The Paralympic motto is “Spirit in Motion.” The logo of the Paralympic games are made up of “Agitos” which stands for “I move”. It’s the largest coming together of differently-abled athletes in the world who, despite their various disadvantages, are blessed with abilities to move — either in a wheel chair, or using prosthetic limbs, or with a help of a guide.
Keeping in line with the “spirit of motion”, the medals handed out to the Paralympians have an unique feature.
They have a tiny device inside which makes a noise when the medal is shaken, allowing visually impaired athletes to know if they are gold, silver or bronze. Each of the 2,642 medals (877 gold, 876 silver, 889 bronze) tells the athletes which colour medal they have won by a little shake — with gold medal making the loudest sound.
According to the official website of Rio 2016:
The bronze medals have 16 steel balls and make the lowest sound. The silver medals have 20 balls and the golds have 28, producing the loudest noise. All of the medals also have the words ‘Rio 2016 Paralympic Games’ written on them in Braille.
And thereby enabling these fighters hear the sweet sound of victory!
Along similar lines, Paralympic 5-a-side is a version of the world’s most popular sport for the blind or visually impaired.
To even things, all the players wear eye shades so that none can see anything. It’s the sound of the ball, which contains bells, that they follow, as if seeing via their ears
Watch the video to know how the majestic Rio 2016 medals are made:
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