OCR Text |
Show Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, July 23-26, 2016 B-7 The Park Record Gold medals are barely gold at all By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer Gold medals are the ultimate prize in Olympic sport. They’re also a misnomer. There’s no such thing as a “gold” medal, not at these upcoming Rio Olympics – and really, not ever. Second-place finishers get silver medals and oddly enough, so do the winners, albeit theirs are plated in a tiny amount of gold. That factoid caught even some of those who were put in charge of making the 5,000 or so medals needed for these Rio Games by surprise. “Our operators and some of our developers had the same question,” said Victor Hugo Berbert, who managed the medal-making process and was part of a team of about 100 people at the Brazilian Mint who were part of the project. “We can produce medals out of pure gold. But we know how expensive they are. So gold medals ... are not exactly pure gold.” They’re barely gold at all. The medals given to champions at these Olympics will weigh just over a pound, so to make them entirely from gold would have cost about $23,500 in material, each. By taking the silver medals and then plating them in a tiny amount of Brazilian gold, the actual value of the metal inside those metals is about $600. Not that the athletes will mind. “The gold medal,” hockey legend Wayne Gretzky famously said at the Salt Lake Olympics in 2002 when he was executive director of the goldwinning Canadian team, “is everything.” Though there are a number of exceptions, it’s not uncommon for the medal-making process to fall to the host country’s national mint. That was the case this year, with Berbert saying it took about two years for the entire process to play itself out – starting with discussions on design with the host organizing committee, sketches, ideas, budgeting and ultimately approval from the International Olympic Committee. The medals for the Olympics are done. Work is ongoing on the medals for the Paralympics, which follow in Brazil later this summer. “We needed to develop the whole concept of the medal. We worked a lot with the committee about the art, about the design, about the materials,” Berbert said. “We tried to catch what they wanted to show in a Olympic medal and we took our experience, our know-how in producing medals and turn that into what they want. The art came from the committee, but our team needed to sculpt them.” The gold is certified to have a certain amount of purity and is considered very high quality. The silver and “bronze” medals (and by the way, they’re not really bronze) are largely made from recycled materials, which is a source of pride for the team that Berbert represents. Sustainability, he said, was an important goal for the team. The silver for both the firstand second-place medals was culled in part from mirrors and plates. The bronze medals are made in part from the same copper that goes into Brazilian coin, so the mint had plenty of that to use in the Olympic project. About 40 percent of what was needed was already on hand when the process started. Even some of the plastic used in the ribbons that will be attached to the medals is recycled. “It’s something we dreamed of,” Berbert said. “When they called us, we adored the project. We really wanted to do this thing.” The other obvious advantage of using the mint to make the medals is security. And every precaution is being taken to ensure that nothing goes wrong now. The mint will store the medals and basically deliver them to the organizing committee on a day-to-day basis – the medals that will be awarded on a given day will be kept safe as can be until needed. “We have special dates with the committee where they want them delivered,” Berbert said. “There are logistics on how to transfer them to them ... until then, we keep the medals in a safe room. But all the Olympic medals are packaged now, identified by the event and competition, all organized and ready to be delivered.” Ready to be won, too. 2 FOR 1 ENTRÈES with appetizer purchase - Valid on second entrèe of equal or lesser value - Maximum of 3 coupons per table please - Dine-in only please - Please present coupon Valid thru July 31st, 2016 Ristorante Italiano 804 Main Street • Park City • 435.649.1336 www.BuonaVitaParkCity.com Open daily at 5pm SOME OF THE PETS AT NUZZLES & CO. LOOKING FOR LOVE These animals can be seen at Nuzzles & Co. at The Tanger Outlet Center (behind Calvin Klein). Nuzzles & Co. is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m., Sundays noon to 5 p.m., Mondays noon to 5 p.m. for cat-only adoption day. For more information, call 435-649-5441 or go to www.petfinder.com. A full service mechanic shop... ...only now it all comes to you!! Snow Country Mobile Aut 435.659.1978 Tuffy Mavis Kellie Lady Tuffy is a handsome 7 1/2-yearold red heeler. He’s very smart and eager to please. He