Paris Olympics 2024 medals to contain iron piece from Eiffel Tower

Chandigarh, July 26

With medals made of iron salvaged from Eiffel Tower refurbishments and stadium seating of recycled plastic, Paris Olympics 2024 aims to be the greenest Olympics yet.

The case for action is clear as scientists have said intense heat linked to man-made carbon emissions is a growing risk to competitors at the world’s largest sporting event and beyond.

Paris Olympics 2024 has pledged to reduce its carbon emissions by half compared to the average emitted during the London and Rio Summer Games.

Approximately 36,600 medals have been awarded since Athens 1896, the first modern Olympic Games. It is the first time any host city incorporated pieces of a national monument into the medals.

Both Olympic and Paralympic medals carry a piece of iron from the Eiffel Tower, which was recovered during a recent renovation. The iron is made according to France’s hexagonal shape. This is positioned at the centre of the medal and has the Paris 2024 Games’ symbol.

Paris Olympics 2024 called on LVMH jeweller Chaumet to design its medals. Globally renowned for its craftsmanship, Chaumet has made the medal into a veritable jewel, with a construction conceived around three sources of inspiration: the hexagon, radiance, and gem-setting.

The hexagon

The original Eiffel Tower iron is formed in a hexagon — the geometrical shape of France herself. This symbol is a reminder of the whole nation’s engagement in delivering an historic Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Radiance

On the same side of the medal, fine lines project outwards at regular intervals from around the iron hexagon. Embossed rather than engraved, these lines bring relief and sparkle to a medal that is far from being smooth.

Setting the gem

In order to bring together the icons of the Eiffel Tower and the medal of the Games, an equally symbolic craft was required. Thanks to the creativity of LVMH and the House of Chaumet, the medal is encrusted with a piece of iron from the Eiffel Tower. Six metal appendages — one for each are used to fix the hexagon in place. This encrusting is possible due to the slightly concave shape of the medal, which adds depth to the design of each side. For Paris 2024, the distinctive “Clous de Paris” hobnail shape that resembles the famous Eiffel Tower rivets has been chosen for the setting.