PyeongChang 2018 Medals Unveiled

(ATR) The medals to be awarded during the PyeongChang Winter Games are unveiled in simultaneous events in Seoul and New York City.

Created by the designer Suk-woo Lee, they incorporate Hangeul – the Korean alphabet and the foundation of Korean culture – into their design through a series of three-dimensional consonants, according to the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG).

These consonants stretch across the face of the medals to the edge, where they come together to spell "Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018".

While the obverse of the medals shows the Olympic rings, the reverse features the name of the discipline and event, alongside the PyeongChang 2018 emblem.

The ribbon from which the medal hangs is an equally important part of the design, and has been created using Gapsa, a traditional Korean fabric. The light teal and pale red ribbon is also embroidered with Hangeul patterns and other designs.

The medals range in weight from 586 grams (1.29 pounds) for the gold to 493 grams (1.09 pounds) for the bronze. In total, 259 sets have been made for next year’s Winter Games.

South Korea’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Jong Whan Do, the Vice-Governor of Gangwon Province Suk Doo Song,, and POCOG President Hee Beom Lee officially presented the medals in Seoul.

"These wonderful medals perfectly encapsulate our culture, tradition and the Olympic values," Lee said. "We want the medal to be a symbol of the Republic of Korea and all the wonderful memories that the athletes will take home from their time here."

The Seoul launch was held at the same time as one at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, 11,000 kilometers (6,835 miles) away. "PyeongChang 2018 at the Met: Celebrating the Olympic Winter Games for Peace" was attended by South Korean President Jae In Moon, who is in the city for the United Nations General Assembly.

Korean artists performed during dinner before Moon addressed the audience ahead of the medals being unveiled on stage. Games ambassador and renowned Korean opera singer Sumi Jo sang three songs to close out the evening.

IOC Vice-President Anita DeFrantz, who was also at the New York event, said the unveiling of the medals "makes the Games more real for the thousands of athletes who have been working towards the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 their entire lives. Today, the excitement will definitely have increased for them."

Written by Gerard Farek

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