Tokyo

The torch for Tokyo 2020 takes the shape of a Japanese cherry tree, with a pink-gold coating and a five-column structure. It's made partly from aluminum used in the relief facilities for the 2011 tsunami. Despite being lit in Olympia in March 2020 and arriving in Japan shortly after, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the Organizing Committee to postpone the event for a year. Nevertheless, Tokyo 2020 remained the official title for the rescheduled event, and I waited in Japan, eager to continue my journey as the world faced unprecedented challenges. The Tokyo Olympics placed great emphasis on sustainability projects, including using plastic from bottles for torchbearer uniforms and creating some 5,000 medals from recycled smartphones. Certainly memorable was the ex-aequo result of the gold medal in high jump, shared between Italy's Tamberi and Qatar's Bashim, as well as the men's 100 mt final, won by Marcell Jacobs.