?The medals for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games were unveiled here on Thursday, with undulating rather than flat face and each featuring a piece of larger contemporary aboriginal artworks --- both firsts in Games history. The dramatic form of the medals is inspired by the ocean waves, drifting snow and mountainous landscape found in the Games region and throughout Canada.

The gold medal for the 2010 Olympic (L) and Para-Olympic Winter Games are displayed following their unveiling in Vancouver, British Columbia October 15, 2009

These creative and unique medal designs are based on two large master artworks of an orca whale (Olympic) and raven (Paralympic) by Canadian aboriginal designer Corrine Hunt. Each of the medals has a unique hand-cropped section of the abstract art, making every medal one-of-a-kind. A silk scarf printed with the master artwork will be presented to each medalist to enable them to see how their medal connects with those awarded to other athletes at the Games to make the whole design. The orca is often associated with the attributes of strength, dignity and teamwork. "The orca is a beautiful creature that is strong but also lives within a community. I felt the Olympic (Games) are a community, too," Hunt said.

The silver medal for the 2010 Para-Olympic Winter Games sits on display after the unveiling in Vancouver, British Columbia October 15, 2009

As for the raven, she explained that it's a creature that is all things and Paralympic athletes have that in them. "I think the creativity of the raven gives us hope -- to accept when things don't work out and really rejoice when they do, " she said. In fact, as powerful tributes to the performances of the Olympic and Paralympic Games athletes who will receive them, the medals establish several other milestones. For the first time, Olympic and Paralympic Games medals are of similar size, the former being circular in shape while the latter a squared circle. They are among the heaviest in Games history at 500 to 576 grams each, the significant weight representing the magnitude of the athlete's accomplishment.

The bronze medal for the 2010 Para-Olympic Winter Games sits on display after the unveiling in Vancouver, British Columbia October 15, 2009

The medals were designed with direct input from Olympic and Paralympic athletes who shared their experiences about medals they won at past Games and what they would like to see in future medals. Their stories and dreams helped shape the medals. Jill Bakken, an Olympic gold medalist for the United States in bobsleigh said in the unveiling ceremony that an Olympic or Paralympic medal is a cherished possession for every athlete.

"To feel it being placed around your neck on the podium or seeing children's eyes light up when you show it to them are experiences that defy words."

Daniel Wesley, a five-time paralympian and 12-time medalist for Canada in alpine skiing and wheelchair racing at the Summer and Winter Games, agreed, saying every one of his medals has meanings and motivation because of the memories attached to them and the people he has been able to share them with.

"The 2010 Paralympic medals demonstrates to me, the public and other paralympians how greatly our accomplishments and stories are valued," he said.

In addition to the Aboriginal art, the obverse side of the medals is embossed with the Olympic Rings or Paralympic agitos and the hand-cropped section of the orca or raven design is lasered on with a subtle wood grain effect.

On the reverse side the medals contain the official names of the Games as well as Vancouver 2010's distinctive emblems and the name of the sport. On the Paralympic medals, braille is also used.

The Games motto With Glowing Hearts/Des plus brilliants exploits is written in white lettering on the medal's blue and green ribbon.

The Royal Canadian Mint will produce 615 Olympic and 399 Paralympic medals for the 2010 Winter Games.

?The medals for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games were unveiled here on Thursday, with undulating rather than flat face and each featuring a piece of larger contemporary aboriginal artworks --- both firsts in Games history. The dramatic form of the medals is inspired by the ocean waves, drifting snow and mountainous landscape found in the Games region and throughout Canada.

The gold medal for the 2010 Olympic (L) and Para-Olympic Winter Games are displayed following their unveiling in Vancouver, British Columbia October 15, 2009

These creative and unique medal designs are based on two large master artworks of an orca whale (Olympic) and raven (Paralympic) by Canadian aboriginal designer Corrine Hunt. Each of the medals has a unique hand-cropped section of the abstract art, making every medal one-of-a-kind. A silk scarf printed with the master artwork will be presented to each medalist to enable them to see how their medal connects with those awarded to other athletes at the Games to make the whole design. The orca is often associated with the attributes of strength, dignity and teamwork. "The orca is a beautiful creature that is strong but also lives within a community. I felt the Olympic (Games) are a community, too," Hunt said.

The silver medal for the 2010 Para-Olympic Winter Games sits on display after the unveiling in Vancouver, British Columbia October 15, 2009

As for the raven, she explained that it's a creature that is all things and Paralympic athletes have that in them. "I think the creativity of the raven gives us hope -- to accept when things don't work out and really rejoice when they do, " she said. In fact, as powerful tributes to the performances of the Olympic and Paralympic Games athletes who will receive them, the medals establish several other milestones. For the first time, Olympic and Paralympic Games medals are of similar size, the former being circular in shape while the latter a squared circle. They are among the heaviest in Games history at 500 to 576 grams each, the significant weight representing the magnitude of the athlete's accomplishment.

The bronze medal for the 2010 Para-Olympic Winter Games sits on display after the unveiling in Vancouver, British Columbia October 15, 2009

The medals were designed with direct input from Olympic and Paralympic athletes who shared their experiences about medals they won at past Games and what they would like to see in future medals. Their stories and dreams helped shape the medals. Jill Bakken, an Olympic gold medalist for the United States in bobsleigh said in the unveiling ceremony that an Olympic or Paralympic medal is a cherished possession for every athlete.

"To feel it being placed around your neck on the podium or seeing children's eyes light up when you show it to them are experiences that defy words."

Daniel Wesley, a five-time paralympian and 12-time medalist for Canada in alpine skiing and wheelchair racing at the Summer and Winter Games, agreed, saying every one of his medals has meanings and motivation because of the memories attached to them and the people he has been able to share them with.

"The 2010 Paralympic medals demonstrates to me, the public and other paralympians how greatly our accomplishments and stories are valued," he said.

In addition to the Aboriginal art, the obverse side of the medals is embossed with the Olympic Rings or Paralympic agitos and the hand-cropped section of the orca or raven design is lasered on with a subtle wood grain effect.

On the reverse side the medals contain the official names of the Games as well as Vancouver 2010's distinctive emblems and the name of the sport. On the Paralympic medals, braille is also used.

The Games motto With Glowing Hearts/Des plus brilliants exploits is written in white lettering on the medal's blue and green ribbon.

The Royal Canadian Mint will produce 615 Olympic and 399 Paralympic medals for the 2010 Winter Games.