Because gold is softer and more malleable than other metals, a bite into authentic, solid gold would leave an indentation. I don’t think it’s something the athletes would probably do on their own.”īut where did this practice of Olympians biting their medals originate? Biting coins was once something that people did in order to see whether they were real gold or just a cheaper metal with gold plating. “I think they look at it as an iconic shot, as something that you can probably sell. “It’s become an obsession with the photographers,” David Wallechinsky, president of the International Society of Olympic Historians, told CNN in 2012. The main reason why Olympians bite their medals is an obvious one: it’s a great pose for the cameras. You may have noticed that Olympians don’t just show off their medals when they receive them - they actually … go for a taste? The 2020 Tokyo Olympic medal design is supposed to reflect diversity and represent a world in which people who work hard and compete are honored. By collecting and reflecting patterns of light, the medals are meant to be a symbol of the energy of the athletes at the Olympics and their surrounding supporters. The design of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic medals have the overall themes of “light” and “brilliance,” and will resemble stones that were once rough but have been polished to now shine. Watch to learn why this figure of ancient Greek mythology became a fixture in the Olympic Summer Games. After more than 400 entries, a design was settled on that embodies the idea that athletes must ”strive for victory on a daily basis” in order to achieve glory.Īll Summer Olympic medals feature the same Greek goddess: Nike, the goddess of victory. The project marked the first time in Olympics history where a host country included its citizens in the production of medals and used recycled materials to make awards for the Games.Ī design competition was created for the public to submit ideas for how the awards should look. The Tokyo 2020 organizing committee headed the “Tokyo 2020 Medal Project” to collect small electronic devices, such as used cell phones, throughout Japan. What do the 2020 Tokyo Olympic medals look like? Regulations from the International Olympic Committee require that the design of each medal includes the following elements: Nike - the Greek goddess of victory - in front of the Panathinaikos Stadium, the official name of the respective Games (this summer’s will say “Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020”) and the Olympic five rings symbol.
The host city’s organizing committee is responsible for designing the awards.
The now-famous tradition of gold, silver and bronze medals began in 1904 at the St. The first-place winner was given a silver medal, second place was awarded a bronze medal and those who came in third left empty handed. The first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896 is where the tradition of awarding medals to winners began. Paralympics Open in Tokyo's National Stadium With Acrobats, Fireworks and Parade of Athletes