Munich (dpa/lby) - A week and a half before the European Championships, the medals were presented at the venue in Munich. From August 11th to 21st, 50 years after the Summer Games in Bavaria's state capital, 177 medals will be decided in nine Olympic sports. "I'm thrilled with the design. It's one of the most beautiful medals I've ever seen," said rowing world and European champion Oliver Zeidler (26) on Monday about the medals.
In the medals, the different shades in the form of the world-famous tent roof construction of the Olympic Park are intended to make the title fight slogan "Back to the Roofs" tangible. The logo on the front is applied and not punched. The medal ribbons in the respective colors of the nine European championships ensure a distinction between the sports. The sport's logo is engraved on the back, which can be expanded to include the athlete's name. The crossed medal ribbon is intended to represent a visual reference to the Munich pretzel.
For athlete Christina Hering (27), a medal over 800 meters would be a "dream". Born in Munich, she is particularly looking forward to the title fights at home. "I've been there and training almost every day for ten years, now it's really getting real," said the 23rd of the World Cup last month in Eugene.
Around 4,700 athletes compete in Munich in the sports of beach volleyball, canoe racing, climbing, athletics, cycling, rowing, table tennis, triathlon and gymnastics. "The anticipation is really great," said sports mayor Verena Dietl (SPD). After long preparations, they want to organize "a top event". With regard to medal decisions and the supporting program, Olympiapark Managing Director Marion Schöne pointed out that, like at the 1972 Olympic Games, the aim was to reestablish a connection between sport and culture.
50 years ago, Zeidler's grandfather won rowing gold at the Summer Games. "It's something very special to be able to fight for a medal on the track exactly 50 years later," said Zeidler.
