Olympics – Page 2 – The Book of Threes

By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D., About.com Guide

What do you think Olympic medals are made of? Are the gold medals really gold? They used to be solid gold, but now Olympic gold medals are made from something else. Here’s a look at the metal composition of Olympic medals and how the medals have changed over time.

Answer: The last Olympic gold medal that was actually made from gold was awarded in 1912. So, if Olympic gold medals aren’t gold, then what are they? The specific composition and design of Olympic medals is determined by the host city’s organizing committee. However, certain standards must be maintained:

Gold and silver medals are 92.5% silver.
Gold medals must be plated with at least 6 grams of gold.
All Olympic medals must be at least 3 mm thick and at least 60 mm in diameter.

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London 2012 Olympic Torch – XXX Olympiad London 2012

The Torch was designed by east Londoners Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, who won the opportunity through a competitive tender run by the London 2012 Organising Committee and the Design Council.

The triangular-shaped Torch was inspired by a series of ‘threes’ that are found in the history of the Olympic Games and the vision for the Olympic Movement:

The three Olympic values of respect, excellence and friendship;
The three words that make the Olympic motto – faster, higher, stronger;
The fact that the UK has hosted the Olympic Games in 1908, 1948 and will host them for the third time in 2012; and
The vision for the London 2012 Olympic Games to combine three bodies of work – sport, education and culture.

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