Turin medal design revealed

[NoVa Sk8r]

Kinda neat idea behind the doughnut design ...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051201/ap_on_sp_ol/oly_turin_medals

[Debbie S]

Interesting idea, but a strange look. People on another board were noting that they looked like bagels. :lol:

[Artemis]

I like. They're unique without being weird, IMO.

Of course I'm sure none of athletes really care what the medals look like ... ;)

[stardust skies]

Wow, I'd be super bummed out if I got a medal like that. The OLYS are all about tradition...having a medal with a big hole in it is so cheap. It looks like something you'd buy at Claire's. Just my opinion though...if I earned an OLY medal, I wouldn't want it to look like this.

[Schmeck]

I thought maybe they got them at the hardware store? They look like gold-plated washers to me :roll:

Is there more engraving other than the small icon on the front? Where does it say Turin, 2006 Olympics, etc? It just doesn't look very 'Olympic" to me. It is a pretty ribbon though!

[jazzpants]

Of course I'm sure none of athletes really care what the medals look like ... ;)Screw the medal!!! Where's the endor$ement deal$!!! :twisted: :lol: :twisted: :lol: :twisted:

[7302005]

It does not say Olympic Medal to me. And it takes eight people 10 hours to make each medal?

[Lark]

Simply hideous, IMO.

Then again, most athletes I have heard about keep their medals in shoe boxes or somewhere where they rarely see them.

So, obviously, the medal is a representation of a dream achieved!

Heck, I would take a flea home if it meant I won the Olympics!!! LOLOL ;)

[sadya]

^lol!


I think they're nice. While each Olympics has it's traditions, it also brings something new. Why not have a different kind of medal for a change?

[Bella]

I guess I'm in the minority here, but I like them. The article said they were made to represent an Italian Piazza. So why not have a medal that has something unique about it representing the host country? They are different and creative, and it's nice that not every medal looks the same. I know I'd be proud to have one!

[Schmeck]

How does a hole in the middle of a medal represent a piazza? Are piazzas empty, meaningless holes in the middle of communities?

[Binky]

Add me to the minority, because I think they're kinda cool looking! And Schmeck~ if you look at the edge of the medal, there are engravings there, which I think are the year, the word "Olympique", etc.

[Bella]

How does a hole in the middle of a medal represent a piazza? Are piazzas empty, meaningless holes in the middle of communities?

Well, maybe the whole in the middle is just supposed to emphasize the roundness and circularity of a piazza. If it was just an ordinary medal without a hole no one would think about it being a piazza. I have a picture of one in my Italian textbook, and it's very circular. No, piazza's are not empty, meaningless holes in the middle of communities, and I don't think that's what the medal was aiming to represent, nor do I think it reflects that. Just in looking at my picture, there sort of are "holes", just with the design of the roads.

[Isk8NYC]

How does a hole in the middle of a medal represent a piazza? Are piazzas empty, meaningless holes in the middle of communities?

Apparently ... (from the original news story posted by Nova:)
While it may appear as though biathletes have been using them for target practice, the medals are actually meant to represent the open space of an Italian piazza, or city square.

I've never been to Italy, but a friend says it's an accurate description of a piazza: an open space surrounded by the homes/businesses.

I like the medals and I think they are unique and creative. (With a bit of style thrown in for good luck!)

[Schmeck]

Well, I could see an 'empty space' - ie an unengraved spot, in the middle of the medal, but a real hole? That represents nothingness to me, and I thought piazzas were supposed to be lively, community-centered areas.

[Isk8NYC]

:twisted: Maybe they made up the piazza reference because they thought the hole looked cool! LOL!

[Imo]

For those interested, you can see previous medal designs here:

http://www.olympic.org/uk/passion/collectors/search_uk.asp?TypeId=4

I seem to remember people being upset with the Albertville (centre made of glass) and Lillehammer (centre made of granite) designs when they came out too... As for the Turin design, I kinda like it.

[Schmeck]

Thanks for the link! So, I guess there have been even odder, uglier medals in the past, LOL!

[Lark]

I would have to say that the recent medals from Albertville, Lillehammer and Nagano are my absolute favorites! Salt Lake City would be my least favorite, of the more recent medals anyway.

The older medals look too much like coins, which I am not a fan of.

The look, not currency! LOLOL :)

[Schmeck]

Icy, my 14 yr old daughter, actually preferred the 'coiny' ones, as they looked like traditional medals. She actually has a silver USFSA medal from Sectionals (synchro) that is beautiful!