In a previous article, we analyzed the logos and posters of the Olympic Games. In this article, we will consider the features of the design of medals, and also talk about the role of mascots in shaping the attitude of the audience to sporting events and the host country.
Each element of the identity must organically fit into the general concept and express the philosophy of the Olympiad formulated by the organizers. Exactly as a properly designed corporate identity and logo always match. The branding agency KOLORO is built on these principles.
Olympic medal design
The Olympic medal is not just an award for sporting achievements. It is also part of the merchandise that the International Olympic Committee uses to promote the Olympic movement. After a short excursion into history, we will find out the patterns on the basis of which the design of the medals was developed.
The first medals were different for each Olympiad. The theme of the drawings was predominantly ancient Greek: the god Zeus, the goddess of victory Nike and the winning athlete.
At the games in Athens and Paris, only the first two places were awarded. Starting with the St. Louis Olympics, the organizers have also awarded medals for the third place.
Since 1908, national symbols have been introduced into the design. The reverse side of the medal depicts:
- London - the patron saint of England, George the Victorious;
- Stockholm - herald and statue of the founder of the Swedish gymnastics system, Per-Henrik Ling;
- Antwerp is a sculpture of the Roman legionary Silvius Bravo, with the legend about which the name of the city is connected.
The images on the medals of the 1924 Paris Olympics have a completely sports theme, for the first time an olive wreath is transferred to the reverse.
The 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam introduced the standard design of the awards. The obverse depicts the goddess of victory Nike with a palm branch and a laurel wreath. On the reverse side is the winning athlete being carried in his arms.
Since 1960, cosmetic changes have been made to the sketches while maintaining the main composition. In addition, now medals are hung around the winner's neck (before that they did not have special mounts and were handed to athletes in their hands). Beginning with the 1972 Munich Olympics, mandatory requirements for the image on the obverse are canceled.
In 2004, a new drawing was developed for the obverse of the medal - the goddess Nike walks through the Panathinaikos stadium, which hosted the I Olympic Games.
The emblem of the competition is depicted on the reverse.
There were no standard requirements for the development of the White Olympics awards, so the designers got the opportunity to implement their most daring ideas. Of the most interesting medals of the Winter Olympics, one should dwell on the following:
Lake Placid 1932. The wavy shape of the medal symbolizes the base of the ancient Greek column. The location of the goddess Nike on the top of the mountains creates an association with Olympus, which further indicates the theme.
Grenoble 1968. For the first time, the reverse of the medal is dedicated to the discipline in which it was awarded. The sport was indicated not by a simple pictogram, but by an original design pattern.
Sapporo 1972. The first non-circular medal after Paris-1900. The curved line on the obverse of the medal symbolizes the bobsleigh track, the oval symbolizes the ice track.
Sarajevo 1984. The medal is hammered into a smooth metal plate, protruding from the surface. On the reverse, there is an original stylization of the athlete's head in a laurel wreath.
Albertville 1992. The metal medal has an original crystal insert with relief engraving of mountain slopes and Olympic rings.
Lillehammer 1994. The medal is made of dark Norwegian granite and has a metal frame that matches the dignity of the medal. The color structure of the stone is reminiscent of the northern lights in the snowy sky, which indicates both the emblem of the Olympics and one of the main natural attractions in Norway.
Nagano 1998. The medal was made using the traditional Japanese technique "maki": the smallest gold particles are sprayed onto the uncured varnish. All awards are made by hand, therefore each of them is a unique work of art and unique, like the victory of an athlete.
Salt Lake City 2002. Irregular medal with successful design solutions. On the obverse, the slogan of the games "Light the fire in yourself", engravings on the reverse were developed for each sport.
Turin 2006. The shape of the medal symbolizes the Italian market square, where festive events are traditionally held. The ribbon of the medal is passed through the ring and tied with a loop.
Vancouver 2010. The awards are curved and unique to each medal. To develop such an original concept, the designers were inspired by the waves of the Pacific Ocean. Each medal weighs more than 500 grams.
Sochi 2014. The polycarbonate insert characterizes the cultural diversity of the peoples of Russia. Also, the material resembles ice, which indicates the theme of the Olympics.
The mascot of the Olympics is the symbol with which the venue is associated. As a rule, this is an animal or a character of a folk epic. The main function of the mascot is to reflect the spirit of the host country and enhance the festive atmosphere.
But the characters in the Olympics also have a more utilitarian role. As already mentioned, the Olympics is a costly and financially unprofitable event. Therefore, the receiving party tries to recoup the investment as fully as possible. In addition to selling tickets and broadcasting rights, as well as tourist income, the host country makes money on souvenirs. Therefore, the more interesting and cute the character is, the more goods with his image will be sold.
