THE COUNTDOWN for one of the biggest sporting events, Olympic Games 2012, has started with just a year left to go, before athletes from all parts of the world throng to London to showcase their skills and make their country proud by winning the elusive gold medal. The medals for the upcoming games were unveiled at Trafalgar Square in Britain.

 

These medals were presented in the presence of International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge. It was presented by Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal.

 

David Watkins, who is a well known artist for his creative and decorative art has designed the medals for Olympic Games 2012. He was very pleased when his design was picked among a list of 100 other designs.

 

On one side of the medal, Greek goddess of victory, Nike, has been carved, whereas on the other side, the Olympic logo has been engraved along with the London 2012 logo and River Thames. The medal will weigh between 13 to 14 ounces. The diameter of the medal is eighty-five millimetres with a thickness of seven millimetres. Around 2100 medals would be in the offing for athletes in different sporting events.

 

The gold medal, which will be awarded to the winners in various events, is made up of mostly silver (92.5%) along with six grams of gold. Copper will also be used during the process. The silver medal consists of 92.5 per cent silver and the rest is all copper.  The Bronze medal comprises of 97.0 Copper with 2.5% and 0.5% of zinc and tin used respectively. The ribbons of the medal will be in purple colour.