LOCOG Unveils Olympic Medal Designs For '12 London Games

LOCOG today unveiled the '12 London Games medals in a ceremony at Trafalgar Square. The medals were presented by Queen Elizabeth II and LOCOG Chair Sebastian Coe. Designed by artist David Watkins, they "depict Nike, the Greek Goddess of Victory, stepping out of the Parthenon to arrive in the host city." The front "also shows a bowl resembling an amphitheatre," and the back "features a portrayal of the River Thames." The overall circular shape is "a symbol of the world" (TELEGRAPH.co.uk, 7/27).

The London 2012 logo "features strongly in the abstract design" on one side, "appearing to rise out boldly from the center of the medal which is criss-crossed by lines which are meant to symbolise energy radiating out from the city." LOCOG member and former track & field Gold Medalist Jonathan Edwards said of the "chunky" design, "If you win seven or eight of them like Michael Phelps did in Beijing you'll need a strong neck" (REUTERS, 7/27).

See a rundown of Olympic medals through the years.