Lausanne 2020The Medals

The obverse of the medal depicts an icy spiral that has several meanings. Its five components represent the five continents pointing towards Lausanne, where the world’s young athletes came together for the Winter Youth Olympic Games 2020. The spiral also symbolises the prevailing culture of respect, friendship and excellence at the event. Finally, it celebrates the hard work and dedication of each individual athlete. The obverse also features the Olympic rings and the words “3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games” and “Lausanne 2020”.

The design, entitled “Beauty in Diversity”, was inspired by a quote from American poet and writer Maya Angelou: “In diversity there is beauty”. It was chosen from among close to 300 entries from 60 countries as part of the IOC’s medal obverse design competition. The panel of judges was made up of IOC Member Danka Barteková; Lausanne 2020 President Virginie Faivre; Viviane Morey, representing the Lausanne-based ERACOM art and communication school; IOC Young Reporters; and IOC Young Change-Makers. The winning entry was designed by 20-year-old Zakea Page from New Zealand. This was not the artist’s first attempt in such a competition: about a year earlier, he had entered the medal design contest for the YOG Buenos Aires 2018. The reverse of the medal, designed by the Organising Committee, features the Games emblem and an “L”, in reference to Lausanne.

Designer: Zakea Page (Obverse) / Oriane Dupasquier (Reverse)

Composition: -

Diameter: 8cm

Mint: ELM