Olympic medals to be housed at the Tower of London

The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) has announced that the gold, silver and bronze medals that will be awarded to athletes at this summer’s Olympic Games will be securely locked away in the famous vaults at the Tower of London, until they are needed for the Victory Ceremonies.

The vaults at the Tower of London have been home to Britain’s Crown Jewels for more than 700 years, making them the perfect place to store the 4,700 medals that have been produced for the Games.

LOCOG Chair Seb Coe said: “For an athlete, winning an Olympic medal represents the conclusion of thousands of hours of training and reaching the highest level in sport. The Victory Ceremonies then provide the moment they can truly celebrate their success. It’s great that the London 2012 medals will be kept safe and secure at the Tower of London until then.”

The first medals at the Games are due to be awarded on 28 July for the women’s 10m air rifle shooting event. A further 804 Victory Ceremonies will then be held over the course of the Games, taking place in over 30 venues across the UK.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, added: “For centuries the Tower of London has protected some of this country's greatest treasures so there can be no better sanctuary for the 2012 medals - the most precious possession any athlete could hope to possess - than at this world famous iconic landmark.”