As the Games’ Official Diversified Minerals and Medals Sponsor, we are proud not only to be providing the raw materials for the medals, but to be helping generate excitement around this milestone event.
For the first time in history a public competition to design the medals for an Olympic Games was initiated, which called for submissions from throughout China. BHP Billiton sponsored this competition and took part in judging the 265 entries from across the country.
The winning entry came from a team at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, with the design unveiled to the public at a gala presentation in the host city on 27 March 2007 which marked the 500 day countdown to the start of the Beijing Games.
The design incorporates elements of traditional Chinese culture and Olympic heritage. Inspired by ancient China’s “jade bi”, the medals will feature an engraved dragon motif, symbolising nobility and virtue and the traditional Chinese values of ethics and honour.
At BHP Billiton, we are also proud to support the medals design for the Paralympic Games. The Paralympic medal design was again inspired by the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, and fittingly features a similar design, but includes the International Paralympic Committee logo and braille insignia.