Sangha of Auspicious Companions

Game-Changing Sport Cleans Streets

Turning litter-picking into a high-stakes competition, the sport of spogomi “turns the humble act of litter-picking into a high-octane contest with a side order of civic pride,” writes Robin Eveleigh. Founded in Japan by runner Kenichi Mamitsuka, who scooped up litter on his morning jogs, this adrenaline-packed sport (that mashes “spo” for “sport” and “gomi” for “trash”) has gone global with more than 165,000 participants who have removed over 200 thousand tons of litter from streets. Whether it’s cigarette butts that pack a toxic punch or aluminum cans that sneakily tip the scales, competitors armed with tongs and trash bags race in teams to clear streets within a designated time limit. Sarah Parry, a critical care doctor and 2023 world champion, reflects that the game openned her eyes to just how much litter is in our daily environments: “My eyes were completely closed to the fact that we even had litter in the UK. Now I just see litter everywhere.”

Be The Change

Pick up litter in your neighborhood. Step-it-up by doing it with a group of friends or even engaging a casual game of spogomi.