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velastours.com
an incoming tour operator based in Greece with 34 years experience in both, tours and holidays
velastours.com
The New Olympic Medal DesignThe New Olympic Medal Design For the first time in its 75 year history, the design of the Olympic Medal has been changed, and for very good reason. The original design contained a controversial, highly inappropriate element. Created in 1928 for the Amsterdam Olympic Games, the design contained on its standard side seven elements. Nike, the Goddess of Victory, was shown seated and surrounded by four elements that were part of the ancient games: Nike was holding an olive wreath, symbol of victory, in her upheld, right hand and a sheaf of wheat in her lap; to her right was a Grecian urn containing three figures ? a victorious athlete being crowned with the olive wreath by an official, accompanied by a pillow carrying wreath bearer ? and a horse drawn chariot, which was one of the events. The sixth element consisted of the five Olympic Rings of the modern era. The seventh and last element was the Roman Colosseum, which had no place being on the medal. Inclusion of the Roman Colosseum was historically inaccurate as none of the ancient games were held there. The modern games were held in the Colosseum only once, in 1960, 32 years after the design was created. Why then would the Colosseum, which played no role in the ancient games and venued only once in the modern games, be included in such an important part of the Olympics? An explanation has not been found. Even worse, the Colosseum was a symbol of death and atrocity where people of all ethnicities were brutally massacred. This is hardly the type of symbol that should have been associated with the Olympics. An effort to correct the situation, begun in 1996, was ignored by the International Olympic Committee, and after one year set-aside. When the issue of the Colosseum arose in a Greek Australian newspaper during the Sydney Games in 2000, the International Olympic Committee responded and tried to dismiss the issue by explaining that the image was that of a generic coliseum and not the Roman Colosseum; a specious explanation at best as this so-called generic coliseum bore a strong resemblance to the unmistakable architectural design of the Roman Colosseum. Besides, coliseums were never used in Greece simply because there were none; the Greeks competed in open-end stadiums. In 2002 "The Committee to Effect Change in the Design of the Olympic Medal" was created and seven major Greek organizations in America and Canada joined the committee to bring the matter to the attention of the International Olympic Committee. Letters were sent requesting that the Colosseum be removed or replaced with a symbol that is historically accurate, morally appropriate and representative of the spirit and integrity of the Games. IOC President Jacques Rogge acknowledged the request and had the IOC Executive Board address the matter. In April 2003, IOC Executive Board Chief of Staff Christophe De Kepper sent letters to Hellenic American National Council President Ted G. Spyropoulos and Council of Hellenes Abroad Vice President North and South America Chris Tomaras informing them "that the IOC Executive Board will discuss the design of the Olympic Medal of the Athens Games" at their next months meeting in Madrid. A medal design contest conducted by the Athens 2004 Committee and Hellenic Olympic Committee resulted in a complete revamping of the design. The new design, approved by the Executive Board in June 2003, features a dynamic, victorious Goddess Nike flying over the 1896 Panathinaikon Stadium in Athens, site of the renewal of the modern games. Greek Mythology, and the ancient and modern eras are thusly tied together. With the Olympic Games returning to their place of birth and renewal, unveiling of the new design could not have occurred at a better time or place. The new design is permanent and the role of Greece in creating the ancient games and in reviving the modern games will always be acknowledged through the design. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Greek Organizations that joined with the Committee to Effect Change in the Design of the Olympic Medal in a letter writing campaign to the International Olympic Committee. Dr. James F. Dimitriou, then Supreme President Order of AHEPA (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association) Lazarus Kalipolidis, Supreme President AHEPA Canada Chris Tomaras, Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) Vice President North &South America Region Ted Spyropoulos, President Hellenic American National Council Federation of Hellenic American Organizations Ted Laliotis, President United Hellenic American Societies (UHAS) aka Hellenic Federation of Northern California Stavros N. Semanderes, President Pancretan Association of America For questions, comments, or additional information contact Lou Eleopoulos (925) 372-8067
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