Paris Olympic medals contain pieces of the Eiffel Tower's original iron frame
- Medals awarded in the 2024 Paris Olympics contain iron from the Eiffel Tower.
- The iron is shaped like a hexagon, referencing the six-sided shape of France.
Gold, silver, and bronze medals awarded in the 2024 Paris Olympics contain a unique tribute to the host city: metal from the Eiffel Tower.
Ever since its completion in 1899, pieces of the Eiffel Tower's original iron frame have been removed during renovations and modernization projects and preserved by Société d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel, the operator of the historic site, Olympics.com reported.
For the 2024 Olympics, this leftover iron was molded into hexagon-shaped pieces and placed in the center of each medal by French jeweler Chaumet. The design references France's nickname of "l'Hexagone," or "The Hexagon," because of the country's six-sided shape."
"We've decided to add this hexagon in the way we would a gemstone — in the center and placed as the most precious element of the medal," Clémentine Massonnat, Chaumet's creative director, told Olympics.com.
The brackets holding the iron in place also mimic the design of the Eiffel Tower's rivets.
The other side of the medals features depictions of both the Eiffel Tower and the Acropolis of Athens, as well as Athena Nike, the Greek goddess of Athens combined with the goddess of victory.
Forbes reported that a 2024 Olympic gold medal is worth $950.
Spectators can enjoy views of the Eiffel Tower at Eiffel Tower Stadium, a 12,860-person Olympic venue built at the base of the famous landmark.