Tokyo 2020 Olympic Podiums Are 3D-Printed From Plastic Donated By The Public
Image via Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics are shaping up to be winning events for sustainability, as not only are their medals fully recycled and their beds are constructed from cardboard, but the podiums are also built from 24.5 tonnes of used household plastics.
Olympians will step onto any of the 98 podiums 3D-printed from plastic that was donated by the Japanese public in the last nine months. Dezeen reports that locals contributed the equivalent of 400,000 laundry detergent bottles through more than 2,000 collection boxes, and that Tokyo 2020 officials described the nationwide development of the pedestals as “a historic Games’ first.”
The indigo podiums were designed by Japanese artist Asao Tokolo, and are made up of cube-shaped units connected to create a trio of pedestals.
For the Paralympics, they can be flattened for athletes with disabilities to access easily. A third variant for social distancing purposes is in the works to accommodate Japan’s abrupt state of emergency.
With their textured, 3D-printed geometrical pattern, the podiums gleam differently under various lighting conditions. “We’re looking forward to seeing how it will look near a swimming pool where light reflects against the water,” Tokolo details. Their deep blue shade pays homage to Japan’s traditional production of indigo dye.
Image via Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games
Image via Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games
Image via Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games
[via Dezeen, images via Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games]
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