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Marvelous winner’s medal awarded for baseball at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics. Silver with inlaid jade, 70 mm, 186 gm, by Medal Design Group, China Central Academy of Fine Arts, Elena Votsi. Created from ancient Chinese jade patterns, the medal consists of silver and jade, symbolizing nobility and virtue. Jade has been regarded as a virtue since ancient times, and the embodiment of Chinese traditional values of ethics and honor. The front depicts the standing goddess of Victory against panoramic imagery of the Panathinaikos Arena, with the text above reading: “XXIX Olympiad Beijing 2008”; and the reverse features the Beijing Games emblem surrounded by inlaid jade and the outer circle engraved with the sport, “Baseball.” The design inspiration of the medal hook derives from jade ‘Huang,’ a ceremonial jade piece decorated with a double dragon pattern, and ‘Pu,’ the reed mat pattern. Includes the original red-and-orange ribbon, with a Cuban flag pin and 2006 International Baseball Federation (IBAF) Intercontinental Cup pin attached. The medal exhibits some wear and scuffs.
Held at the Wukesong Baseball Field between August 13–23, the baseball tournament of the 2008 Beijing Games consisted of a preliminary round-robin format—all eight teams playing each other once—and single elimination rounds featuring the top four countries. South Korea was a dominant force throughout the Olympics, going 7-0 in preliminaries en route to staying undefeated and winning the gold medal. The silver medal team from Cuba was nearly as impressive, finishing 7-2, with both losses coming at the hands of South Korea. The 2008 Games were the last to feature baseball or softball as an Olympic sport; however, following a 2016 IOC vote, baseball would again be conducted for the 2020 Games. A rare and beautiful Olympic medal from the historic Beijing Olympiad.
