Sustainability Considerations for Tokyo 2020 Olympic/Paralympic Games

Abstract

The objective of this article is to provide an overview of the discussion for Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games Sustainability Plan, made at the commission for urban planning and sustainability under the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, in which the author has participated as a member. Tokyo 2020 set the sustainability concept of the Games as “Be better, together – For the planet and the people”, and set key concepts of 5 selected goals; “Towards Zero Carbon”, “Zero Wasting”, “City within Nature/Nature within the City”, “Celebrating Diversity” and “United in Partnership & Equality” as well as concrete targets for these goals. This article also introduces a few examples of individual actions and projects, for which life cycle approach and quantification of environmental burdens and impacts are relevant. Key projects for resource management include “The Tokyo 2020 Medal Project”, by which recycled metals from small electric appliances in urban mines are used for gold, silver and bronze medals.