Rio Paralympics Opens Wednesday: Rattling Medals Up Close ♿

Rio Paralympics open September 7. The medals contain embedded steel ball-bearings that rattle when shaken — louder for gold, quieter for bronze. Accessibility innovation baked into the artifact itself, not added afterwards.

Sound Communicates Tier

Rios Paralympic gold medals contain 28 ball bearings, silver 20, bronze 16 — the rattle volume itself signals rank. Visually-impaired athletes know what they hold by sound. The factory cost adds ~฿5/medal. For Thai inclusive events (Special Olympics chapters, school adaptive programs), specifying rattle inclusions is the cheapest accessibility upgrade available.

Braille Engraving Pairs With Sound

Rios Paralympic medals also engrave the sport (athletics, swimming, etc.) in Braille on the reverse. Sound communicates tier; Braille communicates specifics. The two systems work together. For your inclusive event, pairing tactile and audio accessibility features delivers a fuller experience than either alone — at minimal incremental cost.