Chef de Mission badge issued for the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics. Manufactured by Lauer, silvered metal, 13 gm, 43 mm x 44 mm, with the Olympic colors ribbon and a secondary blue “Chef de Mission” ribbon extending to a length of 63 mm. The badge features the Olympics rings over the Brandenburg Gate, and the front is engraved "XL Olympiade, Berlin 1936, N.O.K.,” and the reverse is numbered “27.” In fine condition.
A Chef de Mission, translated directly from French, means 'head of mission.' In the sports context, it usually refers to the person who leads a national delegation—including athletes, coaches, and other behind-the-scenes team members who form the Olympic Team—at an international competition. They act as the spokesperson for the entire team in the lead up to the Olympics, and also serve as a mentor, supporter, and cheerleader who aims to motivate and inspire the team while protecting the performances of the athletes. There was only one “Chef de Mission” per nation, and only 49 nations participated in the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics, a distinction that makes this badge one of the rarest of the 1936 Berlin Games.
