[Shaun]

Indeed, which raises the question: who selected the runners and why

[lostalex]

It wouldn't be just a piece of metal to me. I think the torches from all the modern games are beautiful, they really are pieces of art imo.

Like i said before, i think for certain people (like me) they are amazing pieces of history, and i think it's wonderful that collectors have the chance to obtain them.

I would love to have one.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Livia

I thinking that, if you consider it as "just a piece of metal" and have no qualms about selling it to the highest bidder, perhaps you're not the ideal person to have been chosen to carry it in the first place.

150k is 150k..........that's a mortgage free house. I don't think I'll ever be asked to carry one anyway

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Shaun

Indeed, which raises the question: who selected the runners and why

I have no idea. I assumed that people would be chosen to whom being able to carry the torch in the relay would mean something more than cash. Quite naive of me really, I suppose.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

150k is 150k..........that's a mortgage free house. I don't think I'll ever be asked to carry one anyway

I understand that, I just think it's unethical and not at all within the spirit of being chosen to carry the torch.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Livia

I have no idea. I assumed that people would be chosen to whom being able to carry the torch in the relay would mean something more than cash. Quite naive of me really, I suppose.

just because someone decides to sell their torch does not mean that they didn't deserve the experience. everyone was specifically chosen for their service to the UK and they will have deserved the experience. selling the torch doesn't mean that they don't value the experience.

[Mrluvaluva]

An Olympic torch has sold on eBay for £153,100 just one day after the first leg of the relay.

Sarah Milner Simonds, of Burnham-on-Sea, listed the item as being "used in the torch relay" and mentioned that it "may be soot marked from its moments alight".

The internet auction finished on Sunday and the winning bidder, who goes by the username salvadorpete.

Ms Milner, who was also selling the torch bearer's uniform, is using the money for community gardening project The People's Plot.

Ms Milner says she has not yet received the money for the torch.

There were also over 30 other auctions on the site for Olympic torches - many of which popped up following the sale.

One torch was going for £10,600 with 16 hours to run, and another had attracted a top bid of £4,100 with 14 hours left to bid.

One seller had put their torch up for sale with a starting bid of £100,000 but had received no offers.

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 had 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 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 spokesman for Locog said: "It is up to torchbearers what they do with their torches, and we hope the torches on eBay go to a good home."


Sky


Figures are a bit different in that story?

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-18157074

An internet auction bid of more than £150,000 for an Olympic torch was a hoax, the seller has said.

Cornwall torchbearer Sophia Cowburn put the torch on sale on eBay to raise funds for the Invictus Trust charity. It attracted a top bid of £150,400.

Ms Cowburn, 19, said: "The bidding closed and then a few moments after we found out it was a hoax bidder."

The auction attracted 226 bids but the winning buyer has not been contactable for comment.

Surprise, surprise .....

[Shaun]

Well at least she's doing it for charity, shame it was a hoax bidder though :/

[Kizzy]

What a shame duping her like that, cant the previous bidder be notified?
I think that it is an excellent way of raising funds for your chosen charity or yourself. Its just the torch for sale not the experience or the honour....

[Mrluvaluva]

In cases like this then the next highest bidder gets the chance to purchase.