Tokyo Olympics: Medals made with reusable & recycled waste

Tokyo Olympics have been kickstarted a couple of nights ago with a gala opening ceremony. The first medal ceremony was held the other day at the finals of the 10m Air Rifle Women’s competition. As per the tradition, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Thomas Bach presented the first medal.

Chinese shooter Yang Qian claimed the gold medal in the competition. She was awarded her medal by Bach. Anastasiia Galashina of the Russian Olympic Committee and Switzerland’s Nina Christen have won the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Meanwhile, it is officially reported that the medals and medal podiums of this Olympics are made of reused and recycled products.

Apparently, all the medals are salvaged from nearly 79,000 tonnes of phones and other electronic equipment donated by the Japanese public. They term the dump as ‘Urban Mines.’ Around 5000 medals will be distributed in the Olympics and Paralympics this time. All these medals were designed by Japanese designer Kawanishi Junichi.

Meanwhile, it is heard that the podiums are made from recycled plastic waste donated by the Japanese public. More than 24 tonnes of used plastic were donated for the initiative. The Olympic symbols embedded on them are made of aluminium waste recycled from temporary housing regions affected by the 2011 Japan Earthquake.

Even the flowers presented to the players are brought from the earthquake-affected areas, in order to bring them prominence and put a spotlight on their recovery from the disaster.