Paris 2024 Medals: Beyond the symbol of excellence

 

Medals for Paris 2024, beyond the symbol of excellence.

Introduction

 

As the glow of summer lights up the cityscape, Paris prepares to host a grand congregation of the world’s most extraordinary athletes in July 2024. This event isn’t just a display of unparalleled athletic prowess but a homage to those who rise above in the elite sporting arena, earning the right to wear the symbols of victory: the coveted Olympic medals. The tradition of these medals carries a storied past, each one a testament to the continued legacy of sporting excellence.

 

The Evolution of Olympic Medals: From Athens to Paris 2024

 

The journey of the Olympic medal is as rich and diverse as the games themselves. Beginning in 1896, at the inaugural modern Olympic Games in Athens, competitors vied for the honor of two medals – silver and bronze, with gold not yet introduced. This tradition has evolved, now awarding three medals – gold, silver, and bronze – to symbols of supreme athletic achievement, along with five diplomas, upholding the Olympic philosophy.

 

The Paris 2024 Olympic medals carry forward this legacy, while also heralding a new era in the design and significance of these awards. Each medal, serving as a crown of victory for the world’s premiere athletes, is set to include elements that embody the essence of Paris, France, and Europe, embedding significant symbols into the very heart of these accolades.

 

French Elegance Meets Olympic Spirit

 

In a move that underscores the blend of tradition and contemporary elegance, Paris 2024 has enlisted the renowned French designer Chaumet to craft the Olympic medals. Chaumet, a name synonymous with high fashion and part of the prestigious LVMH group, has been bestowed the honor of illustrating the grandeur France aims to project in these Summer Games. This collaboration is not merely a contract but a testament to the profound cultural and historical significance that the Olympic medals represent, particularly in the Paris 2024 games.

 

Headline: A New Chapter of Olympic Excellence

 

The design and creation of the Paris 2024 Olympic medals are imbued with the anticipation of writing a new chapter in the annals of Olympic history. These medals are more than just awards; they are a physical representation of the hard work, dedication, and spirit of excellence that drives athletes to the pinnacle of their sport. As Paris gears up to showcase its beauty, culture, and the spirit of competition to the world, the Olympic medals for the 2024 games are set to become a symbol of both personal achievement for the athletes and a collective celebration of global unity and sporting greatness.

 

 

Tony Estanguet and Antoine Arnault at the unveiling of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic medals. GETTY IMAGES
Tony Estanguet and Antoine Arnault at the unveiling of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic medals. GETTY IMAGES

The iconic jeweller embedded a fragment of steel from the Eiffel Tower to meet the objectives of honouring the sacrifices of the athletes and the greatness of Paris, represented by its ultimate symbol, the Eiffel Tower. At the request of the Organising Committee, France’s most famous jewellery house has incorporated a piece of the Tower to give the medal its splendour and grandeur.

The hexagonal medal with the emblem of Paris and France will be worn with pride, or at least that is the intention of the Organising Committee, which wanted a design with an emblem that represented Paris and France. Thus the idea was born that the deserving recipient of a medal should be able to wear a piece of French greatness, symbolised by the Eiffel Tower.

The Paris 2024 gold medal, designed by luxury French jeweller Chaumet. GETTY IMAGES
The Paris 2024 gold medal, designed by luxury French jeweller Chaumet. GETTY IMAGES

Each medal will be adorned with this hexagonal piece of iron from France’s most iconic symbol, and all those who take the podium in Paris will take with them an authentic piece of history. According to a press release, “certain metallic elements” were removed from the monument during renovations in the 20th century and “have since been carefully preserved”. The distinctive dark brown paint that currently adorns the Eiffel Tower was then removed and the pieces cut into hexagons before being engraved with the Paris 2024 logo.

France wants its third Olympic Games to go down in history as the best, or at least better than London 2012. From a very special ceremony outside a closed venue for the first time, to a boat ride on the athletes’ opening day to create a dynamic and unique opening day in history, including events in French Polynesia to showcase not only its beauty but also the greatness of the nation.

The first medals awarded were silver and bronze for the first and second place in Athens in 1896. IOC
The first medals awarded were silver and bronze for the first and second place in Athens in 1896. IOC

Of course, France could not be left behind when it came to the creation of medals, which has become increasingly important to the various organisers of the Olympic Games in recent years. From the simple medals awarded at the beginning (silver and bronze/copper in Atlanta in 1896), to the first Olympic Games without medals were awarded (Paris in 1900), to a part of each Olympic and Paralympic Games today. It has taken a long time. If we check the history books, we find that the first specially commissioned medals were awarded in Amsterdam in 1928, and this lasted for 44 years.

The Munich 1972 medals replaced the traditional ones after 44 years. IOC
The Munich 1972 medals replaced the traditional ones after 44 years. IOC

The first specially designed medals featured the traditional goddess of victory on the obverse, holding a crown in one hand and a palm branch in the other. The reverse showed a victorious Olympic champion being carried by the crowd.

It took many years until Munich 1972 to replace it. It could be said that it was the defining moment in the current importance of medals. Without Munich, what followed would not have been the same.

The designers changed the reverse of the medals to include a different design created by an artist of the Bauhaus movement. They managed to depict Castor and Pollux, the twin sons of Zeus and Leda.

Another important moment in history was Seoul 1988. Here, in the spirit of the Olympic Games, a symbol of peace and unity was created. It was a simple image, but no less important because it sent a message of peace to the world. The reverse of the South Korean medals was engraved with the image of a dove holding a laurel leaf in its beak – an enduring emblem of the Games.

Michael Phelps has won 28 Olympic medals (23 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze). GETTY IMAGES
Michael Phelps has won 28 Olympic medals (23 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze). GETTY IMAGES

In 2004, the Games returned to Athens for the first time in 108 years, and they had to be celebrated in style. For the first time since the Amsterdam Games in 1928, a significant change was made to the medals.

Instead of the seated goddess Nike holding an ear of corn, the Athens 2004 medals showed her flying into the stadium to bring victory to the best athletes. The first Olympic Games to be held in the giant country of China had their own peculiarity; they incorporated the Chinese symbol: Jade (an ancient precious stone).

In addition to the traditional gold, silver and bronze, a dragon design was engraved on the reverse of each medal. The design of the medal was chosen to symbolise nobility, virtue, ethics and honour.

The bronze, gold and silver medals from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. GETTY IMAGES
The bronze, gold and silver medals from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. GETTY IMAGES

Japan, on the other hand, did not want to be left behind in the symbolism of the medals and placed sustainability at the heart of the medal project. While Junichi Kawanishi’s designs used beautiful light-reflecting patterns to symbolise the energy of the athletes at the Games, the materials used to create the medals for the recent Games in Japan made it an even more ambitious undertaking.

The Tokyo 2020 Medal Project will recycle a total of 78,985 tonnes of discarded electronic equipment, from which 30.3kg of gold, 4,100kg of silver and 2,700kg of bronze will be extracted and reused to create the medals, demonstrating that the Games are much more than a sporting event, but can also be used to raise awareness and set a social example.

Conclusion

 

As the countdown to Paris 2024 continues, the unveiling of the Olympic medals brings us closer to the essence of the games – a celebration of excellence, unity, and the enduring spirit of competition. These medals do not just signify victory; they encapsulate the journey of every athlete who dares to dream and the relentless pursuit of those dreams. Paris 2024 stands on the threshold of history, ready to weave a new narrative of Olympic glory, with each medal serving as a torchbearer of this timeless legacy.

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