Eiffel Tower in Olympic medals! Everything you need to know about unique Paris Olympics 2024 awards
The 2024 Paris Olympics is set to kick off on the 26th of July.
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The Eiffel Tower ahead of the Olympics 2024 (image by CGTN)
As if the Olympic and Paralympic medals weren’t prestigious enough, the Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE) has made it even more impressive ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The SETE has given some rare pieces of the iconic Eiffel Tower to be embedded into the Olympic/Paralympic medals.
The pieces of the Eiffel Tower came from the renovation of the elevators done in the 20th century. During the process, some sections had been removed and carefully preserved. To bring this about, Chaumet, the expert jewelers have been bestowed to create the medals. They were an accurate choice, as they are widely recognized for their elegance in the French craft of jewelery making.
We’ve decided to add this hexagon [which represents the shape of France] in the way we would a gemstone - in the centre and placed as the most precious element of the medal.Clementine Massonnat (in charge of creative activities at Chaumet) said
The St. Louis 1904 Olympic Games led the tradition of awarding Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals. Each time, the city of the Olympic games had been responsible for the distinctiveness of the medal. For the first time, the Olympic and Paralympic medals have been made to embed pieces of Parisian and French history. The legendary symbols of the Olympics have been merged with the iconic French identity.
Paris Olympics aside, a look into the significant medals of the past
The illustrious history of the Olympic games dates back to 1896. Each time, the medals mount a special place in the hearts of the players. They hold a timeless legacy of the place the games have been held.
The 2022 Beijing Olympic medals were named, “Tong Xin” which translates to ‘together a one’. The design had the classic five rings and a center inspired from the ancient Chinese jade concentric circle pendants. The rings were engraved with ‘XXIV Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022’ and ice, snow, and cloud patterns.
Tokyo Olympics 2020 inculcated the theme of ‘Be Better, together – for the planet and the people‘. The whole city contributed to making the medals by donating their old phones. The ribbons were replete with Japanese culture ‘ichimatsu moyo and kasane no irome‘ and its demonstration of unity in diversity.
The PyeongChang Olympics 2018 represented the host nation with the texture of tree trunks. The front bore the Olympic rings and diagonal lines of the determination of participants.
The Rio Olympics 2016 crafted the Goddess of Victory, Nike with the inscription ‘XXXI Olympiada Rio 2016’. The whole medal was rich in its manner. The other side featured laurel leaves which are a symbol of victory in ancient Greece.
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Gerard Crispin
(3318 Articles Published)