LA2028 Cauldron

[AustralianFan]

As we know the iconic towering Cauldron on top of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which was used with great effect at the Los Angeles  Games of 1932 and 1984 will again be ignited at the City of Angels third Olympic Games in 2028.

Whether their is a “partner Cauldron” or not (?) at Sofi Stadium and/or another Los Angeles location during the coming 2028 Opening Ceremonies, remains to be seen.

In this era of diminishing sized Olympic and Paralympic Cauldrons and Flame sizes, or Cauldrons without a flame such as at Paris 2024, is it possible and cost effective to in 2028 use an environmentally friendly gas such as the hydrogen used in the Tokyo 2020 Cauldron?

[AustralianFan]

As you said @Cyriln over in the Paris 202 cauldron thread 

On 10/2/2025 at 2:28 PM, Cyriln said:

Could LA's cauldron be modified and used as a symbol of switching from fossil fuels to cleaner sources of energy?

In any case, it's impossible for Olympics to say both "we want to be greener" and "here's our main landmark: fossil fuel burning for 16 days". And it can be a way for any Games sponsor in the energy sector to promote itself: EDF advertised A LOT about its electric cauldron.

[baron-pierreIV]

Unless the mechanism of the LA Memorial COliseum cauldron is already severely compromised, the outside cannot be altered because the peristyle end of the Coliseum is considered a National Landmark, hence--short of legislation--untouchable.  Further, 

#1 - I don't know if there is much room inside the main plinth to allow for a change of machinery from fossil fuels to whatever is a cleaner alternative.  And

#2 - At most, if climate is already too hot come July 2028, then, just curtail the use of the gas.  There is what is called "Performance or Ceremonial" burn (full-blast and probably about a minute or so) and then there is the "normal" burn which doesn't have to be extravagant but merely a nice flame.  And 

#3 - Budget.  Would say the overhaul of the system (piping, etc., etc.) cost, say, at least $500,000 be proportionate to the use of the cauldron?  

Or could they do a holographic substitute instead??  That is for more professional minds to figure out.  

[AustralianFan]

Yes not sure if such a gas replacenent is even being looked at behind the scenes for torches and cauldrons at LA2028? At LA Memorial Coliseum is it possible to use a friendly gas such as hydrogen in the existing gas lines up the peristyle  to the Cauldron without compromising the structure?

The flame at Tokyo 2020 burned differently in it’s appearance and “ignition” shape, and kind of looked a bit closer to the afterburner flame on a jet fighter. But in the end the LA Memorial Coliseum Cauldron would still look good with a hyrdogen powered gas flame.

Tokyo 2020’s hydrogen powered Cauldron:   NBC Olympics.com

 

[AustralianFan]

“ Biopropane “ was an environmentally friendly gas used in the Torches of the Paris 2024 Games. 

 

  Is it possible for Biopropane to be used to for both the LA2028 Cauldron and Torches?

As a recent U.S. Department of Energy announcement on a renewable propane request for information stated,  ”Did you know biopropane is lighting up this summer’s Paris Olympics, projected to be the most sustainable Olympics to date? Fueling the Olympic torch, renewable propane is helping to reduce the carbon footprint of the Torch Relay” Credit:  Propane.com

Can LA2028 use Biopropane?  Image of the  Paris 2024 Torch powered by “Biopropane” at the OC.