Beijing 2022 unveil Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games medals design

The medals for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 were unveiled at the ‘Together for a Shared Future – 100 Days To Go’ countdown ceremony for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

Medals are an important part of the design elements of the Winter Olympic Games. The medals’ design not only reflects the culture and spirit of the host country, but also encapsulates the innovative ideas and inspiring creativity of the artists. 

Based on the principle that the two Winter Games are equally wonderful, the medals of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are inspired by the same concept and use the same design. The centre of the front of the medals is engraved with the logo of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), and surrounded by the words 'Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games' in English in engraved letters and Braille beads.

The emblem of the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games is engraved in the centre on the back of the medals, and the full Chinese name for the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games is engraved around it. The rings are engraved with 13 points and arcs. The name of the medal event will be engraved on the outermost ring on the back of the medal.

The Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games medal ribbon and medal box also follow the design of the Olympic Winter Games ribbon and box.

The medal ribbon is woven utilising the traditional mulberry silk method. The ice and snow pattern is printed with the emblem of the Beijing 2022 Winter Games, the visual identity of the Games, the words 'Beijing 2022' and other elements. The red ribbon reflects the cultural characteristics of the Chinese Spring Festival and extends the festival’s warm wishes to the athletes.

The medal box is made of lacquer and bamboo, highlighting the characteristics of Chinese culture and following the "Green Olympics" sustainability initiative.

Gao Tian, Deputy Director General of the Beijing 2022 Culture and Ceremonies Department, said that for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, medals are unique design elements mirroring the cultural characteristics of the host countries. The Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games medals are named 'Tong Xin'. On the one hand, the name is related to the inspiration for the design of the medals, which comes from the ancient Chinese jade concentric circle pendants. There are five concentric rings.

On the other hand, 'Tong Xin' also signifies the Chinese cultural connotation of "the unity of heaven and earth and the unity of people's hearts". It symbolises the Olympic Spirit of bringing people together from all over the world to participate in and share the splendour of the Winter Games.

Gao Tian said that it is meaningful to release the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games medals at the ceremony for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games 100 Days to Go countdown because it signifies that the preparations for the Winter Games are complete.

As one of the most important design elements of the Winter Games, medals promote the Olympic Spirit and symbolise the glory of athletes. It is the most glorious moment for an athlete to be awarded a medal. The medal design’s unveiling at this important milestone also indicates that Beijing 2022 is ready to welcome athletes from around the world to Beijing and Zhangjiakou to display their indomitable spirit and compete for the glory of their country.