The first attempts to fill sports with new content were made in 1968. At the Winter Olympics in Grenoble, a skier named Schuss was introduced to the public. The colors of the character indicate the host country, the skis and the Olympic rings create a tie to the theme.
In the same year, the Summer Olympics in Mexico City took place, where the Red Jaguar acted as the mascot. This choice of organizers is explained by an attempt to create a character based on a sculpture found during excavations of the ancient Mayan capital of Chichen Itza. In general, the choice was made correctly, but the character did not receive not only a sufficient promotion for the mascot, but even a name. Subsequently, the jaguar was named Maya, but time was lost to extract sufficient benefit from its mascot.
The third mascot and the first official one can be considered the Waldi dachshund. It was invented by the already mentioned Otl Eicher for the 1972 Olympics. During its holding, the IOC session took place, at which the mascot was approved as a mandatory attribute of the Olympic Games.
As for Valdi himself, the image of a dachshund symbolizes the hunting qualities inherent in an athlete, such as speed, endurance and agility. The name of the mascot was also well chosen. In Germany, a dog named Waldi is found just as often, as, for example, in Russia the cat Vaska or the dog Sharik. In order to make the character positive, Aicher deliberately does not use all the Olympic colors in his character paint.
The Munich mascot liked the audience, which made it commercially successful. Preparatory work also contributed to its popularization. Valdi became the main character of a funny book released on the eve of the Olympics, which told about sports competitions.
Eaglet Sam is considered the best example of the use of national symbols in the Olympic mascot. The character was drawn by artists at Walt Disney Studios for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The image contains the main national symbols of the United States:
- the white eagle is featured on the coat of arms of the United States. This symbol is often used in brand logos and event emblems;
- the symbolism of the national flag is displayed in the clothing of the mascot;
- the top hat, sideburns and name were borrowed from Uncle Sam, the personified image of the United States.
If this mascot was a big hit with the audience, then the symbol of the 1996 Atlanta Games - Izzy - is considered the worst Olympic character. His image was generated by a computer and modified by designers. It was impossible to answer the question, what kind of creature it was, so the mascot was given the name Izzy - abbreviated "What is it?" ("What it is?").
The organizers of the Olympics hoped that this issue would arouse interest in the character, but the audience categorically did not accept such a concept. Among the main claims to the talisman are the following:
- There is no territorial anchoring familiar to fans of the Olympic Games - Izzy does not evoke associations with either the host country or the city of Atlanta. A hint of a connection with the United States was supposed to be the coloring of the character and the stars in the eyes, but this symbol was not read by the audience.
- The connection to the theme of the event was supposed to be provided by the Olympic rings, but their logic of use on the mascot is incomprehensible. The rings, symbolizing Australia and Europe, are worn over the eyes similar to the sweat bands worn by athletes. But the fact that the rest of the rings are worn on the tail caused a negative reaction from representatives of Africa, Asia and America.
- In addition, if you look at the Izzy stuffed toy, you will notice red wristbands on the arms and legs. Apparently, the designers wanted in this way to add red to other colors of the US national flag - blue and white. But visually, these wristbands are perceived as additional Olympic rings, and the question arises: why are there five American rings, and the rings of the other continents one by one? At the same time, the mascot's sneakers are painted purple, which is not associated with either the Olympics or the United States.
The situation could be corrected by using, for example, black and yellow rings as wristbands on the hands, and red as a belt. And provide the colors of the national flag with red sneakers.
The character's name reads like "Easy", i.e. "Lightweight, easy". There is a clear contradiction with the sports theme, since competitions and victories are never easy. In addition, looking at the walking talisman, the expression suggests itself "Easy going", which can be translated as "Izzy is coming" and as "frivolous."
The latter obviously characterizes the attitude of the organizers to the development of a corporate character for the Olympics, which, as a result, lost a large share of the profits from the sale of souvenir products.
Izzy was best criticized by the creators of the animated series The Simpsons. In one of the episodes, Homer creates the Springfield Olympic mascot, Springy. In the first minute of the video, you can hear him explaining his concept: "This is a good toy for the whole family, and the sharp ends protect our nation and its interests."
The mascot of the 1980 Moscow Olympics is an example of the successful use of a character for image purposes.
The Olympic Bear was usually depicted as running with a torch (a symbol of sports) or with a bouquet and medals (a symbol of awarding winners). The Olympic tie was provided by a weightlifting belt (a hint of the power of the mascot) in five Olympic colors with a buckle in the form of rings.
