The 2020 Summer Olympics are fast approaching and Japan, the host of 2020 Olympic Games, has planned for an environmentally-friendly and sustainable execution of the international event. The Olympics are set to commence in Tokyo on July 24.
Keeping the climate change in mind, the host country has emphasized on making the Summer Games more sustainable. The preparations have been in action for the past couple of years.
Cardboard Beds for Athletes
The Athletes Village housing center that is expected to be completed in June, comprises many eco-friendly inclusions. In a bid to make the event more ecologically responsive, the organizers have built cardboard beds for the athletes to sleep on.
Cardboard beds for athletes in Tokyo 2020 Olympics / Image: AP /Jae C. Hong
Made of wood and cardboard, these beds can stand a weight of up to 200 kilograms. According to the officials, the cardboard beds will be recycled into paper products after the games. The mattresses that are not made of cardboard, can be recycled into plastic products.
From Recycled Metals
To create the Olympic and Paralympic medals for Tokyo 2020, there has been an ongoing effort by Japanese citizens to donate scrap metal things. The gold, silver, and bronze medals are created entirely from metals recycled from electronic devices such as mobile phones.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic medals / Image: Olympic
With a diameter of 85 millimeters, the gold medal will weigh 556 grams, silver medal at 550 grams, and bronze medals will be weighing about 450 grams. The gold and silver medals will be the heaviest ever used at any Summer Games so far.
Not only the medals, but the Olympic torch is made out of recycled metal as well. It has been made using aluminum waste from temporary housing, which was built after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Use of Renewable Energy
Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be attempting to power the games through renewable energy. This plan includes powering all electronics in the venues, Athletes Village, and media centers. Some of the venues will include self-generating energy sources.
A Solar Panel Farm In The Japanese Country Side / Image: Medium
The venues with these built-in features include – The Olympic Stadium, Ariake Arena, and The Olympic Aquatic Center. Three various installation plans will be put into effect – a solar power generation system, a solar heat utilization system, and a geothermal heating/cooling system. Not all the facilities will contain every single system.
Recycled Plastics for Uniforms and Podiums
The official Tokyo 2020 Olympic athlete kit is made of recycled plastic. The sports firm Asics has made thousands of uniforms for athletes and torchbearers. The Tokyo 2020 staff and volunteer uniforms will also include sustainable materials like recycled polyester and plant-based materials.
The podiums for the Olympics medal ceremony are made of recycled shampoo bottles donated by the general public and recovered from oceans. It is a joint initiative of Worldwide Olympic partner P&G and Tokyo 2020.
Moreover, the sustainably sourced timber used to build the village will be reused to make park benches or as part of public buildings. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to watch the most eco-friendly Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.