The Paris 2024 Olympic Games promise to be memorable not only for sporting excellence, but also for the innovation in its awards, as its medals will feature fragments of the iconic Eiffel Tower.
The Games, scheduled between July 26 and August 11, with the Paralympics to follow, will be infused with the essence of Paris and its rich history. The Eiffel Tower, an icon of the French capital, has witnessed the evolution of humanity and will now leave its mark on Olympic sport.
Built for the 1889 World’s Fair to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution, the Eiffel Tower, also known as the ‘Iron Lady’, has stood the test of time thanks to renovations and restorations.
The fragments of the Eiffel Tower incorporated into the medals were cut from the beams and other pieces during renovations and stored for safekeeping, during the renovations it underwent to incorporate elevators.
Joachim Roncin, design director of the Paris 2024 organizing committee, shared how the idea came about: “We realized that there is a universal symbol, the Eiffel Tower. So why not incorporate a piece of her into the medals?”
The company that operates the Eiffel Tower accepted the proposal, turning the dream into reality. “Really, it’s a piece of metal from the Eiffel Tower,” Roncin added.
The design was overseen by French jeweler Chaumet, whose parent company, LVMH, signed a major sponsorship deal with Paris 2024 last summer. Like all editions since the 2004 Athens Games, the reverse of the Olympic medal features an image of the Greek goddess of victory, Nike.
On the other hand, the Paralympic Games medal is adorned with a graphic representation of the Eiffel Tower seen from below.
With this innovation, Paris 2024 not only honors sporting excellence, but also celebrates the history and cultural legacy of the city.
Source: https://alanxelmundo.com/las-medallas-de-paris-2024-tendran-un-pedazo-de-la-torre-eiffel/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=las-medallas-de-paris-2024-tendran-un-pedazo-de-la-torre-eiffel
