The location, “around Paris”, is kept secret.
The hangar houses part of what France has most dear, more or less large pieces of the Eiffel Tower, an iconic monument built for the Universal Exhibition of 1889. Over the course of modernization and renovation operations, notably in 1986 , parts of iron were removed from the tower, in particular to place an elevator or simply for structural reasons.
They were then preserved, as part of heritage preservation.
Shortly after the attribution of the 2024 Olympic Games to Paris, the idea of making medals from these pieces of iron emerged.
Discussions then took place with the Eiffel Tower operating company (SETE), which notably ensured that no other use would be made.
“These pieces of tower are not generally marketed, it had to remain something exceptional, rare and precious”, estimates Jean-François Martins, president of the board of directors of SETE.
With the Chaumet teams from the LVMH group (also
owner of Parisien-Aujourd'hui in France
), which designed the medals, and from Monnaie de Paris, which will produce them, we had to think about how to integrate and to melt the 18 g of tower present on each reward.
“Our mission is also to make Paris shine”
And it is indeed the historic iron, puddled in 1888 by the
Fould-Dupont forges of Pompey, in Meurthe-et-Moselle (at the time, 18,038 pieces of iron had been produced), which will appear on the medals, all accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.
“Our mission is also to make Paris shine, we contribute to organizing exceptional Games,” believes Jean-François Martins.
He adds: “There are a few moments in the history of Paris that deserve to bring out these pieces of heritage, we leave athletes with an extraordinary memory.
» Exceptionally, the Eiffel Tower will also be engraved on the other side of the Olympic medal, alongside the Acropolis and the Goddess Athena Nike.
A nice nod to the history of the Games and Paris.
“We will assume this iconic and heritage dimension”
If in the records of Maison Chaumet, creator of the medal, we found an order for pearls made by Gustave Eiffel for his daughter who was getting married, another visit is also steeped in history.
That of Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the Modern Games, on the construction site of the tower, just before its opening to the public, in the presence of Gustave Eiffel.
A nice nod as next summer the images of the capital's most iconic monument will go around the world.
“The Eiffel Tower will be at the heart of an important cluster, at the heart of the opening ceremony and the Games,” recalls Jean-François Martins.
We will assume this iconic and heritage dimension, both of the influence of Paris and of the identity of these Games.
We will have a special place to present the most beautiful image of Paris.
»