Source: Inside the Games                         Date: 31 August, 2011

Materials originating from Mongolian deposits will be used to make the medals awarded to Olympic winners at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Rio Tinto is responsible for producing the medals for the 2012 event in London and will pull from its Mongolian reserves to do so. The company is a domestic tier three sponsor of the London 2012 Olympic Games as the Official Metals Provider. It will produce the 4,700 gold, silver, and bronze medals. The materials for the medals will come partly from the Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold project.

Rio Tinto has also enlisted as a partner to sponsor Mongolia in its 2012 Olympics and Paralympics teams. Company director of the firm's Mongolian branch David Paterson signed an agreement with the Mongolian National Olympic Committee (MNOC) to be a “Gold Partner” for the Mongolian teams.

"The country should be proud knowing that metal mined from Oyu Tolgoi will be used in the making of the Olympic and Paralympics medals, which are enduring symbols of achievement," said Paterson. "In addition to backing our elite athletes, Rio Tinto's commitment between now and the Olympic and Paralympics Games next year, will also inspire and encourage young Mongolians to get more involved in sport and be our Olympians of tomorrow."

The medals were first unveiled at Trafalgar Square in London earlier this summer. Each medal weighted between 375 and 400 grams and sized 85 millimeters in diameter and 7 millimeters in thickness. The gold is made up of 92.5 percent silver, 1.34 percent gold, and the rest consisting of copper. Following regulations, each medal has a minimum of 6 grams of gold.

Rio Tinto also supplied the metals for Olympic and Paralympics Games at the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Games.