Paris 2024: New 50p coin celebrates British Olympic and Paralympic athletes

Team GB Olympian Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix got the chance to see the special coin being made

The Olympics and Paralympics are fast approaching and the teams representing Great Britain and Northern Ireland this Summer are being honoured with a special 50p coin ahead of the Games.

The collectible coin, which was designed by the Royal Mint, includes an Olympic and Paralympic athlete next to one another with the Union Flag in the background.

The design also features a silhouette of the Eiffel Tower at the bottom of the coin, which points to the Games being hosted in Paris this year.

Team GB and ParalympicsGB athletes will each receive their own personal coin in their kit bags, the Royal Mint said.

The coin features an Olympian and Paralympian

To celebrate the release of the new 50p coin, the Royal Mint invited Team GB athletes Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix and Ruby Evans, and ParalympicsGB athletes Will Bayley and Funmi Oduwaiye to see the coins being made.

"It is an honour in itself to be going to the Olympics, but to also have a coin coming with us is incredible," said Team GB diver Spendolini-Sirieix.

"Seeing the process makes it even more special, knowing the work that goes into it and seeing it in real life is amazing."

British table tennis star Will Bayley said to have Paralympians represented on a coin was "special"

Table tennis star Will Bayley said: "I'm a proud Paralympic athlete, so to have us as a team represented on a coin makes me feel special.

"It was a real privilege to be able to strike my very own coin and will be something that I remember for many years to come."