Acer Ebru and Chen-Po Yen qualifies for Paris 2024

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The II1 table tennis tournament brought intense excitement as the qualifying matches unfolded at the GG2023 on 6th June. Spectators were treated to nail-biting Paris 2024 qualifying matches in both the male and female II1 categories. The atmosphere was filled with anticipation as each match brought its own set of surprises and intense moments.

In II1 Women’s semi-final matches, while home favourite Lea Ferney had to face defeat at the hands of Turk Surmeyra (TUR) by 3-0, Acer Ebru (TUR) thrashed ITTF World no. three, NG Mui Wui (HKG) by 3-0 and got one step closer to the golden ticket for Paris 2024. On the other hand, Wong Ting Ting made it to the finals by achieving victories over Turk Surmeyra (TUR) and Seo YangHee (KOR) in the quarterfinals and semi-finals, respectively, with scores of 3-0 and 3-1.

In the thrilling finals, Acer and Wong Ting Ting treated the audience to an exhilarating series of matches. Acer displayed an aggressive playing style, launching powerful smashes, while Ting Ting calmly defended against the onslaught. However, Ting Ting eventually succumbed to Acer’s relentless attacks and lost the finals by a score of 3-0 (11-7, 11-7, 11-5).

Acer Ebru with her Paris 2024 Ticket. ©Virtus. Photo Credit: T.NGUYEN

Ebru Acer created history by becoming the first athlete with an intellectual impairment from Turkey in Table Tennis to qualify for the Paralympic Games ever. She broke into tears while talking to Virtus.

“I don’t know what to say, I am very happy. I practised really hard for this competition, and I am very happy to qualify for Paralympics,” said Acer Ebru.

Representatives from Virtus member organisations from Turkey were overwhelmed too by Acer’s victory.

“It’s the first time a Turkish athlete in Table Tennis will go to the Paralympics and we are extremely happy about it. Our team has become very strong in the past few years in Table tennis, we have been training for the past six years for this achievement.” Mr. Birol, President of Virtus Turkey told Virtus.

“Virtus competitions have played a key part in Acer’s journey, without Virtus competition Acer wouldn’t have been able to achieve this feat today,” he further added.

Meanwhile, in Men’s category, Makajew Maciej (POL) took everyone by surprise by defeating three-time Paralympian, Peter Palos (HUN), and Sam Von Einem (AUS) by 3-0, 3-2 in knockout matches to secure a place in the finals. Kim Chang-Gi (KOR) too stood well to everyone’s expectations by winning all the matches, beating the ITTF world no. 1 Lucas Creange by 3-2, but later succumbed to Chen Po Yen from Chinese Taipei in the semifinals.

Chen-Po Yen with his Paris 2024 ticket. © Virtus. Photo Credit: T.NGUYEN

Chen-Po faced Makajew Maciej in the finals and had a clean win by 3-0 (11-8,11-8, 15-13) over Makajew. Seventeen-year-old, Chen-Po was delighted to winch ticket to Paris 2024 and was seen celebrating with his contingent. Talking to Virtus, Dr Mu, Ming-Chu, President of the Chinese Taipei Paralympic Committee, who was also the Head of Delegation for Chinese Taipei said,

“I am very proud of this young boy who is just a high school student. Chen had no specialised training program to train himself but he did his best and achieved this extraordinary result. I am very happy and proud that he qualified for the Paralympic Games in Paris next year.”

International Paralympic Committee President, Andrew Parsons was among the distinguished guests who watched the historical finals and was very impressed by their performances.

“It was an honour to present both the athletes with the Gold Medal and the qualification certificate to Paris 2024″, Andrew Parsons commented.

Virtus extends its heartfelt congratulations to both qualifiers for their exceptional performance and looks forward to their Paralympic Games debut in Paris 2024. Their participation in the Paralympic Games will serve as an inspiration to athletes worldwide.

Virtus Tennis World Rankings updated

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Following the completion of the Global Games, we are pleased to confirm the Virtus Tennis rankings have been updated. Congratulations to all players on their performances.

Dastan Ordabay writes his legend at GG2023

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The people of Kazakhstan eagerly cheered for their two athletes as they proudly represented their country for the first time in the Virtus event. Anticipation was high for their performance, with hopes of achieving medals, and their expectations were met.

