The reverse of the medal consists of various elements: on the right, there is the official emblem of the Games in Sapporo and the Olympic rings accompanied, on the left, by a typically Japanese sun. There are also two inscriptions, in English (“XI / Olympic / Winter / Games / Sapporo 72”) on the lower part, and the same text in Japanese on the upper part ©IOC

Japanese skater Tomoo Kurosawa arrives at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium, torch in hand, during a rehearsal for the ceremonies organised in the country in honour of the Olympic flame passing through ©Keystone

The Olympic flame in the Athens Stadium ©IOC

Eighteen year-old Marie-Theres Nadig from Switzerland won gold medals in the downhill and giant slalom, beating the Austrian favourite Anne-Marie Proell. She is seen here being carried in triumph after one of her victories (Sapporo 1972 OG) ©IOC

Munich 1972-SPITZ Mark (USA), DEARDRUFF Deena Diana (USA), HALL Gary Wayne (USA)

Munich 1972-SPITZ Mark (USA), DEARDRUFF Deena Diana (USA), HALL Gary Wayne (USA)

Münich 1972-PETERS Mary (GBR) 1st and POLLAK Burglinde(GDR) 3rd of the pentathlon.

Münich 1972-PETERS Mary (GBR) 1st, pentathlon.

The reverse of the medal shows an athlete carried triumphantly in victory. This motif was used on the reverse of summer Olympic medals until 1968, when a different reverse was designed for the Munich 1972 Games ©IOC

Fifteen year-old Australian swimmer Shane Gould was one of the stars of the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. She won a total of five medals: gold in the 200m freestyle, 200m relay and 400m freestyle; silver in the 800m freestyle; and bronze in the 100m freestyle ©IOC