2010 Olympic medals include material from recycled circuit boards
By Donald Melanson 
posted Oct 17th 2009 3:47AM
posted Oct 17th 2009 3:47AM
The just-unveiled medals for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver certainly break with a few conventions in terms of appearance, but it looks like they also contain a few surprises that aren't immediately apparent -- namely, they're all made at least partly from recycled circuit boards. Of course, the circuit boards have also been recycled beyond recognition, but each of the medals do apparently sport a one of a kind design, not to mention some considerable heft (weighing between 500 and 576 grams apiece). Sure, it's not enough to make a dent in the e-waste problem, but it's a heckuva way to kick start a trend.
[Via Technabob]
[Via Technabob]
At least make them look as if they weren't stomped on/run over by a car, please.
The ripples are supposed to represent the mountains and ocean we have here in Vancouver.
@ Trek
Vancouver is separated from the Pacific Ocean by at least 100 miles...
...Oh come on.
Semantics aside, we are in the Pacific Northwest. I doubt many people care that the downtown peninsula actually located on Burrard Inlet.
You mean rocks and trees and trees and rocks and water.
I Thought They Said The Recessioin was Over? Wotz this business
The ripples are ugly. As cool as it would be to win an Olympic Medal, I'd feel shafted with one of those.
All things considered: No, Vancouver is right on the ocean.
@RyanTV
you won't
Awww, my chocolate coins melted.
Voted down for no good reason. The warped effect looks like they were left in the oven too long. Looks bad.
It should come with a flash drive imo.
Only if the flash drive contains video of the event that they won the medal in :P
@Alex
"Vancouver - They're heavy, wavy and collectively worth about $1.8 million based on current metal prices."
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=2106329
Cheap Canadians
innovative, chic, trend-setting Canadians.
and fact that they contain recycled material does not mean that they're manufactured any cheaper than using all new material.
708 dollars an ounce times 20 ounces.
14000 dollars just for the metal alone for each gold metal.
@Alex I assume that calculation is for Solid gold medals, there is actually a 6 gram gold-plating on the medals, with the rest made from silver. So more like 140 dollars for the gold of the gold medal.
Cheap Canadians? these medals are about double the size of the ones they gave out at the Beijing Olympics, and i think they look fine. They were designed by a Native Canadian, so yeah they will look different then the traditional ones with the Greek goddess it usually has on it
Where the hell are you getting $708 an ounce? Right now it's up to $1050.
I WANT MY MOTHERBOARD BACK YOU DAMN ATHLETES
I WANT MY MOTHER BOARD BACK YOU DAMN ATHLETES
I WANT A DECENT COMMENTING SYSTEM ENGADGET
I want people to learn that caps lock does not mean you're cool
You can have all of these things..
...in Valhalla!
I like them... They are hot! I should one with replace my Jesus piece lol...
What a society we have..... even our awards are getting silicon implants.
+1. pro
That doesn't make any sense. There is no silicon in any of the medals.
*whooosh*
No whooosh. I understand what he meant, it just doesn't make any sense. There is no silicon in any of these medals.
*whooooooooooooooosh*
Does this mean I have to enter the Olympics to get one? They'll have a video game event, right?
Nice
I actually really like them. At least the Canadians are thinking differently.
"thinking differently" obviously means designs not included in canada
at the guy above me: IT's DESIGNED AND MADE IN CANADA. -_-
So those cash4gold dudes will only pay for 35% of the gold content because they have to 'melt' it
I HATE your damn avatar! I HATE effin Mario! Feel like clobbering the crap out of stupid Mario and stupid look alike avatars. Especially that bloody rapper Mario animation.
hey, do everyone a favor and get back on your meds douche bag
jeez buddy, Mario do something naughty to you when you were little or something?
hahaha they recycled Macbooks Pro to make the medals
now thats innovation
if i was the most dominating winter olympian ever i would take the year off just so i didnt have to win such an ugly piece of crap....how do you go from bejings sweetest ever looking medals to the crappiest ever looking medals?
it's all in the eye of the beholder...that's probably why your mom's the only one on the planet that thinks you're a good looking kid.
If I were an athlete, I'd be upset. Those will probably go down in history as the ugliest set of Olympic medals, ever.
Man I love Canada.
yup 2nd place is always good
Yeah Scotland then Canada.