OC CWG Delhi 2010 unveils medals for the Games

Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi today unveiled the victory medals for XIX Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi. Delhi 2010 medals combine sporting excellence with fine craftsmanship.

The victory medals were unveiled by Organising Committee CWG 2010 Delhi Chairman Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, MP and Dr. Lalit K. Bhanot, Secretary General, Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi here at the OC headquarters.

The medals for Delhi 2010 are a product of excellence and reflect the spirit of the Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi, a testament to brilliance and success of the athletes. 

“Indian athletes won 50 medals in the 2006 Games. We hope 70 of these wonderful medals will be won by Indian athletes. India finished fourth in the medal tally at Melbourne. We’re hopeful of moving to the third place this time.” said Organising Committee CWG 2010 Delhi Chairman Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, MP

“The Prime Minister has given us Rs 700 crore for training of athletes, I am confident that will reflect in India’s medal tally,” added Mr. Kalmadi.

The medal design is clean and simple and the dominant form that gives it dynamism is a rising upward spiral that starts taking shape from the plain textured base, gradually becoming the highlight of the medal. It represents the rise to glory for each athlete from struggle to their moment of glory.

The front of the medal has the Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi logo and dates. The back has the emblem of the Commonwealth Games Federation.

The medal is 6 mm thick with a diameter of 63.5 mm. The signature element’s starting fin is raised by 1 mm and it rises up to 3 mm on the last fin. The embossed logo and date is raised by 1mm.

The lanyard of the medal carries all six Games colors (pink, purple, green, red, yellow and blue) blending into each other. It is created with Delhi2010 brand and design elements.

The medal case is clean and simple with black background enhancing the logo embossed on top in Gold, Silver or Bronze - matching the medal inside. The color and simplicity of the box is keeping with the significance of the product it carries. The black base provides an appropriate background to the multi-hued lanyard and the medal itself.

OC CWG Delhi 2010 has ordered a total of 1,408 medals, which includes multiple medals for team events. The cost of producing each gold medal is Rs 5,539, while every silver medal costs Rs 4,818 and a bronze medal Rs 4,529. The total cost of producing these medals is Rs 81, 08,566 including the price of the boxes and lanyards.

Considering the various constraints in medal manufacture, Tombac Bronze (92% copper, 6% zinc and 2% nickel) was selected as base metal. This metal has the ability to flow under compressive force and allow formation of sharp and firm features in design.

The India Government Mint, Kolkata, was entrusted with the design, development and manufacture of the medals. The Image & look department of the CWG Delhi 2010 has created 4 design options for victory medals. After sampling the existing design was selected for final prototype. 

The Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi authorities had prepared 4 photographic perspective views of the medals. State of the art CNC Engraving Machines are being used for manufacturing. Sample medals took almost a month to manufacture to match the conceptual view.

Due to high projection the life of each die was very short which meant that total number of dies required for manufacture of medals are very high.

The manufacture of the medals is in full swing. The medals will be subjected to a very special process called ‘Frosting’ for generation of mat surface on the base and top surface of the letters and main design will be polished to a glossy finish. Each medal requires manual and intricate finishing bringing the conceptual artwork to reality.