204 Nations as One: Dandelion Seeds of Peace

London 2012 Olympics: Thomas Heatherwick, the designer behind the Olympic cauldron that stunned viewers. The British designer was the mastermind behind one of the best-kept secrets of the Opening Ceremony - the cauldron. Source: Pool/Getty Images Europe
 Thomas Heatherwick, the London Olympic cauldron's designer, said he had not wanted to try to make it bigger or taller than those at previous Games, and had focused instead on the symbolic meaning. "This incredible event has 204 nations coming together, so we had a child from each country bringing these copper polished objects in. At the end of the Games this cauldron will dismantle itself and radiate back down to the ground and each of those copper pieces will be taken away by each nation." Heatherwick said the raised petals were "like a dandelion seed being blown" Full story

Our wish: Inspiring 2012 London Olympics: Imagine - Dream Again

For more of Thomas Heatherwick's amazing projects see his TED talk: Seed Cathedral