For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, each medal that will go to the top three in the various sports specialties of Paris 2024will carry within it a small piece of metal that contains an “priceless” symbol, the organization said this morning in a high-sounding presentation. Each medal, gold, silver and bronze, with the “brand” of the jeweler Chaumet (LVMH group), in fact contains a small piece of iron from the Eiffel Tower, dating back to 1889, and eliminated but carefully preserved at the end of the periodic renovation works on the monument.
On a circular gold, silver or bronze background, iron inserts recovered from the Eiffel Tower in a hexagonal shape, like the territory of France, engraved with the Paris 2024 logo are fixed on the front of each medal. On the back, the engraved figures of the goddess of victory, Athena Nike and of the Acropolis to which – with exceptional permission – Paris 2024 obtained authorization to add the design of the Eiffel Tower. The president of the organizing committee, Tony Estanguet, explained – when presenting the medals this morning – that the idea of the Eiffel Tower “had gathered consensus and imposed itself on everyone”.