Let's return to the question of the character's image function. Information warfare was one of the areas of the Cold War. On campaign posters of NATO countries, the Soviet Union was often depicted as a bared bear. The Moscow Olympics were ignored by most Western countries due to the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Therefore, the Olympic Bear was the best fit for ideological goals: the image of an aggressive, warlike bear gave way to a good-natured, hospitable bear with flowers. This symbol was a good background for Soviet propaganda messages, in which the USSR positioned itself as a peace-loving state.
At the Olympic Games, athletes are awarded Olympic medals for individual achievement or participation in team competitions. In addition, Olympic medals are considered a badge of distinction and additional attributes that are used by the IOC to popularize the idea of a modern world Olympic Movement.
Olympic medal set
The following gradation of Olympic medals is distinguished: in case of victory (I place), gold medal, for the second result in the competition (II place) - a silver medal, and for the third result (III place) - a bronze medal. Their combination is called the "set of Olympic awards."
Ancient Greek Olympic "medals"
In times Olympic Games medals were not used - the distinctive signs were: olive wreath, palm branches, large amounts of gold coins, honors and privileges, or the kingdom of the ruler Endymion, which he played between his sons.
First Olympic medals
For the first time, the tradition of honoring the winners of the International Games with medals was adopted at the First Olympic Congress in 1894. At the competitions in 1896, in case of victory in the competition in one of the Olympic sports, the winner was awarded medals made of silver with a corresponding diploma and an olive branch. The "first" medals were round with the image of Zeus and Nika, and on the back of the award one could see the famous Acropolis. On the second Summer Olympics in Paris, rectangular medals were awarded, the only occasion in the history of Olympic medals. In 1904, in the United States, the medals again "became round", retaining this shape to the present day.
Images on medals
Throughout the history of the development of Olympic medals, images of Victory-Nika, St. George, silhouettes of graces, heroes of the host country of the Olympic Games (for example, in Sweden the silhouette of Ling, in Belgium - the silhouette of Brabo Silvius) were replaced on their turns. From 1928 to 2000, Nika was portrayed on the Olympic medals with a branch of a palm tree and fans, which honor the winner with "swinging in her arms." Since 2004, the image has changed - on the medals, the goddess of victory Nika, walking through the Panathinaikos stadium, carries victory to the athletes in her hands.
Since 2008, jade has been included in the medal; a special case, ribbon and certificate are issued for it. The Olympic championship medal is actually made of silver and only contains six grams of pure gold.
- Awards
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OLYMPIC AWARDS
"OLYMPIC AWARDS"
The history of the city of Olympia and the Olympiads is so ancient that in fact it does not even have a beginning, but the very first sports competition Greeks were described by Homer in the 23rd song of the poem "Iliad". Currently, it is believed that the first Olympic Games took place in 776 BC, however, historical chronicles say that they were not the first, but only the first time recorded. Historical tradition believes that the Olympiads have their roots in the second millennium BC, when one day the thunderer Zeus descended into the valley where the Kladen River flows into the Alpheus River in a bad mood. He cut the ground with lightning and, admiring the work of his own hands, withdrew. To appease God, people built a sanctuary here and began to offer sacrifices to him.
The end of the Olympic Games was one of the consequences of the collapse of the Mycenaean culture, and the resumption of their Greek tradition dates back to the 9th century BC. At that time, as a result of the "Dorian resettlement", many cult centers were destroyed in the Peloponnese, the indigenous population was expelled or mixed with newcomers, the Alfea valley was inhabited by the Etalians, who subjugated most of the peninsula. The country was devastated by continuous wars, desolation and devastation reigned everywhere, replaced by epidemics. And then the Elid king Iphit turned for advice to the Delphic oracle, who answered through the Pythia, the diviner of the will of the gods:
"Protect your homeland, refrain from war, maintain friendship between the Greek brothers during the annual holidays of the year of peace."
The Greeks interpreted these words as an instruction to resume the Olympic Games, King Iphit invited the Spartan king Lycurgus to follow the advice of the oracle together, because it was with Sparta that Elis most often waged civil wars. They were joined by the ruler of the city of Pisa, Cleosthenes: the three rulers of the three cities created an amphictyony - a cult association of tribes - and concluded an agreement to hold games. King Iphit also initiated Ekeheria, a sacred charter that proclaimed:
"Olympia is a sacred place. Anyone who dares to enter here armed will be branded as a blasphemer. He who, having power, will not avenge this crime, will also be an atheist."
