Medals are being handed out left and right with the 2024 Paris Olympics in full swing, but hardware isn’t the only thing Olympians are getting on the podium.
From footage and photos taken at medal ceremonies, winners can be seen receiving a slim, mysterious box in addition to the medals they receive. It’s an intriguing item, leaving viewers pondering as to what could be inside.
So what’s in the box?
It’s the official Olympic poster for this year’s Summer Game, according to the International Olympic Committee. The posters are designed by French artist Ugo Gattoni. He reportedly spent 2,000 hours in four months designing it, and fans can even buy it online or in Paris.
What else do Olympic medalist get?
Winning Olympians also get another gift in addition to their medal and the official Olympic poster. They receive a plushie off the 2024 Paris Olympics official mascot, the Phryges. It’s based off Phrygian caps, or liberty caps, which are soft conical hats with the top curled forward that are synonymous with the French revolution.
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The special part of the Phryges winners get is it includes a gold, silver or bronze medal emblem on the mascot’s belly for whatever medal the Olympian won. On the back of the plushie is the word ‘Bravo’ in French.
For winners in the Paralympic Games, they get the official event poster as well as the Paralympic Phryge plushie.
