Doha, Qatar: The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will officially come to an end during the Closing Ceremony this evening, August 11, at 10pm Doha time. But even after 17 days of intense competition, many are still curious about what’s actually inside the rectangular box that athletes hold on the podium. "I thought the box was for holding the medals," said Clark Cesar while browsing Facebook photos of his compatriot, Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo when the athlete received the first of his two consecutive Olympic gold medals.
When awardees stand on the podium, medals shining around their necks, they’re also handed something intriguing—a slender, gold box. So, what’s inside this box? Isn’t the box meant for the medals? Many assumed so, but it turns out there’s more to the story. According to the Olympics official website, alongside their medal, athletes are gifted the official Paris Games poster, carefully tucked into the 40-centimetre box.
In past Olympics, hosts have given athletes items like stuffed animals or bouquet of flowers, but Paris has taken a more artistic approach this time. Australian paddler Jessica Fox, who took home two gold medals in canoe and kayak races, shared a glimpse of the keepsake on . “Usually, we get a mascot or flowers, but this time it’s something more unique, and I think it’s a really cool concept,” she said.
Fox revealed the vibrant poster with gold details, which matches the color of the athlete's medal—gold, silver, or bronze. In a.