2024 Olympic Games in Paris: authentic fragments of the Eiffel Tower on medals, “an extraordinary souvenir”

The location “around Paris” is being kept secret. The hangar contains part of the most expensive thing in France – more or less large parts of the Eiffel Tower, an iconic monument built for the 1889 World’s Fair. During modernization and reconstruction operations, especially in 1986, parts of the iron were removed. from the tower, in particular to accommodate an elevator or simply for structural reasons. They were then preserved as part of heritage conservation.

Shortly after Paris was awarded the 2024 Olympic Games, the idea of ​​making medals from these pieces of iron arose. Negotiations then took place with the company operating the Eiffel Tower (SETE), which, among other things, guaranteed that no other use would take place. “These tower parts are not usually sold, they must remain something exceptional, rare and precious,” assesses Jean-François Martin, President of the Board of Directors of SETE.

With the Chaumet team of the LVMH group (éalso owner of Parisien-Aujourd’hui in France.), who created the design of the medals, and the Paris Mint, which would produce them, needed to think about how to integrate and melt the 18 g rook featured on each award.

“Our mission is also to make Paris shine”

And this is truly historical iron, cast in 1888 Fould-Dupont’s forges at Pompeii in Meurthe-et-Moselle (at that time 18,038 iron items were produced), which will be depicted on the medals, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. “Our mission is also to make Paris shine, we contribute to the organization of exceptional Games,” says Jean-François Martin.

He adds: “There are several moments in the history of Paris that deserve to be shown, these parts of the heritage we leave to the athletes are an extraordinary memory. » As an exception, the Eiffel Tower will be engraved on the reverse side of the Olympic medal, next to the Acropolis and the goddess Athena Nike. A good hint at the history of the Games and Paris.

“We will take on this iconic and historical dimension”

If in the records of Maison Chaumet, the creator of the medal, we discovered an order for pearls made by Gustave Eiffel for his daughter getting married, then another visit also has a rich history. This is Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the Modern Games, at the construction site of the tower, shortly before it opened to the public, in the presence of Gustave Eiffel. A good hint that next summer images of the capital’s most iconic monument will go around the world.

“The Eiffel Tower will be the center of an important cluster, the center of the opening ceremony and the Games,” recalls Jean-François Martin. We will take on this iconic and historical dimension of both the influence of Paris and the identity of these Games. We will have a special place to present the most beautiful image of Paris. »