February 08, (THEWILL) – Medals for podium finishers at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics will contain small pieces of the iconic Eiffel Tower, it was announced on Thursday, by organisers of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The inclusion of the Eiffel Tower pieces is intended to connect the medals with symbols of France and give winning athletes a piece of Paris to bring home with them. The hexagon-shaped Eiffel Tower tokens embedded in the centre of the gold, silver and bronze medals were made from scrap metal from previous renovations of the landmark.
The tokens represent the geometric shape of France and weigh 18 grams each. Surrounding the Eiffel Tower pieces, the medals feature grooves radiating outwards inspired by a tiara design found in the archives of French jeweller Chaumet, who designed the medals.
The back of the medals showcase the Greek goddess Nike in motion, charging forward with the Acropolis on one side and the Eiffel Tower on the other. The Paralympic medals offer a view of the Eiffel Tower from below and are engraved with “Paris 2024” in braille as an homage to the French inventor of the tactile writing system.
Over 5,000 Olympics and Paralympics medals containing the special Eiffel Tower pieces have been produced by Paris’ Monnaie de Paris mint.
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