The Tokyo Olympic Association and the Japanese Government are taking the green route for Tokyo Games and are strictly adhering to delivering eco-friendly Olympic games
The predicted expenditure for the Olympics 2020, is proposed to be around $7.2 billion. The government of Japan is reported to have spent around $150 million bidding for the Olympics. An additional $75 million was added for the successful bid for the 2020 Olympics to be held in Japan. After this, it was estimated that around $12.6 billion would be spent by Japan to host the Olympics before the event was postponed owing to the unprecedented circumstances, caused by the COVID- 19 pandemic. Thus the postponement of this prestigious event has incurred an additional cost of around $2.8 Billion, therefore making the total expenditure to say at least, around $15.4 Billion. Furthermore, studies have shown that there will be an additional $200 Million that is projected to be an overhead cost of setting up the event.
Japan has the initiative to go green. We can see this in their preparations. For example, the medals. What makes the medals special is the fact that it is a show and tell on Japan’s initiatives on sustainability management and produce optimal growth in the future. In April 2017, Japan began sourcing metals from recycled and used cell phones, laptops and other handheld gadgets such as cameras. Two years after that, the Japanese were behind this sustainability management and optimal growth, as 78,985 tons of electronic gadgets were collected from municipal authorities and around 6.21 million used phones and other electronic gadgets from the market. Thus, in total, around 4,850 pounds of bronze, 7,716 pounds of silver, and 70 pounds of gold were given by 1,621 local authorities. The remainder of the recycled materials, that is, the gold, silver and bronze, that were unused will be reused in various local or national sporting events in Japan, thereby further implementing their sustainability management.
Another example of their go-green initiative is Recycled t-shirts. The torchbearers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be seen donning white T-shirts and trousers. These attires were produced from used plastic bottles collected by Coca-Cola. Thereby showing the country’s recycling front.
The Tokyo Olympic Association decided to go with an all-white attire is to put across the theme of ‘Hope lights our way’. The material choice aligns with the country’s sustainability stance and also aims to deliver a sustainable Olympics.
The bed frames for the athletes at the Athletes Village is also another step towards sustainability as they are made out of cardboard. Another intention behind the installation of these cardboard beds is to prevent more than one athlete on the bed, for sanitary reasons owing to the pandemic, to maintain a clean image and also for the prevention of sex.
Kitajima, the general manager of the athletes’ village said, “These beds can stand up to 200 kilograms.”
The single bed cardboard frames would be recycled into paper after the event has been completed and the mattresses will be recycled into plastic products after. This is to show that the government of Japan vehemently stand for recycling.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics committee also stated that, unlike the previous Olympics, tobacco consumption will be strictly prohibited. This means the use of vaping devices and consumption of a cigarette is a strict no-no on the premises of venues used for Olympic and Paralympic games. Tokyo governor Yōichi Masuzoe said, “Based on the development of the Law and Regulations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC.), Tokyo’s take on it is stricter than the usual laws and regulations.” For example, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Committee has decided to adopt a much stricter non-smoking policy to protect the health, well being and productiveness of the athletes and also to protect their spectators and officials from second-hand smoking. Therefore they have banned smoking, especially in indoor venues and have also banned it at outdoor venues. The Tokyo Olympics 2020 aims to leave a legacy of improved public health for the country at large.
There is a ban on the sales of adult magazines by the end of August at two big 24-hour convenience chains, Seven-Eleven Japan Co. and Lawson Inc., in Japan, as reported by Kyodo news. This is mainly due to concerns arising about their easy availability, thereby giving a wrong impression and a bad image to the country in the eyes of visitors arriving from different parts of the world to witness the Olympics.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics Committee has unveiled the medal ceremony podium for the Olympic and Paralympic is made from recycled plastics from all parts of Japan and it is in the dark grey shade with the Olympic and Paralympic symbols in bold white.
The designer of the podium, Tokolo Asao, said, “Together with the emblem, the words, connecting and bonding was the major thought process behind it. It is made from recycled plastics and something that might end up in the garbage. We are using those empty plastic containers and different fusions of technology.”
Abilash Rathnakaran, Director of Sports, Vels University, has had a proficient presence in the sports field, spearheading several events with the state and central governments. In this process, he has associated himself with different sports federations of India, which includes the Senior National Volleyball Championship in 2016, Asian Bodybuilding Championship in 2017, Mr India Senior Bodybuilding & Best Physique in 2018 and Paralympic Nationals Games in 2019. His life, driven by his untrammelled passion for sports, is coupled with the goal of leading the way for aspiring sportspersons and enthusiasts. He would be enriching the viewers of the Asian Herald with his insights, as our Special Sports Correspondent.