With just 51 days to go until the 2016 Olympic Games gets under way, organizers have revealed to the world the medals that Usain Bolt and co. will be battling it out for in Rio de Janeiro.
With just 51 days to go until the 2016 Olympic Games gets under way, organizers have revealed to the world the medals that Usain Bolt and co. will be battling it out for in Rio de Janeiro.
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A grand total of 2,488 medals will be on offer to athletes at the Games, which run from August 5 to August 21, with 812 of those gold, 812 being silver and 864 bronze.
A grand total of 2,488 medals will be on offer to athletes at the Games, which run from August 5 to August 21, with 812 of those gold, 812 being silver and 864 bronze.
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Weighing in at 500g, the medals have been made with "sustainability at their heart," according to organizers, while they feature a design that "celebrates the relationship between the strengths of Olympic heroes and the forces of nature."
Weighing in at 500g, the medals have been made with "sustainability at their heart," according to organizers, while they feature a design that "celebrates the relationship between the strengths of Olympic heroes and the forces of nature."
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The gold medals are free from mercury, with the silver and bronzes having been produced using 30 percent recycled materials, while half of the plastic in all of their respective ribbons come from recycled plastic bottles.
The gold medals are free from mercury, with the silver and bronzes having been produced using 30 percent recycled materials, while half of the plastic in all of their respective ribbons come from recycled plastic bottles.
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The designs on the medals feature laurel leaves -- a symbol of victory in ancient Greece -- surrounding the Rio 2016 logo, while the other side boasts an image of Nike -- the Greek goddess of victory -- with the Panathinaiko Stadium and the Acropolis in the background.
The designs on the medals feature laurel leaves -- a symbol of victory in ancient Greece -- surrounding the Rio 2016 logo, while the other side boasts an image of Nike -- the Greek goddess of victory -- with the Panathinaiko Stadium and the Acropolis in the background.
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The Paralympic medals were also revealed and have a tiny device inside which makes a noise when it is shaken, allowing visually impaired athletes to know if they are gold, silver or bronze -- gold has the loudest noise, with bronze the quietest.
The Paralympic medals were also revealed and have a tiny device inside which makes a noise when it is shaken, allowing visually impaired athletes to know if they are gold, silver or bronze -- gold has the loudest noise, with bronze the quietest.
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All medals are slightly thicker at their central point compared with their edges, and the name of the event for which the medal is won will be engraved by laser along its outside edge.
All medals are slightly thicker at their central point compared with their edges, and the name of the event for which the medal is won will be engraved by laser along its outside edge.
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"Today marks the start of the final countdown to the first Olympic Games to be staged in South America," International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said at the launch event in the Barra Olympic Park in Rio.
"Today marks the start of the final countdown to the first Olympic Games to be staged in South America," International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said at the launch event in the Barra Olympic Park in Rio.
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