The designs for the medals of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been revealed, and they are stunning to say in the least.
But, what is remarkable is not their design but the fact that they have been manufactured from donated old cellphones and electronics!
Earlier, the Organizing Committee for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games started a campaign called ‘The Tokyo 2020 Medal Project,’ which encouraged people from all over the nation to donate electronic items and devices such as mobile phones. This campaign ran from April 2017 to March 2019. According to the official website, this campaign resulted in the collection of 6.21 million devices, which gave rise to a whopping 32 kilograms of gold, 3,500 kilograms of silver, and 2,200 kilograms of bronze.
Around 5,000 medals have been made from these donated electronic devices and will be awarded to winners of the Games starting in July next year.
Junichi Kawanishi, the Director of the Japan Sign Design Association and the Osaka Design Society, is the designer of the medals. The winning design was selected post a nationwide competition where over 400 entries of designs were submitted by professional designers and students.
“It is a great honour that my design was selected for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic medal,” Kawanishi said. “I never dreamed that the design I submitted only as a memorial to this lifetime event would actually be selected. With their shining rings, I hope the medals will be seen as paying tribute to the athletes’ efforts, reflecting their glory, and symbolising friendship.”
Specifications of the medals
The medals would measure 85mm in diameter, and the thinnest part is 7.7mm whereas the thickest is 12.1mm. The weight of the gold medal is 556 gms, silver is 550 gms, and the bronze is 450 gms. The name of the event will be engraved on the side of the medal.
This also marks the first time in Olympic and Paralympic history when citizens have been involved in the manufacture of the medals for winners.
Apart from the medals, their cases and ribbons were also unveiled.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics has been in the news for its sustainability and eco-friendly approach. The podiums for the medal winners will be made from recycled marine plastics and wastes. Further, the Olympic torch will be made from recyclable aluminium that was used to make temporary shelters for those affected by the Fukushima earthquake.
Isn’t this approach wonderful? What do you think?
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