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Tokyo Games organizers today unveiled the Olympic medals for '20, and with a diameter of 85 millimeters, the Gold and Silver will be the "heaviest ever used at a Summer Games, weighing in at 556 and 550 grams, respectively." On the back, the medals "bear the Olympic rings and Tokyo 2020 logo inside a swirl design, while the front continues the long-standing tradition of depicting Nike, the mythical Greek goddess of victory, as required" by the IOC. The design by Japan's Junichi Kawanishi was "picked by a selection panel in July after a competition open to design professionals and students that drew more than 400 entries" (KYODO NEWS, 7/24).
Today marks exactly one year out from the Opening Ceremony, and fans, sponsors and politicians were "celebrating the day around the Japanese capital, displaying placards and clocks showing 365 days to go." IOC President Thomas Bach, who won fencing Gold in '76, "showed off his skills in a demonstration with school children." Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also was "scheduled to take part during the day-long festival" (AP, 7/23).
