The medals awarded at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan will be made out of old electronics.
Japan will be offering collection boxes for obsolete devices with the hopes of obtaining eight tons of metal. The massive amount of scrap will be compressed into two tons, and transformed into one of the most prized possession in sports.
NTT Docomo, a prominent mobile phone operator in Japan, will lead the way by putting out donation boxes in 2,400 of its stores across the island nation. If the project is successful, we will see more than 8,000 Olympic athletes with recycled gadgets hanging around their neck.
The initiative will show the country’s dedication to recycling practices, as well as fulfill an Olympic Games initiative focused on sustainability. It also underlines the importance Japan has had on the tech over the past few decades.
When you’re watching the Olympics in three years, feel free to smirk every time you see an athlete stick a gold medal in their mouth for the photo shoot–that might be a Nokia they’re munching on.