II3 cyclist, Dastan Ordabay won the country’s first medal, Silver in Individual pursuit 4000m in Bourges, France. Soon after, he went on to grab three silvers in Individual pursuit 4000m, 1000m Time Trial, Individual Sprint 200 and Classment H-II3.

“I am very happy, This medal was unexpected for me. I won for my country Kazakhstan”, said, Dastan.

The sixteen-year-old Dastan has been cycling since his childhood but started track cycling only three years ago.

Kazakhstan being one of the newest Virtus members who joined the family in March 2023, Dastan’s victory was a magical moment for the entire country. Talking to Virtus, Kazakhstan’s head of Delegation, Dina Temirgaliyeva says,

“We were only planning to be at the games, experience it for the first time, learn from other teams and only dreamt about a medal, but Dastan wrote his legend here in GG2023. He won the medals not just for himself, but also for children with intellectual impairments or autism in Kazakhstan. I am thankful to the universe and god for making our dream come true.”

“Virtus event is key to the world of high-level competitions for the athletes with intellectual impairments ”

Dina has revealed her intentions to engage in discussions with the government of Kazakhstan to garner support for sports programs aimed at children with intellectual impairments. She is thrilled by Dastan’s triumph at the GG2023, as it will bolster her efforts during these talks.

“First of all, we were extremely happy to see Kazakhstan walk through the opera house doors at the opening ceremony, and now they are walking out with four silver medals which is a fantastic achievement, especially when it was an II3 athlete to do it. We hope other Central Asian countries are encouraged by their journey to be a part of the Virtus family soon,” said Marc Truffaut, Virtus President.

At this inaugural full medal event for II3 class, Dastan’s story is a legacy for both Kazakhstan and Virtus which is striving to create more opportunities for athletes with autism.

GG2023: Australia dominates the Para-Dressage events

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By Akhila Chungath for Virtus

The atmosphere at the equestrian venue was buzzing with excitement as riders from around the world prepared for the first-ever live equestrian tournament after five years of video competitions.

In the II3 category, Louis Malaussenna (FRA) emerged as the victor, winning the gold medal with a commanding lead of 68.391%. Tai Rui Yun from Chinese Taipei followed with 58,966%, while Beem Anna (USA) secured third with 58.218%.

Sui Watts, a trailblazing equestrian athlete from Australia, made history in the 2023 Virtus Global Games. After becoming Australia’s first representative in Virtus Para-Equestrian video competitions in 2017, Watts has now claimed the gold medal in II2 with a score of 62.241%, while Espejo Lanzas Alejandro J (ESP) secured the silver medal with a score of 55.517%, while on day 1 during the team competition he had a slim advantage of 0.278% over his competitor from Australia.

Photo Credit: DETREZ

In a remarkable display of equestrian prowess, Australia dominated the II1 Equestrian event, occupying both the first and second positions. Andrew Driffield emerged as the undisputed champion, earning an astonishing score of 71,437%, followed by Sarah Sherwood, who secured the second position with an equally impressive score of 69.828%, followed closely by  Laurie Descouture from France with 69.425%. Laurie has come a long way after finishing at 8th position in her first Virtus Para-Equestrian Video Competition in 2018.

The Australian Equestrian Team, consisting of Andrew Driffield, Sui VirtWatts, and Sarah Sherwood, clinched the gold medal with a total score of 1459.5. The Spanish team proved their mettle by securing the second position in the equestrian competition, earning a well-deserved spot on the podium with a total score of 1444.0. The French Equestrian Team followed closely behind in the third position with a total score of 1443.0, highlighting the razor-thin margins between the teams and the intense level of competition set by each nation.

“The week was truly amazing, with a great team and a perfect venue that surpassed all expectations. The athletes had a fantastic experience during their first Virtus live competition, thanks to the efforts of the LOC and the exceptional dedication of the volunteers,” says Amanda Heath, Virtus Equestrian Committee member.

