A 1960 Rome Summer Olympics participation medal. The front of the medal contains a superimposed nude female figure in a running position over the Olympic rings. The figure is holding a torch in her right hand. The surface of the medal has not been smoothed over and is slightly grooved. The reverse side of the medal depicts many birds taking flight over a stadium. The birds and the stadium have been carved into the back of the medal. Around the edges of the medal is text and Roman numerals.

The participation medal is from the 1960 Olympics in Rome. It was donated by Petros (Pete) Spanakos. He and his brother, Nick are both boxing champions. Nick was a participant in the 1960s games. Upon making it to Rome to represent America, he was roommates with Muhammid Ali (then Cassius Clay). Nick unfortunately lost to a Russian boxer before he was able to fight for the gold medal. He was awarded the paricipation medal.

"The medal was conceptualized by Prof. Emilio Greco. He disgned it of his own personal ideas without any complicated symbolism and instead he turned directly to expressive clarity of a purely figurative style. However the original conception does represent the victories of the Olympic games and their echo throughout the world." -www.olympic-museum.de/pmedals/pmed1956.htm

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