French luxurious conglomerate LVMH is denying studies that it’s accountable for deteriorating and rusting Olympic medals that had been handed out to athletes throughout the Summer time Video games in Paris final yr.
Chaumet, the high-end jeweler that’s owned by company mother or father LVMH, has become the butt of jokes in France after greater than 100 athletes who gained the bronze medal on the not too long ago concluded Paris Olympics requested for replacements.
However a spokesperson for LVMH informed The Submit that whereas Chaumet was accountable for the medal design, neither Chaumet nor LVMH had been concerned of their manufacturing.
The Monnaie de Paris, the French mint accountable for producing the medals, has admitted to a technical flaw within the varnish utilized to forestall oxidation.
The group cited a change in its system because of current European Union rules banning the usage of chromium trioxide, a chemical beforehand used to guard towards rust.
“That responsibility lies solely with La Monnaie de Paris and the International Olympic Committee,” an LVMH spokesperson informed The Submit, including: “LVMH has no connection to this aspect of the process and will not be commenting on this matter.”
LVMH, which is managed by the household of multibillionaire Bernard Arnault, was a significant sponsor of the Summer time Video games in Paris.
The backlash started when French swimmers Clément Secchi and Yohann Ndoye-Brouard posted photographs of their bronze medals on social media, revealing a floor that gave the impression to be peeling.
Secchi described the medal as resembling “crocodile skin.”
The corporate made its presence felt throughout the competitors — from outfitting athletes to supplying Moët & Chandon champagne in VIP lounges.
Nick Itkin, a US Olympic fencer, additionally reported that his bronze medal had begun to deteriorate simply days after receiving it.
This isn’t the primary time that Olympic medals handed out to athletes have fallen aside.
After the 2016 Rio Olympics, roughly 6,000 medals had to get replaced because of defects, together with rusting, flaking coatings, and black spots showing on the surfaces.
The Brazilian mint, which produced the medals, attributed the problems to excessive warmth, dealing with circumstances and flaws within the manufacturing course of.
Throughout the Paris Video games, Chaumet, which is understood for its beautiful craftsmanship, refined designs and deep ties to European royalty, showcased the yearlong effort to craft the medals, which included incorporating a chunk of the Eiffel Tower on the heart of every award.
However that didn’t cease the bronze medals from rusting.
The medals started exhibiting indicators of degradation shortly after being awarded this previous summer time.
The Worldwide Olympic Committee has since issued an apology and pledged to supply replacements.
