Controversy Erupts Over Medal Quality at Paris 2024 Olympics

PARIS: The Paris 2024 Olympics, held between June and July, have gotten themselves in the midst of controversy regarding the quality of the medals that athletes were awarded. A lot of complaints have emerged on the metal coating on the medals that are getting corroded. This led the International Olympic Committee to announce a replacement program for the affected ones, including the medal won by Indian shooter Manu Bhaker.

The medals deteriorated within a short time after the Games, and it has been reported that more than 100 medals were returned by resentful athletes in less than six months. This is a critical concern over the quality of the awards.

The IOC, responding to this increased dissatisfaction, has assured athletes that there will be replacements for all the defective medals. The Paris 2024 Olympic Games Organizing Committee is discussing the situation with Monnaie de Paris, the French state mint, so as to help settle the complaint. The replacement process is expected to be initiated next week, but the new medals will be engraved similar to the medals that were manufactured initially.

The list includes Manu Bhaker, the first Indian since the country gained Independence to garner multiple medals within one Olympics in which she brought home two bronze medals. Bhaker, as well as the other athletes, said they were concerned that the colors of their medals were fading fast.

While the IOC said it took notice of the claims, Monnaie de Paris dismissed the complaints of defects inherent in the coins, insisting they have been replacing damaged coins since August and continue to do so as orders keep coming.

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