For the first time, a material other than metal will be used for medals for the XXIX Beijing Olympic Games 2008.

The medals feature a unique design, taking inspiration from ‘Bi’, China's ancient jade piece inscribed with a dragon pattern. The medals symbolize nobility and virtue and are an embodiment of traditional Chinese values of ethics and honour.

The medals measure 70mm in diameter and 6mm in thickness. The obverse side adopts the standard design prescribed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which is a representation of the winged goddess of victory Nike and Panathinaikos Arena, while on the reverse, the medals are inlaid with jade with the Beijing Games emblem engraved in the metal centrepiece.

Jade has been supplied from China's plateau province of Qinghai. The gold medal incorporates a light, fine jade, while the silver has the white-greenish jade. A greenish jade has been used for the bronze medal.

The IOC has strict stipulations on the Olympic medals' material, identification, weight, size and drawing. The medals for the champion and the runner-up are made of pure silver, and the champion's medal must be plated with gold weighing no less than six grams each.

Visit the offical Beijing Olympics 2008 site

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