I heard recently that Olympic gold medals are actually gold-plated silver. Is this true, and if so, is it also true of gold medals awarded at the Athletics World Championships and Commonwealth Games?

Kainantu

Olympic Games. The 'gold' medals awarded to the winners in the modern Olympic games are not gold - they are gold plated. This began at the Antwerp Games of 1920. Chapter5, Rule 70, paragraph 2 of the Charter, which is entitled 'Medals and Diplomas' 2.1 ... The first prize shall be a silver gilt medal and a diploma ... 2.2 ... The medals for first and second places shall be of silver .... http://www.olympic.org/ioc/e/facts/charter%5Fjuin%5F99/charter%5Fprotocol%5Fe.html as reported in http://www.loebner.net/OlympicF/SydneySpeech.html 2000 Olympics... The medals were made in gold-plated silver, silver and bronze at the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra as well as the Perth Mint in 2000. Symbolising the past, the gold was mined from the gold fields of New South Wales near Bathurst, where the gold rushes began in 1851. As a gesture to today, the silver was from the newest mine in Broken Hill, New South Wales. The bronze medals were from everybody - melted down one and two cent coins that were withdrawn from Australian currency in 1992. http://www.phm.gov.au/media/medals.htm May 27 03, 7:53 AM