Each gold medal holds special significance for each Olympic Games. About the Olympics Paris 2024, the noteworthy of the gold medals is that they were made from the Eiffel Tower's part.
The Eiffel Tower plays a central role in the opening ceremony of the Olympic Paris 2024. From its dazzling lights and Olympic rings to the return of Celine Dion, La Tour Eiffel has showcased its grandeur to the world. And now, it is part of the athletes' medal collection.
What other unique features do these gold medals have, and how are they related to the Eiffel Tower?
According to the local organizers, approximately 5,804 medals have been produced for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics.
The gold medal weighs 1.17 pounds (1 pound = 0.45kg). The silver medal weighs 1.16 pounds, and the bronze medal weighs 1 pound.
Chaumet, the French luxury jewelry and watch brand, designed the Olympic medals. Founded in 1780, Chaumet is owned by the LMVH group (Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton).
The Olympic 2024 Gold Medal has 3 features: Hexagon shape, brightness, and frame. In the center of the medal is a hexagon - honoring France's nickname L'hexagone due to the country's six-sided shape.
The hexagon is surrounded by a round shape resembling sun rays emanating from the center of the medal - symbolizing the brilliant light, as Paris is often called the city of light.
There are 6 small lozenges added on each point of the hexagon. They represent the rivets on the Eiffel Tower.
The Eiffel Tower was a permanent structure of the 1889 World's Fair and the tower was originally made from wrought iron.
The hexagon part of the gold medal was made from the original iron pieces of the Eiffel Tower. These iron pieces were stored and preserved after the restoration in the 20th century.
According to the organizers, this special design gives gold medal-winning athletes "real pieces of Paris history".
According to CNN, about 0.04 pounds of iron pieces from the Eiffel Tower are included in each medal. This is the first time a historical relic of a city has been incorporated into an Olympic medal.
