New Delhi: Only five months have passed since Paris hosted the 33rd edition of the Summer Olympics but the medals have already lost their shine. In a major embarrassment for the Paris Olympics organising committee and Monnaie de Paris (the French State mint) – responsible for the manufacture and quality control of the medals, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has offered athletes to replace their medals.
Among those deciding to get their medals replaced is star India shooter Manu Bhaker, who won two bronze medals in the French capital. The Indian superstar, who scripted history five months ago, by becoming the first Indian post-independence to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympics, told Sportstar about her decision to get replacement medals.
Manu, who won bronze medals in the individual and team events of the 10m air pistol in the French capital have decided to get the medals replaced with ‘identical models.’
Why is the IOC issuing replacement medals?
After several athletes complained about the quality of the medals, the IOC decided to issue replacements for medals won in the Paris Olympics. The Paris Olympics organising committee and Monnaie de Paris are working closely to asses all the complaints about the quality of the medals.
French media reported close to 100 defective medals have been returned by the athletes months after the conclusion of the Paris Olympics after expressing disappointment over the fading colour of the medals. Indian men’s hockey player Hardik Singh, and bronze-winning shooters Swapnil Kusale and Sarabjot Singh have also expressed their frustration about the quality of the medals. The shooting duo told Indian Express that the colour of their medals started to come off within days of the podium ceremony.
Concerns about the medals were raised even before the Games’ conclusion with American skateboarder Nyjah Huston raising the issue by posting a video showing a deteriorated bronze medal.
It is understood that the most defective medals are bronze.
Who designed the medals?
The 5,084 medals awarded in the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics) were designed by luxury jewellery and watchmakers Chaumet and produced by the Monnaie de Paris. Each medal contained pieces of the Eiffel Tower.
What did the manufacturers say?
After the IOC gave a statement and said that “defective medals will be systematically replaced” in the next few weeks, the Monnaie de Paris, manufacturers of the medals dismissed the claims of producing defective medals and said that the medals pointed out by athletes as “defective” since August have been replaced and that further replacements will be made soon according to the requests.
Medals awarded at the Paris 2024 Olympics have already lost their shine, leading to barrage of complaints from the athletes. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
