Paris 2024 Olympics medals to be adorned with piece of iron from Eiffel Tower
Every Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics medal will be adorned with a piece of original iron from the Eiffel Tower, the organisers of the Summer Games announced on Thursday.
The medals were unveiled at the headquarters of the Paris 2024 Organising Committee and feature a hexagon-shaped component formed of Eiffel Tower shards. Each medal has actual iron from the iconic landmark carved into a hexagon, symbolizing France’s mobilization as a whole to host the historic Olympics and Paralympics Games.
The iron pieces were carefully preserved when the Eiffel Tower underwent renovation work in the 20th century. The rare elements now get a second lease of life, adding historical significance to each medal.
Without its typical brown paint, the puddled iron has been left in its natural color. Imprinted with the Paris 2024 Games insignia, the iron piece sits neatly alongside the gold, silver, and bronze medals, creating a striking two-tone impression.
The iron hexagon features tiny lines struck at random intervals, providing relief and luster to the medal’s surface. This design captures France’s global brightness and the athletes’ brilliant accomplishments in the Games.
Following the unveiling of a unique logo, a pair of mascots, and a shared look, the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics medals now share a design on one side—the side with the Eiffel Tower’s iron.
The medals are all engraved with the name of the sport, discipline, and event on the edge. The inscriptions are written in French on the Olympics medals and in English on the Paralympic ones, reflecting the official languages of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
The Paris 2024 Olympics is scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11. As athletes from around the world converge in Paris to compete in the Games, they will not only strive for victory but also carry a piece of French history with them—the iron from the iconic Eiffel Tower.
