The Spogomi World Cup 2025 Australian qualifier was held in Manly, where teams competed by collecting and sorting rubbish for points.
Spogomi Competition in Manly
Manly hosted the Australian qualifier for the Spogomi World Cup 2025 on Saturday, 30 August 2025. The winning team, Crystal Clean, secured a place in the global finals in Tokyo after scoring 2,119.3 points.
Background and Origins
Spogomi, created in Japan in 2008 by Kenichi Mamitsuka, combines the word “sport” with the Japanese word “gomi”, meaning rubbish. The activity transforms litter collection into a structured competition, raising awareness of waste issues. The first Spogomi World Cup was held in 2023 in Japan, drawing significant national attention.
Rules and Format
At the Manly event, 30 teams of three were given one hour to collect rubbish within a designated area. Points were awarded according to type and weight of items collected. Participants were required to walk, not run, and stay within 10 metres of team members. Breaches attracted penalties or elimination. Teams then had 20 minutes to sort their collections into correct disposal categories before final scoring.
Participation and Results
Eighty-seven participants collected 141.6 kilograms of rubbish within the competition time.
- 1st Place: Crystal Clean – 2,119.3 points
- 2nd Place: Ride & Seek – 1,563.9 points
- 3rd Place: Rot & Roll – 1,536.8 points
Crystal Clean will represent Australia at the Spogomi World Cup in Tokyo in October 2025.
Community and Environmental Impact
The event highlighted the issue of land-based litter entering waterways, with about 80% of marine litter originating on land. The initiative aims to encourage proactive waste collection while engaging communities in a competitive format.
Looking Ahead
Following the success of the 2025 qualifier, organisers have confirmed Spogomi will return to Australia in 2027. The global event in Tokyo later this year will see Australia compete against teams from around 20 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom and China.
Published 2-Sep-2025