Photo Credit: Detrez

Both days of the equestrian event delivered a thrilling competition, that left the spectators in awe. The advent of the first live equestrian tournament marks a significant milestone in the world of Virtus equestrian sports, as rider athletes now have the opportunity to represent their countries in real-time, showcasing their skills, dedication, and the incredible bond they share with their equine partners.

Spain dominated the first Virtus Para-Karate competition

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By Alisha Bramhall for Virtus 

History has been made!

Karate made its debut at Virtus competitions today at the Virtus global games! A great atmosphere was built up in the Crepes ready to see the fantastic athletes compete for the first event time. All athletes showed exceptional skills and performance at the games and Spain took two out of the four gold medals offered at the first-ever Virtus karate event.

Lucia Sanchez at GG2023. Copyright Virtus. Photo Credit: Luc Percival

In K21, Carlos Huertas and Lucia Sanchez took home the gold for Spain in the K21 competition, defeating Albert Singer (GER) and Oliva Kakosy (HUN) with their incredible performance. Talking to Virtus, Sanchez said,

“I felt good to be taking home the gold medal for her country and want to thank my family and trainer for supporting me throughout my journey.”

In Women’s K22, Natalie Olson (CAN) had an outstanding performance and topped the podium. Talking to Virtus, Natalie mentioned having ‘a lot of experience’ which helped her take home the gold medal from Vichy 2023. The Canadian coach shared her enthusiastic words about having karate at the Global Games for the first time.

‘It’s wonderful to have karate included in the global games and it has been a wonderful experience for all the athletes. We cannot wait to see karate in the future Global Games.”

Matta Allesina (ITA). Copyright Virtus. Photo Credit: Luc Percival

In Mens K22, Matta Allesina (ITA) performed highly at the event and won the first karate gold medal for his country. Matta described his experience as ‘magical’ and wanted to share his gold medal appreciation with his whole team and trainers that have helped him get to this moment.

Para Karate Chairperson from WKF, Dušana Čierna Augustovičová was delighted to be present during the competition and said, 

The WKF’s signed the MOU with Virtus in 2020 and has followed the Virtus sports classification system in WKF competitions since then. I feel so satisfied and thankful that we could work together with Virtus to provide such an amazing opportunity for athletes here in Vichy 2023 where they can meet other athletes from different sports. It was an outstanding event for the elite II athletes. “

“Para-karate is a fast-developing inclusive sport with an excellent base in national federations. This is reflected in the ever-increasing participation of competitors in competitions. The GG2023 was a milestone for intellectually impaired karatekas and we wish to keep working closely with Virtus to further enhance the programme,” she added further.

A great first-time event of Karate at the Global Games 2023 and the experience has been one to remember with all the talented athletes, supportive teams and spectators. This is the first time and definitely will not be the last we see the amazing talent of karate.

Judo Championships Conclude with Spectacular Success

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By Akhila Chungath and Callum Bruchett

Judo made its first appearance in the Global Games competition at the state-of-the-art CREPS Double Hall, at the Vichy 2023, which saw the climax final rounds of competition before the medal ceremony.

The morning session began with brilliant displays of skill from numerous athletes, opening up Skye Westwood (GBR) lighting up the competition in her fight with Laurette Ruet (FRA) producing a brilliant throw for ten points and the win.

Yamazaki Mae (JPN) emerged victorious clinching the gold medal. She had challenging opponents such as World and 2 x European ID Champion Skye Westwood and World Champion and European ID bronze medallist McDermott. Yamazaki’s triumph highlights her exceptional skill and resilience, cementing her status as a rising star in the world of judo.

Michael Lomas of Great Britain produced a composed performance to overcome Jurgen van der Heijden of the Netherlands in his final match of the competition. Jonathan Brunin (BEL) debuted at the games dominating the mens +100kgs II1 category in a defining moment, expertly capitalizing on an opening created by Dion Sassen (NED).

The afternoon session began at 2:30 pm and with some immense Judo on show. Idris Khan (GBR) kicked off proceedings with a fantastic throw of Ori Roffe (ISR), before by far the best matchup of the afternoon and indeed the day, between Liam Hudson (AUS) and M Dergham (FRA) taking the contest into extra time, Hudson eventually came out on top after a bruising and exhilarating display from both athletes.

