It won't be long before the first medals of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games are handed out, as a total of seven sports will be giving out the honors the day after the opening ceremonies.

In 2016, 973 medals were given out during the Games in Rio de Janeiro, and there will only be more with the addition of new sports like 3x3 basketball, softball and skateboarding. In total, approximately 5,000 medals were made for the games.

While each gold, silver and bronze medal includes some of the same elements as years past, each host city puts its own twist into what the medals look like so no two games look the same, and this year is no different. Here is everything to know about the medals that will be handed out this year.

What do they look like?

All medals must have certain emblems on them. According to the International Olympic Committee, medals must include: The Olympic five rings symbol, Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, in front of the Panathinaikos Stadium and the official name of the games. This year's games are officially called the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020.

The unique twist on this year's medals reflect their theme, which is "light and "brilliance" as they are meant to resemble rough stones that are now polished.

The medal's patterns of light represent athlete energy and "those who support them." The design symbolizes diversity, while the "brilliance" represents "the warm glow of friendship" around the world, according to the Tokyo Olympic Committee.

The name of the event the competitor competed in will be engraved on the side of the medal in English.

The medals are attached to a victory medal ribbon that is, "designed to be a reflection of Japan itself and of the way the country demonstrates 'Unity in Diversity.'" Winners are also given a unique wooden medal case. No two cases are the same.

To read the complete article, see:
Gold medals not entirely made of gold? Here's everything to know about the medals at Tokyo Olympics(https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2021/07/22/2020-olympics-tokyo-gold-silver-bronze-medals/8046071002/)

To read the complete article, see:
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Medal Design(https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/games/olympics-medals-design/)

For the people behind the Tokyo Medal Project, they'll be happy that those Olympic medals are there in the first place.

The project recycled old electronic gadgets such as smartphones and laptops to produce the Olympic Medals that are being awarded at the Tokyo Games.

For the people of Japan, the project offered a unique opportunity to be a part of the Games.

"The campaign called on the public to donate obsolete electronic devices for the project," Toyko 2020 spokesperson Hitomi Kamizawa told DW. "We are grateful for everyone's cooperation."

The project capitalized on the fact that billions worth of precious metals such as gold and silver, which are used in electronic devices, get discarded each year globally thanks to people simply dumping or burning their gadgets instead of ensuring they are properly collected and recycled.

To read the complete article, see:
Tokyo 2020: Olympic medals made from old smartphones, laptops(https://www.dw.com/en/tokyo-2020-olympic-medals-made-from-old-smartphones-laptops/a-58325432)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
LOOSE CHANGE: DECEMBER 29, 2019 : Made From Recycled Electronics for 2020 Olympic Medals(https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n52a29.html)