You’ve probably seen those colorful little items handed out to Olympic medalists in Rio when they receive a gold, silver or bronze, but you may not know what they actually are.
Those little trinkets are actually 3D sculptures of the 2016 Rio Olympics logo, and they are being handed out to medalists instead of the traditional flowers.
The switch was done in an attempt to be more in line with the Rio Games’ message of sustainability. The fresh-cut flowers were often just tossed aside once the athletes got off the medal stand.
So instead, they are given something else that may not be thrown away moments after they’re placed in their hands.
According to the Rio2016.com website, the sculptures are made of wood.
However, a recent New York Times article described the sculptures as being made of "resin, polyresin and PVC."
