You're correct - it's the Bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) - not the olive.

Paolo

"Stan Goodman" wrote in message news:uViCr8LlbtmJ-pn2-Oq2BrhM5h4EM@poblano...
On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 21:01:15 UTC, (EvelynMcH)
opined:
Does anyone recognize what plant is being used for the wreaths with which
the Olympic medal winners are being crowned? It is certainly not laurel,
which is the traditional source of the branches for this purpose.

The wreath is actually an olive wreath, made of olive leaves, like those used
in the early olympics by the Greeks. The wreaths are proving so popular that
there is talk that they may be used in future Olympics.

Doesn't look like olive. The green is too bright. Olive trees are almost
grey.

The Romans .... The laurel they used is a variety of bay laurel,

I don't know what "bay laurel" is. The plant that grows around the
Mediterranean
is L. Nobilis, which is ubiquitous here. It would take over my lot, if I let
it.