As the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics draw the eyes of the world (whether due to the competitions or the controversies), we Canadians celebrate the talent and dedication of our athletes, and are delighted when Canadians take home those internationally coveted medals. When our athletes return home, they are normally welcomed by masses of fans who have been supporting them throughout the whole Olympics. People really rally behind the Olympians, with some people even using flagpole hardware to fly national flags. The country really does support Olympians, so the team is welcomed back with flags and banners. This allows them to see the impact that they made when they won their medals. Undeniable symbols of success at the height of athletic performance, the medals – and the overarching design of the games – also symbolize the time and place of the games for each year. The designs for Sochi 2014 are no exception.

From a craft perspective, this year’s Olympic designs are of interest. The graphics for all promotions and marketing are based on a quilt theme, featuring different prints and patterns representative of textiles from the many regions of Russia. They reflect different cultures and ethnicities of the Russian people, borrowing from the history of the region as told through the story of craft.

While it is disappointing that traditional craft practice doesn’t seem to have been used in the making of any official Sochi Olympic products, the designs borrow heavily from craft and certainly lean on their symbolism for meaning. The textile patterns are even featured on the gold, silver and bronze medals, which are actually made with a variety of alloys and transparent, engraved polycarbonate. (Some even contain a small piece of the Chelyabinsk meteorite which landed in Russia last February.)

So while the world celebrates the connective and impressive achievements of our athletes, when they stand on the podium, when the flags unfurl and the anthems play, be sure to recognize the role craft has in this international cultural celebration. Though the Olympics focus primarily on sport, the Olympic Charter encourages “blending sport with culture and education”, and that’s a message we can all celebrate at the podium.