Copyright: Virtus and GG2023. Photo credit: Geoffrey Wahlen

The culmination of the day came with the semi-finals and finals of each weight category. Josh Hodkinson (GBR) triumphed in his category over his team mate Tom Mawdsley in an exhilarating final match showdown on the tatami.

Antonin Valmy of France emerged victorious over Josip Krznaric from Croatia in a thrilling -60kg men’s category final. Valmy’s quick thinking and execution of a haraigoshi technique as a counter to Krznaric’s osotogari attempt seconds into the match resulted in an ippon, securing the gold medal for France.

Marcin Liszcz (POL) emerges as the champion in the II2 -73kg men’s category, defeating both German opponents Ben Musaeus and Valentin Freitag

Lesley Ijzerman’s triumph over Joshua Hughes in the -72kg category (II1) marked a significant milestone for the Netherlands in the tournament, as it secured their first gold medal in judo. Ijzerman’s exceptional performance not only brought glory to himself but also brought pride and excitement to the Dutch team and fans.

Victor Gdowczok (GER) emerged victorious in the – 81kg category against Adam Wiśniewski from Poland. Gdowczok’s journey in judo began at the age of 8, and this showed as his hard work and dedication paid off as he secured the win, showcasing his long-standing commitment and passion for judo.

Stuart Jackman, representing Great Britain, etched his name into Virtus Judo history with an awe-inspiring performance, as he emerged victorious against Jasper Holtackers from the Netherlands. The win comes as a beacon of hope for Jackman, who had experienced disappointment due to the cancellation of the Virtus European Championships.

Ifeanyi Oguejiofor (FRA) demonstrated his skills to exceptional heights making light work of his opponents and winning all his contests by ippon with style and precision in his category to claim his title. Above all else, the respect and the practice of Judo tradition on show, from each and every athlete and coach right from the first fight through to the evening medal ceremony, made for a brilliantly entertaining and thoroughly respectful day.

Copyright: Virtus and GG2023. Photo credit: Geoffrey Wahlen

“The level of judo was inspiring and of an exceptional standard to showcase the achievements of all athletes competing. This is a great milestone for adaptive judo at international level. The future is bright and with the continued support of the international judo community we will take our place on the world circuit”, says Kerry Tansey, Virtus Judo Director.

Above all else, the respect and the practice of Judo tradition on show, from each and every athlete and coach right from the first fight through to the evening medal ceremony, made for a brilliantly entertaining and thoroughly respectful day.

Swimmers Set Twenty Virtus WR at GG2023

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By Alisha Bramhall and Akhila Chungath 

Swimming

The atmosphere at the swimming pool was electrified by the presence of numerous Paralympic Champions who won multiple Gold medals, as well as the sensational athletes who broke several Virtus World Records (WR). The GG2023 in Vichy witnessed a remarkable sixteen new Virtus WR being established, adding to the excitement and thrill of the event.

II1 Virtus WR

The II1 category witnessed an outstanding performance by Brazilian swimmers, who managed to set all eight new world records.

  1. Gabriel Bandeira: Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Champions who took the internet by store two years ago, made his debut at the Virtus competitions in GG2023 and dominated the II1 events winning eleven Gold and three silver medals. He thrashed the 50m Freestyle record 00:24.17sec along with three other records in the Men’s and Mixed relays with his team, tallying a total of four WR.
  2. João Pedro Brutos de Oliveira: João was another Brazilian who broke multiple records. In the individual event, he set the new Virtus WR in 50m Breaststroke with 30.12 sec. He was also part of the Men’s and Mixed relay teams and set new records making it a total of four WR for him.
  3. Brazilian II1 Men’s Relay team: Brazilian men’s team of Silva Filho, Duarte, Brutos De Oliveira, and Gabriel Bandeira broke two Virtus world records in the 4x50m Freestyle Relay and 4x50m Medley Relay, by clocking a time of 1:39.89sec and 1:50.37sec.
  4. Women’s 4x50m Freestyle II1 Relay team: Ariodante, Beatriz, Debora, and Soares representing Brazil broke three records in the 4x50m Freestyle, 4x50m Medley and 4x100m Freestyle Relay by storming towards the end line with a timing of 01:54.07sec, 02:08.11 sec and 04:13.51sec respectively.
  5. Brazilian Mixed Medley Relay team: The Brazilian mixed relay team of Soares, Brutos De Oliveira, Bandeira and Ariodonte set a new WR record for 4x100m mixed medley relay with 4:23.61sec.

