2010 medals made from metal unveiled

[Delirium]

As unique as the world's top athletes and their awe-inspiring performances, every medal won at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will be a one-of-a-kind work of art. The medals, revealed on Thursday, October 15, 2009 at the Olympic and Paralympic Village Vancouver, each feature a different crop of larger contemporary Aboriginal artworks and are undulating rather than flat - both firsts in Games history. The Olympic medals are circular in shape, while the Paralympic medals are a superellipse, or squared circle.


http://photos.newswire.ca/cnw-bin/cnw.cgi?page=18&photographer=HAND-OUT


http://photos.newswire.ca/cnw-bin/cnw.cgi?page=18&photographer=HAND-OUT

Paralympic

http://photos.newswire.ca/cnw-bin/cnw.cgi?page=18&photographer=HAND-OUT

The dramatic form of the Vancouver 2010 medals is inspired by the ocean waves, drifting snow and mountainous landscape found in the Games region and throughout Canada. The Olympic medals are circular in shape, while the Paralympic medals are a superellipse, or squared circle. Both are equal in size. Their significant weight - between 500 grams to 576 g depending on the medal - represents the magnitude of the athlete's accomplishment. The Olympic medals are 100 millimetres in diameter and about six mm thick, while the Paralympic medals are 95 mm wide and about six mm thick. They are among the heaviest medals in Olympic and Paralympic history.

full press release with lots of other info; http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2009/15/c6940.html

[twoNeurons]

I like the undulatingness.

[Delirium]

Vanoc made a really great video about the metals and how they came about making it and it's design etc.

after watching the video, it made so much sense. i love them.
http://www.vancouver2010.com/en/about-va...games-athlete/-/170270/n3re4u/index.html

[johnjimbc]

Thanks for the link. I am so impressed with the medals. This might be the best design aspect to come out of the Vancouver games yet. The team that conceptualized and then created them really set a new standard for thinking outside the box. In doing so they have created something unique and beautiful. The medals are a great intersection of art and science.

[Yume-sama]

Oooh, I want one!

Might be a bit late to find out what sport I'm good at...

[AlexYVR]

They're beautiful and uniquely BC, great job VANOC/artists.

[srperrycgy]

Incredibly beautiful design and heavy (over 1lb each) too.

[Delirium]

Vanoc surveyed athletes about the metals and turns out they wanted "big and heavy". thought that was interesting. looks like they listened.

also, vanoc said the metals will be in a "wool" carrying case of sorts. they discovered that athletes were putting their metals in socks to transport them because the original boxes (that the metals came in) were too ackward and didn't travel well. so hence the wool.

the Globe has pictures of all past winter olympic metals:
http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news-centre/newsid=17421.html#2010+olympic+medals+kind?cid+rsstgam

i definitely think these are the most unique of the bunch.

[twoNeurons]

Not to be pedantic (but I will be anyhow)... but the medals are made of metals.

[WarrenC12]

I like them overall, although the paralympics ones look... oh, I can't say it.

Why do they have to be different anyway?

[Yume-sama]

I actually like the Paralympic ones betters.

[deasine]

Interesting.

[LeftCoaster]

I love em!

[Delirium]

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

Not to be pedantic (but I will be anyhow)... but the medals are made of metals.

haha! i didn't even realize i was doing that. thanks for pointing it out.
maybe the mods correct the thread title.

the Mint has a ton of info with interactive stuff and how exactly the medals were made. http://www.mint.ca/store/mint/learn/medals-4400016

there is brail on the back of the paralympic medals. that's a nice detail for those visually impaired.

[mr.x]

They certainly look better than the doughnuts from Torino, those were disgusting.

I like how the 2010 medals continue the traditional shape (oval) of a medal and also add a twist to it (literally).


And this part is awesome:

A silk scarf printed with the master artwork will be presented to each Olympian or Paralympian with their medal enabling them to see how their medal connects with those awarded to other athletes at the Games to make the whole design.

[wrenegade]

I really like them. Not a big fan of native art usually, but they knocked these out of the park. Thank god we didn't get the paralympic ones as the regular ones, the squares look......retarded. There, I said it.

[osirisboy]

big surprise, ugh more native art. I wouldnt mind seeing something without native art on it. oh well like that would ever happen.

[djmk]

They had this story on CBC radio during lunch and interviewed the artists... I have to say i am impressed. I love how each individual medal is different and yet part of a single piece of art. Apparently, the athletes will also be given scarfs which has the entire art piece and the athlete can see where his/her medal fits in.

Also mentioned that each medal is individually made and each take about 24 hours to build.

[djmk]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

big surprise, ugh more native art. I wouldnt mind seeing something without native art on it. oh well like that would ever happen.

the olympic posters are not "native"

[nova9]

I every much enjoy them. But right away, the reflexive and very ignorant comment boards on cbc are already laying the smack down. sigh, it's like VANOC can never win with that crowd.

I'm impressed and I like the idea of individuality as part of a larger collective - it's quite subversive really.