Are Medals Still Significant?

Figure 1 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/Mendeleev_Copley_medal. pg

Contents
!ntroduction....................................................." Contents.........................................................# Military............................................................$ %ervices..........................................................6 Conclusion......................................................&

Introduction
'ith the 'inter (lympics underway) you would be hard pushed to miss the celebratory hype o* each country as one o* their athletes wins a medal. For the (lympian) the medal represents the recognition o* all o* their hard work) prowess and superiority in their *ield. 'inning a medal is) *or many) a main reason to train and compete. +he honour o* being awarded any medal is carried throughout all aspects o* society) however) not ust in sport. %ince as early as the reign o* the ,ncient -reeks) medals have been awarded in the *orm o* laurels) golden buttons or crowns in order to reward and decorate the elite. For some) it can be conceived to be hierarchical: where only the best are rewarded. .et *or others it is a way o* distinguishing those who have gone *ar beyond what is necessary and deserve to be rewarded. +his can be in sport) military) de*ence) or even simple acts o* bravery. ,lthough medals can o*ten be seen today as collectables) their signi*icance is usually seen to be *or what they represent to the individual receiver) rather than a glory pri/e. +hose that are the hardest to achieve) and there*ore the rarest awarded) can be seen to reach e0traordinary prices in auctions and collections.

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Sports

Figure # http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d$/(lympics_#111_2airs_podium. pg

(ne o* the biggest sporting events in the world is the (lympic games) held every *our years by a di**erent host country chosen by the !nternational (lympic Committee 3!(C4. +hey can be traced back to &&6 5C and were played in (lympia whilst being dedicated to the (lympian -ods. 'inners in these games would be announced in the awards ceremony and decorated with a palm branch and red ribbons on his hands and head *or victory. i (* course this has changed signi*icantly) but the idea o* competing *or glory still remains the same. +oday athletes are whittled down to the best through various heats) 6uarter *inals) semi *inals and then the ultimate *inal. +hese stages are eliminative) so only those that per*orm well on the day go through to the ne0t round. 7ike in most athletic sports) the top " competitors receive a medal. +hese are usally gold silver and bron/e) with gold 3being the most sought a*ter metal4 representing the winner. (ther than in the (lympic -ames there are many other competitve games) events and championships that use medals in reward *or e0cellence. %ports such as swimming) *ormula one and gymnastics all show similarity in the rewards scheme. 'hile *or a large amount o* team sports there is usually a trophy involved that) by tradition) is held by the winning side until the competition begins again. !n many cases) individuals on the teams get winners and runner8up medals as well.

Military

Figure " http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6$/:aniel_;eighran_medals_at_the_,'M_:ecember_#11". pg

Medals and decorations are awarded in the armed *orces *or e0ceptional achievements) acts o* heroism and sel*8sacri*ice. +hey are seen as having the utmost honour *or the individual) but the respect is o*ten attributed to the soldier<s rank or division as well. +hese honours have o*ten been employed to raise morale in times o* need. +he highest 5ritish reward is the =ictoria Cross) established during the Crimean 'ar. +his is then *ollowed in rank by the -eorge Cross) established in 1>91 during the %econd 'orld 'ar to reward great acts o* heroism. -allantry medals such as the -eorge Cross are not limited to military or armed *orces) but were designed to reward any citi/en *or the upmost in bravery whether in the *ace o* the enemy or not. ?ach country has its own medal system that represents di**erent) although o*ten similar) ranks in rewards. !n times o* war these were considered very important in recognising someone<s e**orts and were seen as the utmost praise.

Services

Figure 9 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/>/>d/%t82auls8Cathedral_7ondon_Crypta_Chapel8(rder8(*8+he8 5ritish8?mpire811. pg

+here are also honours *or civil services too. %temming *rom under ;ing -eorge =<s reign) the 5ritish @onours %ystem came to include military o**icers) civil servants) diplomats and even those who had served the Aoyal Family directly. !* considered the highest rank o* +he Most ?0cellent (rder o* +he 5ritish ?mpire you are permitted to use the title B%ir< 3male4 or B:ame< 3*emale4) although this is not compulsory. +his status is only reached when you are considered to have made a ma or contribution to any activity) usually at national level i* not higher. +o be nominated your work is o*ten seen as inspirational and yoursel* held in very high esteem. , Companion o* @onour is typically awarded to those that have contributed greatly to the arts) science) medicine or government over a long period o* timeC while both C5?s and (5?s are rewards *or more regional or local prominence.ii ,s it is not possible to nominate yoursel* or another to be considered *or a speci*ic honour in the honours system in 5ritain) there is an honours committee who decide who is awarded and in which order they are awarded. +hose success*ul are personally awarded by the Dueen and then announced in the 7ondon -a/ette) and on the government website.

Conclusion

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%o) despite many award systems being seen as traditional and even backward by some) the media and national hype around the reception o* medals at this year<s 'inter (lympics show that they are by no means outdated yet. Aeward systems are used in education) entertainment) military and sporting occasions as a method by which to praise and encourage those who go beyond what is necessary. (* course it is) in a sense) a type o* elitism) but it also works very well at encouraging all to aspire to bigger things.
%ources: https://www.army.mod.uk/structure/"#"##.asp0 http://www.british8medals.co.uk/british8medals/awards8gallantry8and8distinguished8service.html https://www.gov.uk/honours/types8o*8honours8and8awards http://www.rgs.org/,boutFs/MedalsGandGawards/@istoryGo*GtheGmedalsGandGawards.htm http://history.howstu**works.com/world8war8ii/decorations8and8medals".htm

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http://www.olympic.org/ancient8olympic8games https://www.gov.uk/honours/types8o*8honours8and8awards

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