Photo/Illutration The Spanish team sorts garbage collected during the SPOGOMI World Cup in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward on Nov. 22. (Yuki Shibata)

In a contest filled with trash talk, a British team won SPOGOMI World Cup 2023, the first international garbage-collecting competition, on Nov. 22 in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward.

In the “sport,” which originated in Japan, teams of three collect trash in a designated public area within a certain period of time. Points are awarded depending on the amount and type of garbage gathered.

A total of 63 teams from 21 countries, including India, Brazil, the United States, Spain, and Morocco, entered the World Cup. Britain’s “The North will Rise Again” team placed first.

Preliminary contests were held throughout Japan from April to September, followed by the All-Japan Competition in October. Overall, 1,221 teams participated and collected about 4,500 kilograms of trash.

Overseas, preliminary contests were held in 20 countries, with 543 teams participating and gathering a total of 3,900 kg of trash.