Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Shelley Osterloh ReportingEvery Olympic City creates it own medals to be presented. Salt Lake's were unique: larger and heavier than games past.
The Torino medals are shaped like a donut with a hole in the middle. The ribbon runs through the hole instead of being attached at the top as Salt Lake's were.
The man in charge of the overall look of the Torino Games says the medals reflect the spirit of the Italians. And like the rest of the Olympic look, the medals are fashioned after the Piazza -- the central gathering spot for any Italian community.
Andrea Varnier, TOROC Managing Dir. Image and Events: "We created what we think is a jewel with a hole in it representing on end the heart of the city, where it's a circle, where people meet. And you can possibly look through the medals to see the heart of the athletes, where the passion of the athlete is."
Fifty-five of the 84 medals will be awarded at the medals plaza. That is one thing the Torino Organizing Committee has taken from Salt Lake City-- the Awards Plaza. The one here is in a beautiful historic part of the city called the Piazza Castella, which is right in front of the Royal Plaza.
Along with the pomp and ceremony of the awards, there will be some great international entertainment including Duran Duran, Ricky Martin, Lou Reed, Jamariqui and Avril Lavign.
