Bouquet of flowers that are being handed at Tokyo Olympics 2020 to medal winners has a special significance. According to BBC, more than 5,000 bouquets are being handed to athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

These flowers pay tribute to victims of 2011 disasters. They have been mainly grown in three districts of north-east Japan, which were devastated by a 2011 earthquake and tsunami, and the subsequent meltdown of three reactors at the Fukushima nuclear plant.

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The disaster hit the prefectures of Iwate, Fukushima and Miyagi and almost 20,000 people died due to it.

The yellow, green and blue flowers being presented to medallists at both the Olympics and Paralympics were grown almost entirely in those three districts.

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Bright yellow sunflowers have been grown in Miyagi by parents whose children died in the disaster. The parents chose a hillside where their children had sought refuge from the effects of the tsunami.

White and purple eustomas and Solomon’s seals were grown in Fukushima by a non-profit initiative, which is trying to revive the local economy in the wake of the disaster.

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Small bright blue gentians have been grown in coastal area of Iwate, which was destructed by giant waves in the 2011 disaster.

There are strong green aspidistras that complete the bouquet and they were grown in Tokyo and represent the host city.

The games will end on August 8 and so far China is leading the medals tally with over 20 golds. Japan and the US are on number two and three with over 15 golds. The city of Tokyo has been in a state of emergency to control the deadly COVID-19, which delayed the Games by one year.