Torch snapped up
An Olympic torch has sold on eBay for £153,100 just one day after the first leg of the torch relay.
By Lia Hervey
Last Updated: 21/05/12 6:18am
An Olympic torch has sold on eBay for £153,100 just one day after the first leg of the torch relay.
The internet auction finished at 10.30pm on Sunday. The seller whose username is "milnersimonds" had 166 bids on their Olympic torch. The winning bidder was anonymous.
The seller had listed the Olympic torch as being "used in the torch relay" and mentioned that "the torch may be soot marked from its moments alight".
The seller was also selling a torch bearer's uniform in size small.
There were also over 30 other auctions on the auction website for Olympic torches - many of which popped up following the sale at 10.30pm.
One torch was going for £10,600 with 16 hours to go. Another was on for £4,100 with 14 hours to go.
One seller had put their torch up for sale with a starting bid of £100,000 but at 10.30pm there had been no bidders. Another had a starting price of £50,000 again with no bidders.
Memorabilia
The 8,000 torchbearers who were chosen to carry the Olympic flame on its journey across the UK were nominated to run a leg of the Olympic torch because they'd done something brave or inspirational in their communities.
Organisers had previously said they would sell the Olympic torches at a loss to the bearers. They had cost £495 to make and torchbearers could buy theirs after the relay at £215 each so they could keep a bit of memorabilia.
But it seems some torchbearers decided to choose profit over nostalgia.
A spokesperson from Locog said torchbearers were allowed to sell their torches on eBay.
"It is up to torchbearers what they do with their torches, and we hope the torches on eBay go to a good home," she said.
