Tokyo Olympics torches to use recycled aluminium from Fukushima

The torches for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will employ recycled aluminium in their making from temporary housing in Japan's Fukushima prefecture stricken by an earthquake, A tsunami and AN ensuing nuclear disaster in 2011, local media reported Tuesday.

The torches, expected to consume more than 10,000 pieces of aluminum, will be used by runners in the nationwide relay after the Olympic flame arrives in Japan from Greece on March 20, 2020, reports Xinhua news agency.

The plan serves as a symbolic effort to uphold "reconstruction Olympics", which is one of the main themes of the Summer Games.

The Olympics organisers are expected to cooperate with local governments in determining which metals can be recycled in temporary housing that is no longer in use.

Design of the torch has already been approved by the International Olympic Committee and will be revealed in spring.

The "flame of reconstruction" will first be displayed in Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima, the three most afflicted prefectures in the 2011 disaster.

The torch relay in Japan will begin in Fukushima on March 26, and will go through all 47 prefectures in 121 days before finally reaching Tokyo for the opening ceremony.

--IANS

tri/vm