One earlier FB post looked into the typical reaction to receiving the gold medal. The recipient immediately bites into it, ostensibly to seek affirmation that the medal is indeed made of the precious metal.
No such luck, and but we cannot say that it has been so over all those years. Though we can surmise that the medals are most probably made of the same stuff as they were years ago. Just realized there may be written standards set even on the metal composition and weight of Olympic medals.
Anyway as it stands, this is what we can expect from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics medals that are being handed out to exultant winners. From some rough estimates made by me.
The three medals, gold, silver, and bronze weigh from 450grams to maybe 556grams, or about half a kilo on average, with gold weighing the most. The gold medal is essentially made of silver with maybe 6 grams of gold, good enough to be used for plating. The silver medal true to its name is made up of pure silver. And bronze of brass and zinc, so not much intrinsic value. Based on this and the prevailing prices of precious metals, a gold medal might command a price of about 800 dollars, selling the gold and silver content in it, and silver maybe about a little above 400 dollars. Never mind the bronze medal.
Getting any idea where this is going?
The revered and time-seasoned Olympic Games idolized by the world have always been about excellence in sport and symbolism. Rank the best performers with their shown performances in competition and give them medals for their accomplishments, the ranking and composition of the medals clearly symbolism for us to revere and behold. Nothing denoting the awarding of financial awards to winners.
How things have changed though the Games have steadfastly remained the same. Immediately upon winning financial windfalls are factored in like these too could compete in another contest, this time in value and size. Winning athletes are expected to start following the money trails, in hot pursuit of their "just rewards". The world would appear disappointed if the winners lose out in this other contest.
And we fear that the world is more concerned and interested in this other contest.
