The Olympic medals have caught the eye of athletes and spectators from around the world. For the first time in Olympic history, New York Jets, since their debut on August 8th, the Olympic medals blend metal and jade. The technique of inlaying jade into metal can be dated back to the Han Dynasty 2000 years ago. And in Chinese culture, jade is a symbol of class and elegance. According to Games officials, the medals combine Western and Eastern elements. For example, 13 kilograms of gold and 1.3 tons of silver were sourced from Australia, and nearly seven tons of bronze were sourced from Chile. While jade was collected from the Kunlun Mountains in western China. The design puts a seal between the inner layer and a groove to bond metal and jade. The seal can also buffer the effect of vibration to protect the jade against impact.
Cui Ning, deputy minister of the cultural division, BOCOG, said, "We keep in constant contact with experts at the IOC during the design and manufacturing process. We provide them with upgraded samples and they approve and appreciate them all." Shanghai Mint was the official manufacturer of the medals. The first and foremost concern is to make sure the purity of the gold, silver, and bronze reaches the IOC standard. The medal makers also have to cope with Shanghai’s humidity, which is usually as high as 5%. They use power dry machines to lower the indoor humidity so the surface color of the silver and bronze medals are preserved. In Beijing, the jade medals have become the talk of the town. The Olympic organizers hope the grace and delicacy of the medals will be remembered for years to come.
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