Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee President Dmitry Chernyshenko presented the medals of the 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games to the public on Thursday.

"The Olympic medals are the most important and most desirable trophy for every athlete. Every country seeks to contribute a part of itself to them so that their owners always remember where they won them. We are showing them to the general public for the first time today," Chernyshenko said.

The Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee showed a video presenting the medals and describing their main features.

"The medals embody the idea of the brand and the contrasting effects of our country, where Europe meets Asia, where pristine nature comes in touch with a metropolis, and where innovations neighbor the richest culture of Russia," the presentation video says.

Chernyshenko also disclosed some details of the medals' production.

"Making one medal takes almost a day [18 hours]. A total of 1,300 medals will be produced. Depending on its type, a medal will weigh from 460 to 531 grams. The production of all the gold medals will require three kilograms of 99% fineness gold," he said.

Chernyshenko also noted there were differences between the Olympic and Paralympic medals.

"A Paralympic medal is heavier than an Olympic medal. It has fewer transparent elements and more gold. It weighs 586 grams," he said.

The 22nd Winter Olympic Games will take place in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi from February 7 to February 23, 2014.