The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics are here and whether you’re tuning in to watch golf, swimming, or gymnastics, you’ll likely see the stunning medals being awarded to winners. But did you know that each 2024 Olympic and Paralympic medal features original iron from the Eiffel Tower? Paris 2024 worked with French jewelry company, Chaumet, to create a design representative of France.
A Piece of the Eiffel Tower in Each Medal
The Eiffel Tower has undergone multiple renovations over the years during which iron has been removed and preserved by the Eiffel Tower Operating Company. Each medal has 18g of iron from the Eiffel Tower formed into a hexagon. The hexagon is a nod to the geometrical shape of France and is pressed in the center of the medal with the logo of the Paris 2024 Games. The iron in the middle of the medal creates a two tone aesthetic between the color of the medal and the hexagon.
The reverse of the Olympic Medal features the Greek Goddess Athena as well as the Acropolis of Athens as a nod to the ancient Games in Greece opposite the Eiffel Tower.
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How the Paralympic and Olympic Medals Differ
The ribbons for all medals are adorned with a lattice pattern reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower; the Olympic medals feature this ribbon in a dark blue while the Paralympic medals have a deep red ribbon. The reverse of the Paralympic medals features a somewhat unique view of the Eiffel Tower from an upward angle and features the phrases “Paris” and “2024” in universal Braille. This is done for both accessibility and as a nod to Louis Braille, the French inventor of Braille.
Each Paralympic medal features dashes engraved along the side; I for gold, II for silver, and III for bronze. This was done to enable athletes with visual impairments.