This text was engraved on a bronze disc, which was installed in the temple of the goddess Hera.1 And since then, every leap year, in the holy month "between the harvest and the harvest of grapes," civil wars ceased throughout Greece and free citizens rushed to Olympia. The Olympic Games did not know preliminary selection, any Hellene could come here to measure strength with the same amateurs as himself. Moreover, according to the established rules, there were no social restrictions even during the domination of the aristocracy: only Hellenic origin was required, and even people from the lower classes of the free population could participate in the games. For example, in 520 BC, a simple farmer Glaucus from Karista won a fist fight, and on the statue of one winner, archaeologists saw the following lines:
Before he carried thick, rough logs on his shoulders,
I carried fish from Argos to the Tegeat bazaar ...
But barbarians were not allowed to compete. The selection of athletes was carried out by judges, who at one time discussed for a long time the question of whether the Hellenes were Macedonians. When the latter were allowed to participate in competitions, many of them became Olympians (winners), among them was the Macedonian king Philip II - the father of Alexander the Great. When Greece fell under the rule of Rome, the Romans were also allowed to participate in the Olympic Games. But a criminal who violated the law of his city or general Hellenic regulations could never become a participant in the competition. Women were not allowed into the sacred Olympia, an exception was made only for the priestess of the goddess Demeter.
In the entire history of the Olympic Games, only one woman broke the ban and appeared in the holy city of Zeus.
"OLYMPIC AWARDS"
Her name was Ferenika (according to another version - Callipatera) and she was the daughter of a famous fist fighter, moreover, she herself supervised the trainings of her son. When he went to Olympia, Ferenica changed into a gymnastics teacher's costume and followed him. Her son won a fist fight, and the delighted mother, forgetting about caution, threw herself on his neck. Ferenika was threatened with death for breaking the law, but requests from the audience saved her. The judges pardoned the woman, but immediately decided: henceforth, all the coaches who accompanied the athletes to the games should sit naked behind a special fence.
The Olympic holiday lasted five days, but on the first day there were no competitions: it was dedicated to preparatory ceremonies and sacrifices. Athletes, along with relatives and friends, brought their sacrifices at the altars of those gods whom they considered their patrons. At the altar of Zeus, the athletes took a common oath that they would abide by the rules of the competition and the rules of the games, and that they would fight honestly and without unlawful methods.
The list of athletes who performed at the games was exhibited at the stadium. Before the start of the competition, the Hellenodists (judges) arranged a drawing of lots, and the participants took out bronze tokens from a silver vase, on which one letter (meaning and a number) was engraved. According to the lot, the athletes were divided into fours for running, from which the first day of the competition actually began, since this sport was considered the most ancient and honorable among the Greeks. Legend says that the length of the treadmill was set by Hercules himself, the son of Zeus. Having conceived to install games in honor of his father, he chose a flat area for this and arranged a treadmill on it: having measured the distance of 600 of his feet, the hero decided that this would be enough for running.
The place of start and finish on such a track was marked by stone strips, separated by wooden posts at intervals of 1.2 meters. Two parallel grooves were cut between the pillars in the stone, marking the place for the runner's legs. The Greeks did not know a low start, and the runners stood with their right hand extended and leaning forward slightly. If someone broke down ahead of time, the judges punished him with a stick and returned him to his original place. The winner in the running at the Olympic Games in 776 BC was the cook Koraib (according to other sources - the baker's assistant). There was no statue of him in Olympia, but the ancient authors did not doubt its historical existence: the name of Koraib, written on a marble plaque, opened the list of Olympians known to us.
In running competitions, time was not counted, and not a single historical evidence of the speed of runners has survived, so some stories are perceived as poetic exaggeration. For example, as if one athlete was seen at the start and at the finish, but on the treadmill itself they did not have time to notice him. The ancient Greek writer and traveler Pausanias talked about the Spartan Ladas, who did not even have rivals, because he ran the set distance so fast that he did not leave footprints on the sandy path. In honor of him, the famous sculptor Miron erected a statue that inspired many poets with its beauty:
As if floating with his feet on the air, he strives for the goal ...
The chest heaves strongly, full of faith in victory.
That's how he put you here, Ladas, Miron himself,
Light as air, you fly with your head up ...
The glorious Olympian Agei ran home to Argos (100 km) to talk about his victory, and at night he returned to Olympia to participate in the next day's competitions.
Long jump competitions have always been accompanied by music. A 15-meter-long depression carefully leveled in the soft ground, into which athletes jumped, was called a scam. Footprints were clearly imprinted on the ground, and if it was visible that one of the athlete's feet stepped in front of the other, then the jump was not counted. The ancient Greek long jump is practically a jump from a place, without a run, the more striking the result of the young man Chion (VII century BC) known to us.
