Medals of the 2008 Paralymic Games are unveiled by the Beijing Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (BOCOG) in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 14, 2007. --Xinhua

The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) is honored to unveil the medals for the Paralympic Games of 2008.

Leading officials of BOCOG and the China Disabled Persons' Federation, representative of athletes with a disability and representatives of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic medal sponsor BHP Billiton attended today's press conference as mock-ups of the medals for the Paralympic Games of 2008 were on display at the Beijing Olympic Media Center.

The design concepts and pattern of the medals for the Paralympic Games of 2008 bear stark resemblance to the medals for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad.

The medals for the Paralympic Games not only meet the technical requirements of "Two Games, Equal Splendor" but perfectly capture the pure essence of "One World One Dream."

A jade disc set into the obverse of each Beijing 2008 Paralympic medal…and the emblem of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games is found in the center of the jade disc.

The color of jade varies with the medal, including:

-- white jade for the gold medal

-- gray-white jade for the silver medal, and

-- gray jade for the bronze medal

The design of the medal hook originates from jade "huang" a ceremonial jade piece decorated with a double dragon pattern and "Pu," a reed mat pattern. On the reverse side is the emblem of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the name of the event and "Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games" in Chinese, English and Braille.

The materials, weight, measurements and pattern of the medals for the Paralympic Games of 2008 have followed all guidelines of and met the approval of the IPC. The gold and silver medals are made with a base of pure silver and the gold medal is plated with no less than six grams of pure gold.

Each medal will have a jade disc set into the surface.

This design fully meets the requirements of the IPC and the design concept and patterns echo those of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, reflecting fairness and mutual respect for all people. Both the Olympic and Paralympic medals equally reflect the global concept of "One World One Dream."

The IPC has given its stamp of approval to the design of these medals for Paralympic Games of 2008. In its letter of approval, the IPC relayed a congratulatory message regarding the design program for the medals.

Extensive research and planning for the medal design for the Paralympic Games of 2008 began in November 2006. An analysis of the experiences from previous Paralympic Games led to the formulation of the concepts, requirements, creation methods and development for the Beijing Paralympics medals.

Using the successful designs for the Beijing Olympic Games as their template, specific designers were invited to create the "look" and "feel" of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic medals, including designers from:

-- the Central Academy of Fine Arts,

-- the Academy of Fine Arts at Tsinghua University and

-- China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation.

All of the designers had originally submitted entries in the original campaign for the Beijing Olympic Games medals.

On December 7, 2006, an explanatory meeting was held to launch the design of the medals. Through December 31, 2006, the aforesaid organizations submitted a total of 21, two-dimensional designs. On January 9, 2007, at the invitation of BOCOG, leading Chinese experts and scholars from the arts, sculpture, minting and Paralympic sports made the appraisal on the 21 works, following the design requirements.

BOCOG then asked the relevant organizations to make modifications and improvements to the designs. Then, on October 11, 2007, BOCOG and the IPC approved the final design.