As plans race ahead to host the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow next March, event organisers are calling on Scotland’s craft and design community to showcase their creative talent with an exciting opportunity to design the championships’ medals.
The World Athletics Indoor Championships is held every two years, over three action-packed days of intense competition in an intimate arena, where fans can witness the raw athleticism and talent of many of the world’s best athletes at close range.
Glasgow successfully hosted the European Indoor Championships in 2019 at the Emirates Arena, and World Athletics will now bring its 2024 indoor championships to the same venue from 1-3 March, the first time a World Athletics Series event has been held in the city.
Approximately 700 competitors from more than 130 countries are expected to take part across 26 events (13 for men and 13 for women), held over six sessions, with up to 30,000 spectators expected to attend, and up to 108 medals will be presented.
Furthermore the 2024 championships takes on added significance as it falls within the qualification period for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with athletes honing their preparations for this important year ahead.
The pinnacle of every athlete’s career is to stand on the podium at a major championship and be presented with a unique medal, one that recognises and reflects the magnitude of their achievement at the highest level.
To mark and celebrate this special moment in Glasgow next year, the Local Organising Committee, led by Glasgow Life and UK Athletics, with support from EventScotland and UK Sport, has released a call-out for an artist/craft maker over the age of 18 and living in Scotland to submit design ideas for the official championships’ medals.
The design must meet the required specification, whilst incorporating the look and feel of the event brand creative revealed in March this year. This medal should also have an iconic Scottish twist and be something that will create the wow factor for the athletes and spectators alike.
Launching the call-out, Stuart Campbell, World Athletics Indoor Championships Director, said: “This is a really exciting opportunity to create a unique design worthy of playing the central part in the special ‘medal moment’ for the world’s best athletes, when they come to Glasgow next year.
“Scotland is renowned for its strong craft and design community and this competition is a fantastic way to ensure that the athletes take away a small part of Scotland that they will cherish for years to come.”
A full briefing document can be downloaded from https://bit.ly/3IBgCdB with submissions required by 15 July 2023.
Submissions will be reviewed by a judging panel, comprising members of the Local Organising Committee and experts from the creative community.
The winning artist will receive a cash prize/fee and an invitation to the event, as well as involvement in the medal unveiling on 11 January next year marking 50 days to go to the championships.