms, was originally intended to journey through cities across Japan before the Games. However, when the pandemic struck, the Olympic relay was halted and the Games were postponed, marking the first time an Olympic event was delayed in peacetime. The torch has been valued at an estimate of £5,000 - £8,000.
The 2016 Rio torch, which has a sleek white and blue design with fluid lines representing Brazil’s natural beauty, was a crucial part of the first-ever Olympic Games to be held in South America and has an estimated value of £1,000-1,500.
Other highlight lots going under the hammer include:
