Vancouver 2010 Olympic And Paralympic Medals Released Today

The Vancouver Olympic Committee (VANOC) has revealed the designs of the Olympic and Paralympic medals to be handed out at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. The medal presentation took place today at the Vancouver Olympic Village.

VANOC branded the medals as one-of-a-kind work of contemporary Aboriginal art, depicting traditional orcas, ravens and Totem poles. At the back of the medals, the names of the sport and event will be engraved in both English and French along with Vancouver Olympic symbols. The medals also contain recycled metal to comply with the sustainability pillar of VANOC.

The medals are undulating, inspired by ocean waves, which is unusual for an Olympic medal design. The Olympics medals are circular, while the Paralympic medals are in the shape of a square-shaped oval. Vancouver medals are also unprecedentedly heavy, weighing between 500 and 576 grams, depending on the value of the medal. Their weight makes these medals the heaviest in Olympic history. The medals were designed in accordance with athlete’s feedback from the previous Games.

The Royal Canadian Mint is responsible for making the medals. In total, 615 Olympic and 399 Paralympic medals will be produced.

This morning Twitter was abuzz with people discussing today's release of the medals. The reviews have been mixed with some people liking the designs and others left disappointed.

@AdvantageWeb: The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics medals look beautiful. I think athletes can wear it as a jewelry and no one notice it's a medal.
@djkelly: They're like stylish jeans: pre-destroyed but wikked cool.

@afxonline: Medal design for 2010 #Olympics just unveiled: http://bit.ly/1O7xFo (expand) I like them! Having each medal as part of a larger mosaic is very cool.
@CharlesCrosbie: Looking at the medals for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. They're very Canadian, which is cool, but aren't "medal" shaped (circular)

@jackedinjessica: RT @WDeane: RT @buzzbishop someone left the plastic 2010 medal mold in the microwave and it got warped. http://bit.ly/6FP8z (expand) #disappointed

@pedgehog: I think it's quite insulting that they used an aboriginal design RT @CBCNews 2010 Olympic medal design unveiled http://bit.ly/3knaBE

What is your take on the medals? Do you like the designs? Why or why not?