Medal competition for YOG 2024 in Gangwon decided

Lausanne (FIL/04 April 2023) The design "A Sparkling Future" by 27-year-old Brazilian Dante Akira Uwai has been announced as the winner of the medal design competition for the 2024 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Gangwon, KOR. A record 3,000 entries were received for this year's competition to design the front of the medals that will be awarded to the top athletes at next year's YOG.

"A Sparkling Future" is a geometric interpretation of the Gangwon 2024 theme "grow together, shine forever". The concept of growth is conveyed through vertical lines, while the diversity of the YOG participants is represented by elements created through cutouts and texture changes. The variety of shapes represents diversity and how we can all contribute to peace and coexistence in different ways. The polished surfaces create dynamic little sparks of light, symbolizing the desire to rise above ourselves and make a positive difference in the world.

"I didn't want the medal to be a frame for a painting that you just look at," says Uwai. "I wanted it to be treated like a sculpture. Something you can pick up, look at from different angles, and touch because of its texture. I think the medal has a lot of that, and that was very important to me."

The prototype designed by Uwai is now being refined, while in parallel, the reverse side of the medal will be designed by the Gangwon 2024 YOG Organizing Committee and will reflect elements of Korean culture as well as the YOG emblem.

The medal competition for the Gangwon 2024 Winter Games ended on March 8 with an unprecedented number of designs and participating countries. During the six-week competition period, more than 3,000 medal designs were submitted from 120 countries, demonstrating the creativity and talent of the designers. This was ten times as many entries as the medal design competition at the last Winter Youth Olympic Games. This year, the most entries came from Mexico, India and the United States, followed by the Republic of Korea and Brazil.

The winning design will be featured on the medals of the athletes who stand on the winners' podium at the fourth Winter Youth Olympic Games, to be held in Gangwon from January 19 to February 1, 2024.

Find out more here: “A sparkling future” wins the medal design competition for the Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024 (olympics.com)