Are Medals Still Significant?

8/13/2019 Are Medals Still Significant?

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Are

Medals

StillSignificant?

Figure 1 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/Mendeleev_Copley_medal.pg

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Contents

!ntroduction....................................................."Contents.........................................................#

Military............................................................$

%ervices..........................................................6

Conclusion......................................................&

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Introduction

'ith the 'inter (lympics underway) you would be hard pushed to miss the celebratory hype

o* each country as one o* their athletes wins a medal. For the (lympian) the medal

represents the recognition o* all o* their hard work) prowess and superiority in their *ield.

'inning a medal is) *or many) a main reason to train and compete. +he honour o* being

awarded any medal is carried throughout all aspects o* society) however) not ust in sport.

%ince as early as the reign o* the ,ncient -reeks) medals have been awarded in the *orm o*

laurels) golden buttons or crowns in order to reward and decorate the elite.

For some) it can be conceived to be hierarchical: where only the best are rewarded. et *or

others it is a way o* distinguishing those who have gone *ar beyond what is necessary and

deserve to be rewarded. +his can be in sport) military) de*ence) or even simple acts o*

bravery. ,lthough medals can o*ten be seen today as collectables) their signi*icance is

usually seen to be *or what they represent to the individual receiver) rather than a glory prie.

+hose that are the hardest to achieve) and there*ore the rarest awarded) can be seen to

reach e0traordinary prices in auctions and collections.

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Sports

Figure # http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d$/(lympics_#1_2airs_podium.pg

(ne o* the biggest sporting events in the world is the (lympic games) held every *our years

by a di**erent host country chosen by the !nternational (lympic Committee3!(C4. +hey can

be traced back to &&6 5C and were played in (lympia whilst being dedicated to the

(lympian -ods. 'inners in these games would be announced in the awards ceremony and

decorated with a palm branch and red ribbons on his hands and head *or victory. i(* course

this has changed signi*icantly) but the idea o* competing *or glory still remains the same.

+oday athletes are whittled down to the best through various heats) uarter *inals) semi

*inals and then the ultimate *inal. +hese stages are eliminative) so only those that per*orm

well on the day go through to the ne0t round. 7ike in most athletic sports) the top "

competitors receive a medal. +hese are usally gold silver and brone) with gold 3being themost sought a*ter metal4 representing the winner.

(ther than in the (lympic -ames there are many other competitve games) events and

championships that use medals in reward *or e0cellence. %ports such as swimming) *ormula

one and gymnastics all show similarity in the rewards scheme. 'hile *or a large amount o*

team sports there is usually a trophy involved that) by tradition) is held by the winning side

until the competition begins again. !n many cases) individuals on the teams get winners and

runner8up medals as well.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Olympic_Committeehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Olympic_Committee


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Military

Figure " http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6$/aniel_;eighran_medals_at_the_,'M_ecember_#1".pg

Medals and decorations are awarded in the armed *orces *or e0ceptional achievements) acts

o* heroism and sel*8sacri*ice. +hey are seen as having the utmost honour *or the individual)

but the respect is o*ten attributed to the soldier


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Services

Figure 9 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/>/>d/%t82auls8Cathedral_7ondon_Crypta_Chapel8(rder8(*8+he8

5ritish8?mpire81.pg

+here are also honours *or civil services too. %temming *rom under ;ing -eorge =


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Conclusion

Figure $ http://*arm1.static*lickr.com/>&/#$&&$6$9_*>#&*Eeb6e_b.pg

%o) despite many award systems being seen as traditional and even backward by some) themedia and national hype around the reception o* medals at this year


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ihttp://www.olympic.org/ancient8olympic8games

iihttps://www.gov.uk/honours/types8o*8honours8and8awards

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Are Medals Still Significant?