"OLYMPIC AWARDS"
BC) - 6.52 meters. But Faill's jump remains a true mystery: ancient authors say that he even jumped the entire scam and landed outside, setting a fantastic record - 16, 31 meters.
On the second day, wrestling and fist fights were held. The wrestling required the highest effort, because since the days of Homer, standing wrestling had taken hold, when athletes approached each other with raised arms and tried to knock the opponent to the ground using various techniques. The defeated opponent continued the fight lying down, and it continued until the exhausted athlete admitted himself defeated. Rough wrestling techniques were forbidden, and the audience was especially delighted with the virtuoso technique of the athletes. It was thanks to his excellent mastery of techniques that Aristodemus of Elis, who was not distinguished by a powerful physique, became famous.
The six-time Olympic winner Milo was also known in ancient Greece: fame resounded far beyond the borders of the state about the power of his iron muscles and legendary perseverance.
As a child, the shepherd boy Milon, naturally endowed with extraordinary strength, raised a calf above him every morning and carried it around his hometown. Milo grew up, the calf grew and grew heavy, and one day the day came when the strong man carried an adult bull on his shoulders. When Milo was studying with the famous mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras, during the lesson, a column of the house suddenly began to collapse. And then he stood in the place of the column, propped up the arch of the dwelling with his hands and shoulders, and stood there until Pythagoras and the other disciples had gone to a safe distance.
And the shepherd Titorm could hold two huge bulls in place by grabbing their hind legs. One bull once managed to escape, but his hoof remained in Titorm's fist.
The most difficult competition was considered pankration - a combination of fist fighting and wrestling. Opponents, completely naked, could rely only on the flexibility of the body, dexterity and muscle strength. It was strictly forbidden to use crude methods, and in general the rules of pankration were especially strict, but the victory was truly magnificent. When, in 407 BC, a famous pankratiast from the island of Rhodes was captured by the Athenians during the naval battle of Notia, he was immediately released, and even without ransom. In 333 BC, Alexander the Great did the same: the famous military leader of antiquity ordered the release of Dionysidorus, who was captured at the battle of Issus, when he learned that the Olympian was standing in front of him.
The third day of the games was devoted to the competitions of the youngest boys. Although they did the same things as their adult companions, the rules were softer for them. For example, the distance in running was halved, the jumpers were assigned a shorter distance, and the judges were not so demanding.
At the end of each competition, the herald to the entire stadium solemnly announced the name and homeland of the winner, and then the Hellenodics commanded him to appear before them again on the last day of the games for the presentation of awards. Then the names of the Olympians and the names of their hometowns were sounded all over the stadium. Having announced this three times, the heralds sounded trumpets, they sang victory songs over the sacred grove in honor of the athletes, who received the coveted olive wreath - a single branch of the olive tree, slightly intertwined and fastened with a ribbon. Special awards were given for "family victories", when one family raised the winners of the Olympic Games from generation to generation.
After the end of the games, a merry feast continued all night until dawn. When the famous philosopher Empedocles received the wreath of the Olympic winner, he presented a bull made of sweet dough and expensive spices for a treat. In the 5th century BC, the famous Athenian commander Alcibiades, who won several awards at once and won equestrian competitions, invited not only all spectators to the holiday, but even the horses that participated in the lists.
"OLYMPIC AWARDS"
He ordered the best artists to paint pictures depicting their victories, and the famous poet Euripides - a victory hymn.
The Greek poet Simonides dedicated the following verses to the young Olympian Theognetus:
Look here, Feognet, - the winner in Olympia, boy,
As beautiful to look at as skillful in wrestling
And on the lists deftly knows how to drive horses,
With glory he crowned the city of the venerable fathers.
The verses of the famous Pindar sounded at solemn feasts:
And in the evening the sweet light of the beautiful face of the moon sparkled.
Songs of praise sounded throughout the sacred grove during the joyful meal.
With the advent of a new day, the Olympians made sacrifices to the gods and departed for their hometowns, where dolichodroms (runners) had gone before to inform their relatives, friends and fellow citizens the name of the new winner. Athletes returned home in purple robes, and here they were also expected to receive special greetings and ceremonies. Almost the whole city came out to meet the hero, it happened that even a part of the city wall was dismantled for a solemn celebration, and the winning athlete drove in a chariot through this gap, bypassing the city gates. In this way, fellow citizens wanted to show that their city, in which such a famous athlete lives, does not need fortress walls: the right moment the winner will be able to protect them from any misfortune. Grateful fellow citizens honored their heroes with monetary awards, according to Solon's law, each Olympian in Athens received 500 drachmas.
