Paris 2024 Olympic Medals Face Replacement Amid Quality Concerns and Internal Turmoil

January 13, 2025
Paris 2024 Olympic Medals Face Replacement Amid Quality Concerns and Internal Turmoil
  • In response, the Monnaie de Paris has modified its varnish and production processes to improve the durability of the medals.

  • Reports indicate that the Monnaie de Paris has been aware of the varnish problem for at least 15 months, well before the Olympics.

  • Concerns about the medals were first raised by swimmer Maxime Grousset shortly after winning a bronze medal, describing it as looking 'damaged and oxidized'.

  • The damage is attributed to a defective varnish, which had previously caused issues with medals produced for Huawei in 2023.

  • The organizing committee for the Olympics has announced plans to systematically replace all deteriorated medals, but first needs to fully understand and resolve the underlying issues.

  • A total of 5,084 medals were produced for the Paris Games, but the Monnaie de Paris has not disclosed how many of these are damaged due to confidentiality agreements.

  • Critics within the organization have pointed to operational challenges stemming from the decision to combine medal production with coin manufacturing.

  • The Monnaie de Paris is taking action to replace damaged medals from the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics following complaints from athletes about their quality.

  • American skateboarder Nyjah Huston further highlighted the issue by sharing a video showing his bronze medal's rapid deterioration, likening its condition to having 'gone to war'.

  • The bronze medals, made from a mixture of copper, zinc, and tin, have been particularly affected, raising sustainability concerns.

  • The controversy surrounding the medals has led to internal turmoil at the Monnaie de Paris, with reports of staff changes, although the institution has denied claims of executive dismissals.

  • To address the varnish issue, the Monnaie de Paris is collaborating with a specialized company from Lyon that focuses on industrial processes and surface treatments.

Summary based on 12 sources


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