Why Were the Olympic Medals Made of Garbage? (The “Urban Mine” Project)

Gold from Trash
In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, 5,000 medals were handed out to athletes. But did you know none of the gold, silver, or bronze came from a natural mine? Every single medal was made from 100% recycled electronics. It was the first time in Olympic history.

A Medal from the People
Usually, medals are made by mining companies. But in Tokyo, the medals belonged to the people. An athlete standing on the podium was literally wearing a piece of a Japanese grandmother’s old flip phone or a student’s first laptop. It was a medal made of memories.

Olympic Legends & Innovations (Related Articles)
The recycled medals proved Japan’s commitment to the future. But Japan’s Olympic history is full of other secrets—from the snow of 1998 to the signs of 1964.

1. The Winter Miracle Japan is famous for technology, but it is also a winter paradise. Professional athletes call the snow here “Japow” (Japan + Powder). It is so fluffy it feels like surfing on clouds.
👉 Why is it the best snow on earth? Check out: “Why Do Winter Olympians Call Japan “Heaven”? (The ‘Japow’ Secret)”

Why Do Winter Olympians Call Japan “Heaven”? (The “Japow” Secret)

2. The Invention of 1964 Before 2020, Tokyo hosted the 1964 Games. Back then, nobody spoke English, so designers invented a “Visual Language” to guide foreigners to the bathroom without words.
👉 Where did the stick figures come from? Check out: “Why Can You Understand Signs Without Speaking Japanese? (The Olympic Invention)”

Why Can You Understand Signs Without Speaking Japanese? (The Olympic Invention)

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