II2 Virtus WR

The Global Games 2019 marked a momentous occasion for Virtus as the II2 competition class was included as a full medal event. This decision represented a significant milestone in the recognition and acceptance of II2 athletes. Despite being in only its second edition at the GG2023, the II2 athletes showcased their remarkable abilities by breaking records and pushing the boundaries of human potential. Their incredible skill and unwavering determination were on full display, leaving a lasting impact on the global stage. In the II2 category, a total of twelve records were set.

(L-R). Kobayashi Michiko, Vincente Pereira, Caique Aimore. Photo Credit: Japanese Paralympic Committee, Picout Natation and CBDI

  1. Kobayashi Michiko: Japanese swimmer Kobayashi broke the Virtus World record twice in a row today in the female II2 100m breaststroke event. She swam a time of 1:42.69sec in the heats this morning to set the first record and later broke her own record in the finals clocking an impressive time of 1:39.86 seconds. She also set the record for 200m Breaststroke with a timing of 3:41.82sec.
  2. Vicente Pereira: Portuguese swimmer II2-Pereira Vicente makes history by breaking three Virtus World records. He created a new record in the 50m Freestyle with 29.59 seconds. The versatile swimmer strikes again in the 50m butterfly with a timing of 00:31.05sec and in the 100m butterfly with a stunning time of 1.13.57sec, breaking two more world records.
  3. Caique Aimore: The records tumbled right from the start, Caique Aimore, representing Brazil, made waves at the Virtus Global Games by thrashing two Virtus World Records in II2 class events, 200M II2 freestyle (2:33.40sec) and 100m Freestyle (1:06.06sec).
  4. Ayuko Morrishita: The 200m butterfly world record was broken by Japanese swimmer Ayuko Morrishita II2 with a timing of 3:21.20sec.
  5. Spanish II2 Men’s relay: Demonstrating exceptional teamwork and relentless determination, the Italian swimmers deliver a breath-taking performance. The men’s II2 4x100m medley relay team of Italy makes history by shattering the world record with an astonishing time of 5:30.42sec.
  6. Camino Martinez de la Riva: Spanish Swimmer Camino set the new WR in 400m Freestyle with a time of 06:07.13sec.
  7. Camacho Dunia: Mexican swimmer Camacho set the new WR for 1500m Freestyle with a timing of 25:02.54sec.
  8. French relay team: Dutay, Graftiaux, Belig and Renou representing France clocked a time of 6:02.66sec in the 4x100m Mixed Medley relay.

Full results can be accessed from the GG2023 website. 

GG2023 declared open at Vichy Opera House

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By Callum Burchett for Virtus

“After the last edition of this great sporting event, I left Australia tremendously impressed at the level of competition, and, most important, the performance of the athletes. We are delighted to see all three competition classes, II1, II2 and II3 classes to compete in this edition of Virtus Global Games. At the IPC, we are committed to working with Virtus and International federations to develop greater opportunities for athletes with an intellectual impairment to compete at the highest level in the Paralympic movement.

Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee. Photo Credit: Luc Percival. 

These were the words of Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee, when the world sat down to witness the opening ceremony of the 2023 Global Games. The 2023 Games looks set to not only meet, but exceed those expectations – and provided a fantastic spectacle to the world. The opening ceremony on Sunday evening certainly demonstrated the potential of these games to provide that.

Held in the breath-taking Vichy Opera House, just off the banks of the Allier River in the heart of the city, Mr Parson’s speech as well as numerous other’s were delivered once over 900 elite athletes from forty-seven countries and their coaching staff had made their ceremonial parade. Winding its way through the streets of Vichy, the colourful and musical procession began outside the beautiful Mairie de Vichy Town Hall, and culminated at the top of the steps to the Opera House.

Among the esteemed guests present at the ceremony was Frederic Aquileira, the Mayor of Vichy. Known for his unwavering support for inclusivity in sports, Mayor Aquileira.