From 540 BC, the winners were given the right to erect statues in Olympia with the attributes of competitions, for example, with a disc or a spear in their hands. But a statue with a portrait resemblance could only be erected by an athlete who won the games three times. Even during the time of Pausanias, there were more than 230 statues in Olympia that survived the plunder of the Romans.
Sometimes the statues of the Olympians were ordered at the expense of the city, and they were erected not only in Olympia, but also in the hero's homeland. The winners were granted the right to make sacrifices to their own images, as to gods; deified heroes and fellow citizens.
Even in his youth, Featen became famous from the island of Thasos: at the age of 16, he stole a bronze statue that stood in the market square of his hometown. The statue, of course, had to be returned to its place, but the fame of the extraordinary strength of the young man spread throughout all the cities of Greece. Subsequently, Featen collected more than 1400 victorious wreaths on his glorious and long-term sports career. However, one of the enemies, after the death of the Olympian, decided to punish his dead enemy: every night he came to his statue and lashed it with a whip. But the statue punished the evil blasphemer, falling, she killed him. According to the then existing law, any object that fell and killed a person could no longer be in the city, and the statue of Featen was thrown into the sea. But in the same year his fellow citizens suffered a crop failure, and as a result - hunger. The priests linked these misfortunes with the desecration of the hero's memory, and the terrified inhabitants fished out the statue with nets and put it back on the pedestal. Since then, the fist fighter Featen became the patron saint of farmers, and was also considered a healer.
The ancient Greeks celebrated their winners by issuing special coins. According to Aristotle, the first coins dedicated to the Olympic Games appeared in 480 BC. Then Anaxilas, the ruler of the cities of Messana and Regium, won the mule race during the 75th Olympiad and issued new coins in honor of his victory. And since his victory coincided with the time when he brought hares to Sicily, on one side of the coin was depicted a mule harnessed to a chariot, and on the other - a hare.
On the silver coin of the island of Kos, against the background of a tripod, a discus thrower is depicted. On a copper coin of the city of Smyrna, there is a fist surrounded by palm branches, as a symbol of the victory of their countryman. The Athenian Decadrachm, also knocked out in honor of the Olympics of 480 BC, is considered very rare and therefore very valuable today.
It was found during excavations at the beginning of the 20th century, it was perfectly preserved, and therefore there was no end to those who wanted to buy the coin. In November 1980, the decadrachma was put up for auction, and it went to the American numismatist N. Hunt, who paid $ 1,500,000 for it.
Many city-states of Ancient Greece and the city-states of the Mediterranean issued coins in honor of the Olympic Games, the winners and patron of the games of Zeus. For example, in honor of the winner of the races at the Olympic Games in 356 BC, the Macedonian king Philip II minted a silver tetradrachm: on its front side there was a portrait of the winner, and on the back side - the head of Zeus. The issue of coins with the Olympic theme was continued under the son of Philip II - the great commander Alexander the Great. In the ancient world, the silver decadrachm of the city of Syracuse, issued during the reign of Dionysius I, was very famous. The galloping quadriga depicted on it reproduces one of the many victories at the Olympic hippodrome of King Hieron.
The importance of the Olympic Games was so great that in antiquity, the countdown of the years was carried out from the first Olympiad, which was preserved in the era of Roman domination, although along with the Olympic era there was another countdown of years - from the founding of Rome. But, having heard about the wealth of Olympia, in the III century the tribes of barbarians who crossed the Danube invaded there, and then Emperor Theodosius I forbade the chronology of the Olympiads and ordered the statue of Olympian Zeus to be transported to Constantinople. Thirty years later, by order of another emperor, Theodosius II, Olympia with her temples and altars was set on fire ...
In 1723, the French scientist Montfaucon proposed to restore Olympia, but it took more than 100 years for excavations to begin here. And 70 years later, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, a French public figure, made a proposal to revive the Olympic Games. He believed that the ideas of the Olympic Movement will breathe into humanity "the spirit of freedom, peaceful competition and physical improvement, will contribute to cultural cooperation between peoples." In June 1894, the International Congress was held in Paris, which was attended by representatives of sports organizations from 12 countries, who decided to resume the Olympic Games and hold the first Olympics in 1896 in Greece. At these games, 44 sets of medals were played in nine sports: classic wrestling, cycling, gymnastics, athletics, swimming, bullet shooting, tennis, weightlifting and fencing.
The "Olympic Charter" indicated that in the same year when the Olympic Games are held, the Winter Olympic Games will also be held - a completely independent cycle of competitions.
