French luxurious conglomerate LVMH is denying reviews that it’s liable for deteriorating and rusting Olympic medals that have been handed out to athletes throughout the Summer time Video games in Paris final 12 months.
Chaumet, the high-end jeweler that’s owned by company guardian LVMH, has was the butt of jokes in France after greater than 100 athletes who gained the bronze medal on the lately concluded Paris Olympics requested for replacements.
However a spokesperson for LVMH informed The Put up that whereas Chaumet was liable for the medal design, neither Chaumet nor LVMH have been concerned of their manufacturing.
The Monnaie de Paris, the French mint liable for producing the medals, has admitted to a technical flaw within the varnish utilized to stop 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 in opposition to rust.
“That duty lies solely with La Monnaie de Paris and the Worldwide Olympic Committee,” an LVMH spokesperson informed The Put up, including: “LVMH has no connection to this facet of the method and won’t be commenting on this matter.”
LVMH, which is managed by the household of multibillionaire Bernard Arnault, was a serious 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 pores and 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 situations 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 bit of the Eiffel Tower on the middle of every award.
However that didn’t cease the bronze medals from rusting.
The medals started displaying indicators of decay shortly after being awarded this previous summer season.
The Worldwide Olympic Committee has since issued an apology and pledged to offer replacements.