For these winter Games, the Olympic Committee entrusted the design of the torch to the famous «Walt Disney designer» John Hendi, who preferred not to change the style of the previous editions completely, leaving the design of the torch almost identical to the ones of Melbourne, Cortina and London, yet introducing a small difference which will influence the next editions. The torch of Squaw Valley in fact, differs from the others only for the lower part of the brazier, which contains the fuel and reports the writing «SQUAW VALLEY» and the symbol of the hosting country, in this case three triangles in the colors of the American flag. The triangles are overlapping one another to give a 3D effect and to create the image of a star and a snowflake.

On the upper part of the torch there are the Olympic rings and the words «Winter Olympic Games 1960». Produced in silver, it weighs 1.350 gr and measures 48 cm. The flame was lit in Norway. The organizers refused to build a track for the bobsleigh competition, making this the first time that this discipline was not on the Olympic program. Official opening of the Games by Vice-President Richard Nixon.