Fans watching the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France have noticed something different for the medal ceremonies.
A long-withstanding tradition in the Olympics is for the gold medal winners to be placed on the highest podium in the middle. On the winner’s right is the silver medalist, with the bronze medalist placed on the winner’s left side. For the 2024 Summer Olympics, though, the medalists are also awarded a cardboard box.
In case you haven’t seen or noticed, here’s an outside look of the cardboard box that the gold, bronze and silver medalists receive at the podium:
As outlined on the official Olympics website, the 40-centimeter cardboard boxes contain posters created by French designer Ugo Gattoni. The posters show the city of Paris and the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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“During this ceremony, they are also presented with another gift, one that many find mysterious. It was a box measuring around forty centimetres containing the official poster for the event. The poster, designed by Ugo Gattoni, was not the only gift given to the medallists.
After the ceremony (and not on the podium), they also receive a gold, silver or bronze medal-winning mascot. They are made in France at the Doudou & Compagnie factory in La Guerche-de-Bretagne. Gold, silver or bronze medals are represented by the medal emblem sewn onto the mascot’s belly, by the colour of the trainers and by the text “Bravo” in French on the back of the Phryge.”
Athletes are also awarded a plushie of the Phryge mascot with the word “Bravo” written on the back. The plushies feature a medal on their bellies (gold, silver and bronze) with shoes carrying the matching colors:
Here’s what the posters and plushies for the winners at the 2024 Summer Olympics are awarded:
This year’s Olympics kicked off last Friday, with the opening ceremonies drawing over 28 million viewers alone in the United States on NBC and Peacock. The games will run through Aug. 11.
Nearly 10,800 athletes are competing in this year’s games.
First Olympic Games In France Since 1992
The 2024 games mark the first time where the Olympics are being played in France since 1992. The city of Albertville hosted the 1992 Winter Olympics, which featured 1,801 athletes from 64 nations.
Before that, France had not hosted an Olympic event since the 1968 Winter Games in Grenoble. Paris hosted the Winter Olympics in 1900, and the 1924 Summer Olympics and Chamonix held the 1924 Winter Olympics.
The 2030 Winter Games will return to France, with the games being held in the French Alps.
