The 2026 Commonwealth Games will kick off in Glasgow, the capital of Scotland, on Thursday, July 23. More than 3,000 athletes from over 70 countries are arriving in Glasgow to participate in the games.
The games this time are smaller in scale compared to previous editions, as events are being held across only 10 sports. However, whether there are 10 events or 20, every medal won at the games holds equal significance.
Winning a gold medal, in particular, is the ultimate achievement. But did you know that the gold medal athletes strive so hard to win is not made entirely of gold?
This is a question that has been asked for years and will continue to be asked in the future. This is because, with every new edition of the Games, a new generation of young people encounters them for the first time—reading about them and learning what they are all about.
Naturally, the question arises: are the gold, silver, and bronze medals actually made of these specific metals? Let us provide you with the answer.
Is the gold really gold?
Regardless of the event be it the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games, or the grandest of them all, the Olympics the gold medals awarded contain genuine gold; that is, real gold is used in their composition.
However, the crucial point is that the medal is not made entirely of gold; instead, 92.5 percent of it consists of sterling silver a specific type of silver alloy with a minimum of 6 grams of gold used.
This is because crafting a medal entirely from pure gold is not only prohibitively expensive but also carries the risk of the medal losing its shape. Silver, on the other hand, ensures the medal remains sturdy; a layer of pure gold is then applied over it.
This process imparts the luster and presence of gold while ensuring the medal retains its structural integrity. Such measures are not required for silver and bronze medals, however; silver medals are made entirely of sterling silver, and bronze medals are made entirely of bronze.
Where were the Glasgow Games medals made?
As for the cost of a gold medal, there is no fixed figure; the specific cost for the Glasgow Games medals has not been disclosed. Medal costs vary from one event to another, depending on prevailing metal prices and the medal's size and weight. However, reports indicate that, generally, the cost of producing a single gold medal ranges from ₹1 lakh to ₹2 lakh.
The medals for the Glasgow Games were designed by Militsa Milenkova, a designer based in Glasgow, while their manufacturing was carried out by the Birmingham-based crafts agency 'Toy, Kenning & Spencer'.
Also Read: The six sports in which India won 30 medals last time will not feature in Glasgow
