Commonwealth Games medals unveiled

Models pose with the 2006 Commonwealth Games Medals during the unveiling in Melbourne. Kristian Dowling / Getty Images

It is just eight days until the Commonwealth Games begin in Melbourne and competitors are starting to arrive in the Australian city.

The organisers have also unveiled the medals which athletes from across the Commonwealth, including New Zealand, will be competing for.

Steve Bracks, Premier of host-state Victoria, said: "The medals are a tribute to a significant number of small and large local and national companies joining together to create a medal all Victorians will be proud of."

The gold for the medals has been taken from the Ballarat region, located north-west of Melbourne, emphasising the importance the goldfields have played in Victoria's gold-mining history, in particular Sovereign Hill.

The heraldic and iconic emblem of the Commonwealth Games Federation is embossed on the front side of the medal. On the back, the design uses elements of the Games identity and features the halo lines, organisers said.

* From tomorrow, Herald on Sunday sports writer Dylan Cleaver will be blogging from Melbourne. Catch up with him each day - and send us your views on his blog - at nzherald.co.nz/thegames each day.