The medals for the 2024 Ontario Summer Games pays homage to its host city.
The organizing committee of the games, which are coming to London over the Civic long weekend in August, revealed the medal design on Wednesday. Local artist Cheryl Radford was selected to draft the image for the more than 600 medals that will be awarded to the winners of 18 sporting events at the games.
“It was a tremendous honour that my design was chosen for the medal,” Radford said in a statement. “Living and working in downtown London, surrounded by the natural beauty of the river, trees and flora amidst London’s urban landscape was the inspiration for this design.”
The medals feature the Thames River, a variety of different trees - a nod to the city's Forest City nickname - and the buildings that make up London's skyline. Radford noted the river represents water sports, while the trees are symbolic of games played on land. The medal was originally designed for the 2020 summer games, which were to be held in London but were cancelled due to the pandemic.
In addition to being locally designed, the medals were also produced in the city by Nothers The Award Store.
“We are honored to collaborate with local artist Cheryl Radford, whose design beautifully incorporates water, land and buildings, mirroring the diverse settings where our young athletes will compete,"said Nothers President Jim Nothers. "As partners to many provincial sports organizations, we eagerly anticipate celebrating the achievements and lessons learned by all athletes."
Roughly 3,500 teenage athletes, as well as coaches and officials, will come to the city for the four-day event. For the first time ever, flag football and women's baseball will be played at the games.
This is the fifth time London has hosted the Ontario Summer Games. It was previously held in the city in 2018, 2004, 1996, and 1975.
