What’s in the box?
The Olympics are in full swing and Team GB have just won their fifth medal of the games – a silver for Tom Daley and Noah Williams in the diving.
There has been much discussion over the design of the medals with each one, no matter which of the three colours you secure, containing a small metallic grey circle in its centre.
It was revealed before the games began that in true Parisian fashion, each medal would contain a fragment of the Eiffel Tower.
The medal is not the only thing those on the podium will receive. Since day one, Olympics fans have been puzzled as to why the medallists don’t receive a mascot as usual and why instead they receive an intriguing box on the podium.
Inside the box is the official Olympic poster for this year’s games, which has been designed by French artist Ugo Gattoni.
Each poster is edged with the colour of the medal they have won, so each medallist will have a slightly different poster to the one standing next to them on the podium.
Gattoni is said to have spent 2,000 hours designing the cartoon-style drawing of the host city over a four-month period.
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The director of design of these Olympics, Joachim Roncin said he wanted the illustration to tell the story of Paris 2024.
The landmarks and architecture of the city featured heavily in the opening ceremony and now they also feature in the medals and the poster.
Once athletes return to the athletes village, they will then receive their medal winners mascots.
The mascots for these games are Phryges, which represents freedom and has a long history in France.
They are based on the famous Phrygian cap. They were widely popularised by French revolutionaries and are now a common image across the country.
It is seen on the French national icon, Marianne and is depicted in busts at town halls, features on stamps and is covered in the national curriculum.
Phrygian caps were worn during the construction of Notre Dame in 1163, during the revolution of 1789 and during work to build the Eiffel Tower so it is only fitting they make an appearance at the Olympic Games.
When the Paralympics begin on August 28, we will see medallists receive their medal and their mascot on the podium but will receive their poster at the athletes village after their ceremony.
