SUSTAINABILITYKEEP YOUR EYES ON

THE OTHER SIDE OF
TOKYO 2020
The Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020are finally approaching, set to open on July 23.
With sustainability as an important theme of the Games,
there is growing attention surrounding the various
initiatives being put into practice under the concept of“Be better, together – for the planet and the people.”
The Olympic symbol has been installed at the summit of Mt. Takao, a popular tourist spot in Tokyo. Visible in the distance is a well-known symbol of Japan: Mt. Fuji.

After a one-year delay, Tokyo 2020 is finally about
to begin; all the eyes of the world will soon focus on
the largest sports festival on the globe. In addition to
the highest level of performance by elite athletes, itwill also highlight a variety of themes that present keyvalues by bringing together cutting-edge technology,
traditional wisdom, and diverse people. Following atheme of sustainability, the Games are packed withideas and technologies for the future of society.
The Olympic Stadium will be the main venue,
hosting the opening and closing ceremonies as wellas the athletic competitions. It is a “Stadium inForest,” located in a lush, green environment thattakes full advantage of the benefits of nature toproduce a pleasant setting. Particularly noteworthy
is a structural innovation that allows both athletes
and spectators to stay comfortable, even in the hotsummer. The Grand Eaves of the Wind and theTerrace of the Wind are designed to facilitate the flowof seasonal winds into the stadium. The incoming
breeze can carry away the arena’s heat and humidity
over the field and toward the exterior, riding on theupdraft created by the sunbathed ground. That makesfor an ecological stadium obviating the need for
installing air-conditioning equipment in the stands.

The National Stadium was built to host the Olympic Games. The construction ofthe large, eye-catching eaves of the stadium features the extensive use of wood,emphasizing the Japanese approach of establishing symbiosis with nature. (DesignWorks and Construction Works of Taisei Corporation, Azusa Sekkei Co., Ltd.
and Kengo Kuma and Associates JV/Courtesy of JSC)

The medals that the athletes will vie for also
represent the sustainability concept of Tokyo 2020.
All the approximately 5,000 medals prepared for theGames have been produced from metal extracted fromunwanted mobile phones, small household appliances,and other devices collected from across Japan.
Discarded electronics form a reservoir of resources
known as an “urban mine,” because of the many
valuable metals such as gold, silver, and copper, as wellas precious minor metals, contained within them.
With massive civic participation, the project gathered
32 kg of gold, 3,500 kg of silver, and 2,200 kg ofcopper to make the medals. This initiative continues
today as a new project with a partnership between
the government and companies to encourage thecollection and recycling of small household appliances.
Furthermore, no less than 24.5 tons of used plastic
was collected from the public to construct theThe Village Plaza, which serves as the gateway
to the Olympic and Paralympic Village, is anotherdeliverable created with the help of people from all
across Japan. Though many Games in the past haveused tents that were taken down afterwards, thestructures of the Village Plaza are constructed fromreusable materials. The temporary facility, built withthe wooden architecture so distinctive of Japan, wasalso designed to provide a place of rest and relaxation
for the athletes. Sixty-three municipalities acrossthe archipelago, which stretches from north tosouth, provided a broad assortment of unique local
woods that were assembled like a puzzle. The design
resembles the checkered pattern of the Tokyo 2020
logos representing “Unity in Diversity.”
After the Games, the wood will be returned toeach municipality, where it will be reused for such
public amenities as benches and gazebos for parks
and bookshelves in schools. The recycled objects
are expected to promote the appeal of wood as theGames’ legacy. Wood naturally captures CO2 fromthe atmosphere, storing it as carbon long after being
processed. Increasingly used as a steel and concrete
substitute, it will help to reduce CO2 levels in theatmosphere.

©Tokyo 2020

The medals (left) and the podium prepared for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad. The
fact that these remarkable symbols of Tokyo 2020 are made from recycled materials will
likely linger in people’s memories as a significant legacy of the Games.

podiums. These will be the first medals and podiums
in Olympic history to be made from recycled materials
that were collected with public participation.

Innovative efforts to create a sustainable society will
be found throughout the Olympic and Paralympic
Games Tokyo 2020. They present an excellent
opportunity for people in Japan and around the world
to become instilled with the mindset of sustainability.
The huge summer events that will lead society to amore innovative future are almost here.
The aroma and warmth of wood
fills the air around the Village
Plaza at the Olympic andParalympic Village. This woodcollected from across Japan will
greet the athletes before and after
their competitions. The Village
Plaza is one of the facilities thatsymbolizes the sustainability
concept of the Games.