Top prize at Tokyo 2020? A medal made of mobiles

MEDALS handed out at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be made from recycled electronic gadgets.

Nearly 50,000 tons of old digital devices including five million smartphones have been donated to the Old Metals New Medals project in just 18 months.

Members of the public in Japan took electronics such as laptops and cameras to local authorities to be dismantled, smelted and refined into raw metals.

Some 2.7 tons of bronze had been extracted by June last year, along with 3.5 tons of silver and nearly 63lb of gold by October. Tokyo’s Olympics organising committee said: ‘The project gave the public the chance to play an important role in the games’ preparations while drawing attention to the importance of sustainability.’

A Team GB spokesman added: ‘We think this is an excellent initiative and is something we have been supporting in our frequent visits to Tokyo.’