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OLYMPIC TORCHThe innovative design of the Rio 2016 Olympic Torch featured moveable segments that could expand to reveal the colours of Brazil when the Olympic flame was passed from one torchbearer to another. The triangular shape of the torch, meanwhile, alluded to the three Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect, while the floating effect of its different segments represented the efforts of the athletes.The torches, which were crafted from recycled aluminium and resin with a satin finish, were carried by approximately 12,000 torchbearers during the Rio 2016 Olympic Torch Relay – presented by Coca-Cola, Nissan, and Bradesco – which visited around 300 cities and towns across Brazil ahead of the Olympic Games.MEDALSThe design of the Rio 2016 Olympic medals aimed to celebrate the relationship between the strengths of Olympic heroes and the forces of nature. One side featured laurel leaves – a symbol of victory in ancient Greece – surrounding the Rio 2016 Olympic logo to represent the link between nature and Olympians. According to Olympic Games tradition, the other side of the medals features an image of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, with the Panathinaiko Stadium and the Acropolis in the background.Underlining the link to nature, the medals were produced with environmental sustainability at their core. The gold used to manufacture the winners’ medals was completely mercury-free and produced under exacting sustainability criteria – from mine to finished product – while the silver and bronze medals were comprised of 30% recycled materials. Even the ribbons attached to the medals were made from 50% recycled plastic bottles, while the freijo wood used to craft the rounded presentation cases for the medals was certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.130 THE OLYMPIC BRAND