Find out about the Beijing 2008 Paralympic medals

The Beijing 2008 medals feature a ring of jade embedded in the medal itself, offering the athletes a precious material carrying great cultural importance in China.

Design Elements of the Medals

The medals for the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games were designed with the concepts of “One World, One Dream” and “Two Games, Equal Splendor”. The Paralympic and Olympic medals shared similar design concepts. The front side of the medals feature the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games emblem in the centre, surrounded by a ring of jade separating the central medallion from the rim. The reverse face contains the symbol of the Paralympic Movement along with the words “Beijing 2008” in braille. The name of the discipline in which the medal was won is written below the symbol. The reverse side of the medal is also engraved with “Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games” in Chinese and English.

The medals of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games

ⒸIPC

Designers from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, the Academy of Fine Arts at Tsinghua University and China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation gathered forces to create the one-of-a-kind, stunning medals of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

Physical Attributes of the Beijing 2008 Medals

The medals have a diameter of 7 centimetres and a thickness of 0,8 centimetre, with the gold medal weighing 196 grams.