With 8 days until the start of the first World Athletics Championships on U.S. soil, the local organizing committee (LOC) unveiled the medals for the event.
The first medals will be won in the stadium and on the roads on the very first day of competition.
On the opening night, Team USA looks to defend their world title in the mixed 4-by-400-metres relay, where a world record will likely be needed to take gold.
Medals will be won in 49 event disciplines and on each of the ten days of competition, with fans able to watch finals in 12 of the 16 in-stadium sessions and in all 6 of the free road events.
In a first for track and field, Instant Medals will be awarded to the three medal-winning athletes in the immediate moments after their finals.
Full medal ceremonies with national anthems will still take place, but this additional celebratory component of Instant Medals is designed for athletes to commemorate their individual victory ‘in the moment’ and to share that moment with family and friends.
The medals depart from the traditional die-cast variety, using instead the ultra-modern and durable material of Corian, which has been subsequently inlaid with the relevant precious metal.
The use of Corian enables the finely detailed carving of intricate relief work featured in the designs – something just not possible using conventional medal techniques.
While traditional in shape and weight, the medals will look very different, even down to the attachment of the ribbon, which uses a bar inserted inside the body of the medal to ensure both longevity and the maintenance of clean design lines.
One side of the medals is inspired by the cross-section of a tree, complete with seven rings to represent the seven regions of Oregon with the logo of WCH Oregon22 at its heart.
The tactile experience is completed by the outer edge of each medal, which is textured to feel like tree bark.
The other side features one of seven landscapes that showcase the seven regions of Oregon.
These dramatic scenes carry echoes of the marble sculptures and white Art Deco facades of the great public buildings in the United States, including Oregon’s State Capitol.
These landscape elements are fundamental to WCH Oregon22’s brand as represented through its Oregon Tapestry.
The tapestry is also showcased on the ribbon, juxtaposing a rich color palette to the immaculate, striking form of the medal.
