There are certain aspects of the Paralympic Games, certain images, that linger in the mind's eye, that solidify as memories as time goes on and shape our impressions of the event - for good or for bad.
One image that will surely stay with us when the Rio Paralympics draw to a close is that of athletes holding their medals up to their ears in order to 'listen' to the sound of their triumph.
It's so great you can listen to the medals' sound, isn't it @MajaReichard?! CONGRATS!! #Paralympics @GettyImages pic.twitter.com/cQUZElJ3cF
— Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) September 10, 2016
This is due to the presence of little metal balls within the actual medals themselves. The higher up one finishes, the greater the number of balls within the medals - and so the presence of a slightly 'heavier' sound in the better placings.
It has been called the "sound of victory" by the brand manager for the 2016 Summer Games and has been developed for the benefit of visually impaired athletes. It allows them to experience what other athletes can - the unique, individual and special quality of a Paralympic medal.
The joy on an athlete's face when listening to the glorious sound of their medal has really been something to behold. The sound of years of hard work, effort and dedication manifested within a precious memento. Inscribed on the medals, in Braille, is the text 'Rio 2016 Paralympic Games'.