loves playing outdoors and fetching a ball or going for hikes. Tuffy needs to be an only pet; he wants and deserves all the attention for himself! He will make a wonderful, active companion! Mavis is a tiny little lady! She is a Terrier mix and is about 5 years old. She does great with other small dogs and can be shy until she knows you. Once she does, though, she lights up every time she sees you! Mavis would make a wonderful addition to any loving forever home! Kellie is a very beautiful 2-yearold Chihuahua mix with extraordinary markings! The only thing that matches her beauty is her exceptional personality! Once this girl warms up to you, she is a steady companion. She also gets along well with other small dogs with proper introduction. Lady is a happy 5-year-old Pit Bull Terrier. She is a sweet girl who loves affection and cuddling. Lady likes playing outdoors, going for walks, playing with her toys and being with her favorite human friends. She would do best in a moderately active household with no cats and older children. On a mission to take waiting rooms and mediocre cof fee out of your life ... forever! Oil & Fluid Changes Tire Rotation & Balancing Wheel Alignments Full Brake Service Tune Ups, Spark Plugs, & General Repair New Tire Purchases & Tire Storage Seasonal Tire Changeouts Lawnmower/Snow Blower work, and much more... Stop struggling to find the hours to get your car serviced. Let us make the whole thing easier.. We do all the above anywhere, with on a scheduled appointment that works for you! Akita Bumpty Mimi Missy Akita is a very handsome and sweet 2-year-old domestic shorthair with a brown tabby and white coat. He loves to bask in the sun and cuddle with his human and feline companions. This big guy would love a home of his own where he can lounge around and relax. Bumpty is a handsome black and white domestic shorthair. He is about 2-3 years old. He can be a bit shy at first, but once he feels comfortable with you, he is a playful and friendly guy. He is looking for a forever home where he’ll always be loved and valued! Mimi is an outgoing 2-year-old tabby domestic shorthair. This big girl is a big lovebug, and she isn’t afraid to let you know when she wants some attention! She gets along well with other cats and loves everyone she meets. Mimi would make a wonderful addition to any loving forever home! Missy is a beautiful 3-year-old tabby domestic shorthair. She can be shy and reserved at first, but she is very affectionate once she gets to know you. Missy would be happiest in a quiet, comfortable home where she can relax and snuggle up with her family. info@scmobileauto.com - www.scmobileauto.com Mention this ad, and we’ll waive the destination charge!! ...a $34.99 value! It’s the Place the Locals Choose WANTED: VOLUNTEERS These not-for-profit organizations are looking for volunteers. If you would like to include your group in this section, please email information to copyeditor@parkrecord.com. Please limit your entry to no more than 75 words. Applegate Home Care & Hospice Applegate Home Care & Hospice is welcoming volunteers to join its team of caring professionals who dedicate their lives to helping others. The hospice volunteer offers service, compassion, and a listening ear to clients and their families. If you would like to volunteer or want to learn more about volunteering with Applegate, please contact the hospice volunteer coordinator at 800-8710102 or visit applegatehomecare.com. Arts-Kids Help kids release their creativity and enjoy some terrific feedback by assisting artists and facilitators with after-school programs in Park City and surrounding areas or in the Arts-Kids office on Bonanza Drive. Programs run for two-and-a-half hours weekly during parts of the fall and spring semesters, so your time commitment can be small, but the benefit to the kids will be great. Please visit Arts-Kids.org or call 435-615-7878 to learn more. For a full list of volunteer opportunities, visit parkrecord.com/volunteers JUST CALL JOEL (for all your real estate needs) I’m Your Realtor. Welcome Home. Joel Fine • 435-901-2171 joel@FineProperty.com (www.justcalljoel.com) 4 Bedroom Home in SPRING CREEK Passive Solar Exceptional Creek & Mountain Views Swiss National Day Celebration Monday, August 1st, 6pm Swiss Dinner Special $29.50 Appetizer, Salad, Entrée & Dessert Swiss folklore music Enjoy a great evening of “Stimmung und Gemütlichkeit” Please call for reservations New Listing $699,000 SUMMER SPECIALS! $5.50 - $19.50 Kay Veenema 801.450.5500 • Veenema@comcast.net European & American Cusine Open Daily with Patio Seating available MLS# 11603383 Owner/Agent Full Service Bar Menu Opens at 4pm Dinner Served Starting at 5:00pm • 435.649.7177 1500 Kearns Blvd. ADOLPH’S – a 36 year Park City Tradition! Get info, scores, play-by-play updates for Park City, North and South Summit high schools. Follow here for all things sports in Summit County. |