2026 Winter Olympics medals most expensive in games history - CNN

Athletes on the podium at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy will receive the most expensive medals in Games history thanks to the rapid rise in precious metals prices, CNN reported.

A total of more than 700 gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded at the Winter Olympics. And in monetary terms, those medals will be worth more than ever before. Since the Paris Olympics in July 2024, spot prices for gold and silver have soared by 107% and 200%, respectively, according to FactSet data.

These impressive gains mean that, based on metal prices alone, gold medals are now worth about USD 2,300, more than double their value at the Paris Olympics. Silver medals, for second place, are worth almost USD 1,400, or three times more than two years ago.

Demand from retail investors has partly contributed to the rise in silver prices. Gold prices have risen as major central banks have replenished their reserves and investors have rushed to buy traditional safe-haven assets amid global political turmoil.

The winners will receive medals made from recycled metal by the Italian State Mint and the Institute of Printing. However, only six grams of the gold medal, out of a total of 506, is pure gold. The rest is made of silver.

However, as collectibles, Olympic medals can sell for well above their monetary value, said Dominic Czorny, head of antique coinage at Baldwin's.

In 2015, Baldwin's sold a gold medal from the 1912 Stockholm Olympics for USD 26,000. However, most Olympic medals never come up for sale.

"Relatively few Olympians sell their medals because they value them," he said.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on February 8, representatives of the Ukrainian national team in 5 sports will enter the arenas of the 2026 Winter Olympics.