London, July 28 (IANS) The 2012 London Olympics medals have been unveiled, marking the one-year countdown to the mega event.
The medals were revealed at a special ceremony attended Princess Anne, Organising Committee Chairman Sebastian Coe and IOC President Jacques Rogge here Wednesday.
The circular form of the medal is a metaphor for the world. The front depicts the same imagery at the summer Games – the Greek Goddess of Victory, Nike, stepping out of the Parthenon to arrive in the host city.
The design for the reverse of the medals contains five main symbolic elements: the dished background suggests a bowl similar to the design of an amphitheatre, the core emblem is an architectural expression, a metaphor for the modern City, the grid brings an image of radiating energy that represents the athletes’ achievements and effort, the Thames river is a symbol for London and also suggests a fluttering baroque ribbon and adds a sense of celebration.
Overall, 2,100 medals will be awarded in 302 ceremonies over a period of 16 days and will be made in Britain. Local artist David Watkins has designed the medals.
‘I hope that seeing the design of the medals will be a source of inspiration for the thousands of athletes around the world who are counting down the year before they compete at the greatest show on earth. All of our preparations are focused on ensuring the athletes are at the heart of the Games, and I believe that through this rigorous process the panel of experts have selected an artist and a design for medals that all athletes would be proud to own,’ said Coe.
The independent panel selecting the medal design and advising the Organising Committee was chaired by Sir John Sorrell (Co-Chair, the Sorrell Foundation) with Ade Adepitan (Paralympian & TV presenter) as deputy chair and Iwona Blazwick (Director of the Whitechapel Gallery), Mark Jones (V&A Director & medals expert), Catherine Johnson (writer) and Martin Green (Organising Committee Head of Ceremonies).
The design and designer of the London 2012 Paralympic medals will be announced by the team later this year.
