Raw materials mined by BHP Billiton in Australia and Chile will be used to produce the medals for the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing, China.

The company's Cannington mine in Queensland, Australia and its Escondida and Spence operations in Chile will provide the materials needed to produce the gold, silver and bronze medals for the Games.

Cannington will supply the silver used in the production of the gold and silver medals, Escondida will supply copper concentrate containing the gold for the gold medals, while Spence will provide copper cathode used to produce the bronze for the bronze medals.

The materials will be shipped to the China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation in Shanghai where the medals will be created.

BHP Billiton chief executive officer Chip Goodyear says: "As the official diversified minerals and medals sponsor of the Games, we are proud to be supporting Beijing 2008.

"The Games present us with many unique opportunities including the chance to showcase our position as the world's largest diversified minerals company and our continued support for China's long-term development and its emerging role in the international community.

"Our sponsorship also allows us to illustrate the alignment between the Olympic ideals and BHP Billiton's Charter Values," he said.

A determining factor in selecting the assets for the project was the ability to involve as many BHP Billiton employees as possible.

For the Cannington mine, the announcement adds to its own sporting heritage, having provided the material for the silver medals at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and Melbourne's 2006 Commonwealth Games.