The issue of coins with the Olympic theme was resumed only in 1952, when a 500-mark coin was minted in honor of the XV Summer Olympic Games in Helsinki. On its front side there was the inscription "Finland" (in Finnish and Swedish) and the denomination, and on the back - five intertwined rings, the date of minting and the inscription "XV Olympiad in Helsinki" However, other countries did not follow Finland's example, and only in 1964 in Austria, a 50 shillings coin was issued. On its obverse were the coats of arms of all Austrian provinces, the inscription "Republic of Austria" and the denomination, on the back - the inscription "IX Winter Olympic Games, 1964, Innsbruck", five Olympic rings and the image of a ski jumper against the background of the Tyrolean mountains.
The most exquisite of modern Olympic coins is the Japanese 1,000 yen coin. It depicts the sacred Mount Fuji framed with cherry blossoms. This coin is so beautiful that even international counterfeiters have gifted it with their attention. Therefore, all catalogs warn collectors about the possibility of counterfeiting.
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The XXII Winter Olympic Games in Sochi were very successful for Russian athletes. Our team has won the most gold and silver medals, as well as the total number of awards. All sets of medals for winter Olympics 2014 were made by one of the leaders of the Russian jewelry market.
What metal are Olympic medals made of?
It would seem that the answer to this question is obvious: gold from gold, silver from silver, and bronze, respectively, from bronze. However, this is not quite true. Despite the fact that the size and weight of medals at different Olympics is different, their composition is enshrined in the rules of the International Olympic Committee.
Let's start with the bronze medals. There are no tricks here. Bronze medals consist precisely of bronze, which in its composition is usually an alloy of copper and tin. Olympic bronze medals are composed of 97% copper, 2.5% zinc and 0.5% tin. Based on the cost of the components, an Olympic bronze medal costs only $ 5-10, depending on the size.
Silver Olympic medals must be made of at least 925 sterling silver (sterling silver). It contains 92.5% pure silver, about 7.5% copper and a small amount of other elements. Silver fineness can be higher. The cost of such a medal is from $ 200 to $ 500.
What is the composition of the Olympic gold medal?
The Olympic gold medal is also made, oddly enough, from 925 sterling silver or higher. In fact, these are the same silver medals. The only difference is that 6 grams of pure gold is applied on top of them. The cost of the gold medal is about $ 800.
Games in St. Louis v 1904 year became significant in many ways - for the first time, three prize-winners were awarded gold, silver and bronze medals. At the same time, gold medals were first made from pure gold. The medals of the winners were made entirely of gold only before the Olympic Games in Stockholm in 1912 year, and then only began to be covered with six grams of gold.
Why exactly "gold, silver and bronze"?
Probably, when deciding on the awarding of gold, silver and bronze medals, the founders of the International Olympic Committee at the end of the 19th century were guided by the following considerations:
- the real cost of metals and their suitability for the manufacture of medals. The value of gold, silver and bronze illustrates the distribution of places in the competition perfectly. The concept of "gold" is unambiguously perceived as "first place".
- mythical background. In their history, the ancient Greeks themselves distinguished several periods (ages of mankind). In his didactic poem Works and Days, written around 700 BC, the Greek poet Hesiod identifies five periods. The golden period refers to the time when people lived among the gods in peace and harmony. Silver is characterized by godlessness and human weakness. The Bronze Age marks a time of war and violence. After these periods comes the heroic era (the time when the heroes of the Trojan War lived) and then the Iron Age (modern times)
- the arrangement of metals in the periodic table of elements (periodic table). Copper, silver and gold are located one below the other
Why did the Olympic gold medal cease to be made of pure gold?
The refusal to manufacture medals from pure gold, most likely, occurred for economic reasons. The host country of the Olympics bears almost all the costs of organizing the Games and receiving participants.
The number of kits played was constantly increasing, and the number of team sports was also growing. At the same time, the prestige of the Olympics increased, and in fact, Olympic gold medals began to be valued much more expensive than the cost of the metal included in them.
There are requirements for Olympic medals not only in terms of the composition of the metal
Of the other rules established by the International Olympic Committee in respect of medals, the following can be noted:
- the diameter of the medals must be at least 60 mm
- thickness not less than 3 mm
- each medal must have a chain or ribbon attachment
- each medal must indicate the sport in which it is played.
The medal design is developed by the host country of the Olympic Games, but the IOC always has the final say.
And what were the Olympic champions of the first Games awarded with?
