The Wenlock Olympics: An inspirational medal

CGTN Europe

The Wenlock Olympics inspired the modern #Olympics – and archivist Chris Cannon explains how a medal presented at Wenlock inspired the medal awarded in modern #pentathlon

Transcript

00:00Now, this is a very special medal that was presented here.

00:05It was made by Queen Victoria's Jewellers

00:08and it is very special in the Olympic world

00:11because on it it has an image of Nike,

00:15the Greek goddess of victory.

00:17And every Olympic medal that is awarded on one side

00:21has an image of Nikon.

00:23So the Paris Olympics on one side will have an image of Nike

00:27and that idea came from here.

00:29You have, in small writing there, it's in Greek

00:34and it's Pindar's Olympic ode

00:36to say there are rewards for glorious deeds.

00:39You've got skill and strength in Latin

00:42but the best thing is at the top here you have a hand

00:46and the hand is holding a laurel crown

00:48as presented in the ancient Greek Olympic times.

00:52Wow.

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