Between the speakers, they highlighted their excitement about the Global Games serving as the Paris 2024 qualifiers for Table Tennis and they hope the Winter Paralympic Games will open their doors to athletes with an intellectual impairment and that the words ‘Paralympic games’ will count for all sports and every sportsperson at any level in every country.

Geneviève Darrieussecq, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy and Persons with Disabilities, in charge of Persons with Disabilities took the opportunity to share her vision for a more equitable sporting world. In her address to the audience, she emphasised the significance of the Global Games and expressed her hope for its recognition on a global scale.

Marc Truffeut, President of Virtus and LOC of GG2023 was delighted to host the Global Games after the pandemic. Talking about the athletes’ determination, he said,

Marc Truffaut, President of Virtus and LOC of GG2023. Photo Credit: Luc Percival

“You (the athletes) are models for all of us. Your determination and sportsmanship are a source of inspiration for us, and you showed us that nothing is impossible when we believe in ourselves and commit to giving our best. I would like to thank everyone who has made this Global Games possible.”

“The Global Games is a celebration of diversity. They remind us that strength and talent know no limits. Every individual, regardless of their ability, can reach excellence.”

Livestream from the 2023 Global Games can be viewed from GG2023 TV

CyberSafetyAlert – 2023 Global Games live tv

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Stay connected with us for authentic updates on the Global Games 2023 and Virtus Sport.

Iconic GG2023 eco-medal designs revealed

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The GG2023 organizing committee has unveiled the highly anticipated medal designs, surpassing expectations with their captivating beauty. Reflecting the committee’s sustainability commitment through the environmental charter with the French Ministry of Sports and WWF, the GG2023 medal will incorporate both metal and wood components, where the metal design represents the classic and prestigious nature of medals and sits within a ‘wooden frame’ which adds  an element of natural beauty and environmental consciousness.

To bring the wood-metal concept to life, skilled artisans from Ateliers CURTI meticulously selected high-quality wood from the centre of France, close to the Vichy forests. The careful shaping and carving of the wood results in a design that showcases the texture, grain, and colour of the material, enhancing the medal’s aesthetic appeal, and ensuring that each medal is a work of art, providing recipients with a distinct and organic feel.

“The decision to incorporate wooden elements into the GG2023 medals not only stems from sustainability but also from a desire to connect with history. Wood has played a significant role in the construction of important structures throughout history, such as houses, dams, roofs, and bridges, providing protection and support to people. By including wood in the medals, we symbolize the strength and durability that wood represents. The wooden frame surrounding the metal medal acts as a protective layer, ensuring its longevity and preservation. This combination of materials represents the timeless nature of achievements and their lasting impact on individuals and communities” said Marc Truffaut, Virtus President and FFSA, was particularly excited about this historical achievement.

Beyond their visual appeal, the wooden-metal medals embody eco-friendly and sustainable concepts. They serve as a connection between athletes and environmental initiatives, promoting conscious living. By wearing these medals, athletes will become ambassadors for sustainability, spreading awareness and inspiring others to embrace environmentally friendly practices.

Talking about the journey of the medal, GG2023 Protocol manager, Pascale Tilagone explained the process as a “journey from the forest to the podium”.

“The GG2023 medal undergoes a detailed process, cutting wood into round shapes and compartments to fit the metal medal. The wooden base is polished and engraved with a map of France with the iconic Eiffel Tower and Vichy on the back of the medal signifying the host nation which is then embedded with an Aluminum strip under the map which is laser-printed with the sport discipline name. Metal medals featuring the GG2023 logo are added into the wooden compartments on the front side of the medal and ribbon lanyards with GG2023 branding complete the medal.” said Pascale.

“This meticulous craftsmanship creates a unique blend of wood and metal, symbolizing both achievement and sustainability. Each medal is unique because the wood is not from the same tree in every medal, which makes it extra special.” She added further.

With the opening ceremony just days away, anticipation builds not only for outstanding athletic performances but also for the unveiling of these remarkable medals. The combination of metal and wood will undoubtedly add a wow factor to the already exceptional event, reinforcing the message that sustainability and environmental consciousness can go hand in hand with tradition and excellence.