At the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece, which dates back to 776 BC, the winner received no awards other than a wreath of olive branches. The wreath was awarded on the day of the end of the Games in the temple of Zeus. On this occasion, the ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes in his play "Plutos" in 408 BC. pokes fun at Zeus, claiming that he is clearly poor. Otherwise, he would have given the Olympic winners not a wreath of branches, but gold.
The Olympic Games were canceled by the Roman emperor Theodosius I (or his son) around 400 AD. The first modern games were held in 1896 in Athens. On them, the winners were awarded silver medals and palm branches, a bronze medal was given for the second place, and the third place was not awarded in any way. At the next Games in Paris in 1900, the winners were awarded valuable paintings and other works of art. Subsequently, the Olympic Committee separately issued a standard set of medals for participants in the first two Olympic Games.
The modern Olympic Games are an international event, a beautiful holiday that unites not only the entire sports world, but all peoples of the planet.
In our time, it is impossible to imagine the Olympics without its inherent obligatory attributes: a white flag with five intertwining multi-colored rings, a torch lit in Greece, an emblem, motto, symbols, talismans and, of course, Olympic medals.
Traditions of Olympic awards
The custom of rewarding athletes for individual or team achievement at the Olympic Games is as old as the international competition itself. In those ancient times, the winners were awarded with olive wreaths, palm branches, and the Olympic athlete's hometown paid him a cash prize, surrounded him with honors and granted privileges.
The tradition of awarding medals to the champions of the Games originated in 1894. At the First IOC Congress in Paris, dedicated to the preparation for the 1st Olympics in 1896, it was adopted in which the form, minimum size and composition of Olympic medals, as well as the rules and ceremony of awarding, were prescribed. The main principle of the charter of those years was the presentation of awards depending on the result: for 1st and 2nd places - silver medals (925 standard), while the winner's medal was coated with pure gold in an amount of at least 6 grams. For the 3rd place, the athletes who were awarded should have a diameter of at least 60 mm and a thickness of 3 mm. The established sizes, as well as the shape of the medals, have sometimes changed over the past years.
So, in 1900, the winners were awarded rectangular bronze plaques covered with silver, and in 1908 the composition of the gold medal was 100% consistent with its name. However, this award, the only time consisting of pure gold, was small - with a diameter of 3.3 centimeters, it weighed 21 grams and rather resembled a coin. Later, the medals began to be made larger, but the share of gold in them significantly decreased, although it never fell below 6 grams specified in the charter.
Many Olympic fans are interested in the question: "How much gold is there in the winner's medal, won by hard work and then in a fair fight?" The answer is ambiguous.
The design and chemical composition changed at almost every Olympics. However, the gold content in them is determined by the recommendations of the Olympic Charter and ranges from 1 to 1.5% of the weight of the award. This is 6-7 grams. For example, at XXX in London, the main metals of the highest award are silver and copper, respectively 92.5 and 6.16%. Gold of the highest standard, which covers the surface of the medal, is present in an amount of slightly more than 1%. So, in relation to the first awards of almost all the Olympics (except for the one held in 1908 in London), the word "golden" would be more correct to write in quotation marks. But is the composition of the Olympic medals really that important? Indeed, in fact, the highest award to an athlete is recognition of his highest sporting achievements, which he achieved by the physical embodiment of fortitude and ultimate will to win.
Sochi Olympics Medals
The composition of the Olympic medals in Sochi differs little from the accepted standards, and nevertheless they are the largest and heaviest in the history of the Games. A set of unique awards combines original design and innovative manufacturing technologies. Sochi medals fully convey the versatility and contrasts of the original culture of Russia.
Each product, made with the highest precision, up to a thousandth of a millimeter, has a unique polycarbonate insert with an Olympics "patchwork quilt" applied to it. This pattern consists of 16 ornaments of the most famous Russian national crafts. On the obverse, the medals are depicted on the reverse - the name of the type of competition and the emblem of the Olympics, on the edge (edge) the name of the Games is written in Russian, French and English.
Composition of Olympic medals in Sochi
The gold medal is made of an alloy of silver and copper (92.5 and 6.16%, respectively). Copper is essential for enhancing strength. Plating - 999 standard gold - makes up 1.34% of the weight of the award. It contains 93% silver 960 and 7% copper. The bronze medal is made of a copper alloy with a small addition of tin and zinc.
Awards Sochi Olympics will go down in the history of the Games as the most innovative, the most numerous, the most diverse, and, without undue modesty, the most beautiful. They personify modern Russia. This becomes clear at the first glance at any of the medals, because the design of these unique products is based on our favorite and world-famous ornaments and symbols. The well-deserved awards, which will forever remain with the winning athletes, will remind them of Russia and the unforgettable Olympic Games in Sochi.
