古代希腊人给竞技比赛的获胜者的奖赏是用月桂树叶编的帽子,叫做“桂冠”。1896年第一届奥林匹克运动会的优胜者获得的就是这样的“桂冠”。直到1907年,国际奥委会在荷兰海牙召开的执委会上,正式作出授予奥运会优胜者金、银、铜牌的决议,并在翌年举行的第4届伦敦奥运会上开始实施。自1924年第8届巴黎奥运会起,国际奥委会进一步作出补充决定:优胜者除授予奖牌外, The ancient Greeks reward the winners of athletics competitions with the hat of laurel leaves, called the “crown.” The winner of the first Olympic Games in 1896 won such a “crown.” Until 1907, the International Olympic Committee formally decided on the gold, silver and bronze medals to be awarded to the Olympic Games winners at the Executive Committee held in The Hague, the Netherlands. It was put into operation at the 4th London Olympic Games in the following year. Since the 8th Olympic Games in Paris in 1924, the International Olympic Committee further made a supplementary decision: in addition to awarding the medals,