Innovation was the key word as the Rio 2016 organising committee and the Brazilian Mint unveiled the medals that will be awarded at the Paralympic Games in September.

Each of the 2,642 medals (877 gold, 876 silver, 889 bronze) has a device inside that uses tiny steel balls to make a sound when they are shaken, allowing visually impaired athletes to identify which colour they are. 

The bronze medals have 16 steel balls and make the lowest sound. The silver medals have 20 balls and the golds have 28, producing the loudest noise. All of the medals also have the words 'Rio 2016 Paralympic Games' written on them Braille.

The medals feature a symbolic cascade of pebble shapes (Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro)

For the first time, the medals are slightly thicker at their central point compared with their edges. The name of the event for which the medal was won is engraved by laser along the outside edge. 

Brazilian Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons, who is also a vice-president of the International Paralympic Committee, was present at the unveiling of the medals at the Future Arena in Barra Olympic Park on Tuesday (14 June) afternoon.

"Brazil is preparing for its best Paralympic Games performance and I hope that many of these medals stay in the country," he said.

Each medal weighs 500g and features a design showing pebble shapes that symbolise seeds, representing the courage, persistence and development of athletes.

The athletes who top the podium in Rio will receive medals made from gold that has been extracted without the use of mercury and which was produced according to strict sustainability criteria, from the initial mining all the way through to the design of the end product.

Check out the Rio 2016 Olympic Games medals

Each medallist will receive a doll of mascot Tom with gold, silver or bronze hair (Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro)

The silver and bronze medals have been produced using 30 per cent recycled materials. Half of the plastic in the ribbons which will be used to hang the medals around athletes’ necks comes from recycled plastic bottles. The rounded cases that hold the medals were made from freijó wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).  

One side of the medals feature the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games logo, while the other has the Paralympic symbol – the three Agitos – and the Braille engraving of Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

The medal cases are made from certified wood (Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro)

Also revealed at the event on Tuesday were the podiums, which are made from organic materials and celebrate the tropical nature of Brazil. The podiums have been designed to be reused as furniture after the Games. Also in line with Rio 2016's commitment to sustainability, the medal trays that the presenters will use are made of certified Curupixá wood.

Rio 2016 and Brazilian Mint launch commemorative medallions

Models show off the medal presenters' uniforms (Photo: Rio 2016/Saulo Guimarães)

The uniforms that will be worn by the medal presenters were also unveiled at the event. Inspired by the natural beauty of Rio and by Brazilian culture and fashion, the uniforms were designed by Rio-based stylist Andrea Marques, who won a competition curated by Paulo Borges, the creative director of São Paulo Fashion Week.

"The main idea is that the clothes portray Rio de Janeiro as a welcoming city," said Marques.

The podiums celebrate Rio's nature (Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro)