Tokyo 2020 Olympic Medals Made Out of Recycled Phones Unveiled
TOKYO (Dispatches) -Tokyo 2020 medals created entirely from recycled consumer devices have been unveiled in the Japanese capital.
The medals, which are designed to resemble polished stones, are the first sustainable medals in Olympic history according to organizers.
About 32kg of gold were extracted from 6.2 million used mobile phones donated over two years by the Japanese public.
They also recovered 3.5 tonnes of silver and 2.2 tonnes of bronze to make 5,000 Olympic and Paralympic medals.
The medals at Rio 2016 included an element of recycled material, but at a lower level to those produced for 2020.
The front of the Olympic medal shows the traditional design featuring the goddess of victory, but since Munich 1972 the host nation have designed the reverse of the medal.
**** Over 90% of Japanese cities, towns and villages participated in the recycling drive to produce the medals
The medals, which are designed to resemble polished stones, are the first sustainable medals in Olympic history according to organizers.
About 32kg of gold were extracted from 6.2 million used mobile phones donated over two years by the Japanese public.
They also recovered 3.5 tonnes of silver and 2.2 tonnes of bronze to make 5,000 Olympic and Paralympic medals.
The medals at Rio 2016 included an element of recycled material, but at a lower level to those produced for 2020.
The front of the Olympic medal shows the traditional design featuring the goddess of victory, but since Munich 1972 the host nation have designed the reverse of the medal.
**** Over 90% of Japanese cities, towns and villages participated in the recycling drive to produce the medals