Yixing purple clay art master wins IOC medal

Lyu Junjie, an emerging leader in Chinese purple clay teapots circles, was awarded the Coubertin medal at IOC Headquarters, Lausanne, Switzerland, on Jan 15. [Photo/Xinhua]

Lyu Junjie, master from Yixing, the Chinese hometown of purple clay in Jiangsu, was awarded the Pierre de Coubertin medal (also known as the Coubertin medal) by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach in IOC Headquarters, Lausanne, Switzerland, on Jan 15.

The Coubertin medal, established in 1964, is an award given by the International Olympic Committee to athletes and figures who demonstrate the spirit of sportsmanship in the Olympic Games.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach awarded Lyu Junjie the Coubertin medal on Jan 15. [Photo/Xinhua]

A "Five rings and Five colors" Olympic themed exhibition of 22 purple clay teapots made by Lyu Junjie is set to take place in Switzerland's Olympic Museum in March this year.

Imitating the Olympic rings, Lyu's purple clay has five colors, which he used in making Olympic themed purple clay teapots to welcome the coming Winter Olympics. The teapots will be given as gifts during the 2022 Winter Games.

The exhibition will show traditional Chinese culture to the world as part of a melange of different cultures designed to promote the Olympic spirit in a cultural way.

Lyu was excited to win the Olympic award as a master of purple clay art, "It is not only purple clay arts but also the traditional Chinese culture that wins the approval and appreciation by IOC."

Lyu Junjie shows the "Champion" purple clay teapot, one of the "Five rings and Five colors" Olympic themed purple clay teapots, to Thomas Bach. [Photo/Xinhua]