Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic medals designs revealed

ORGANISERS of the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games have unveiled the medals that athletes from around the world will compete for at this year’s Games.

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June 15, 2016 - 9:47AM

The Olympic medals are presented during the Launch of Medals and Victory Ceremonies for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games

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ORGANISERS of the Rio 2016 Olympics and Paralympics have unveiled the medals that athletes from around the world will compete for at this year’s Games.

With just over 50 days to go before the world’s most elite athletes take centre stage in Rio, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach attended the presentation at Barra Olympic Park, and said: “Today marks the start of the final countdown to the first Olympic Games to be staged in South America.”

According to the official Rio 2016 website, the design features “the traditional laurel wreath on the faces of the medals, representing the relationship between the strengths of Olympic heroes and the forces of nature.”

The leaves surround the Rio 2016 logo.

A total of 2,488 medals have been created for the Games which get under way on August 5 (August 6 EST), including 812 gold, 812 silver and 864 bronze.

As per Olympic and Paralympic tradition, one side of the medals features Nike, Greek Goddess of Victory with the Panathinaiko Stadium and the Acropolis in the background.

The name of the event for which the athlete is receiving the medal is engraved by laser on the outside edge.

Medals for Paralympic athletes also feature a special innovation to aid visually impaired athletes.

having all been fitted with a device which means when the medal is shaken, the recipient will know if they are gold, silver or bronze.