The designer of the jade medal.

The designers put a seal between the inner layer and a groove to bond metal and jade. The seal can also buffer the effect of viberation to protect the jade against impact.

Cui Ning, deputy minister of cultural division, BOCOG, says "We keep in constact contact with experts at the IOC during the designing and manufacturing process. We provide them with upgraded samples and they approved and appreciated them all."

Shanghai Mint was the official manufacturer of the medals. The first and foremos concern is to make sure the purity of the gold, silvera and bronze reached the IOC standard. The medal makers also have to cope with Shanghai's humidity which is usually as high as 85 percent. They use powerful drying machines to lower the indoor humidity so the surface color of the silvera nd bronze medals are be preserved.

In Beijing, the jade medals have become the talk of the town. The Olympic organizers hope grace and delicacy of medals will be remembered in years to come.

(CCTV August 20, 2008)