With the Tokyo Olympic Games set to officially start, Team Great Britain (GB) has become the first to adopt non-fungible tokens (NFTs) featuring the athletes’ previous achievements, which can be purchased through a dedicated store.

The collectible digital items, minted within the blockchain to make them unique, will be sold to allow fans of Team GB to connect directly with the athletes despite not being allowed to travel to watch them in person.

The initiative has been developed with NFT commerce provider Tokns with the partnership set to run until the end of the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing next year. It will include the celebrations of 125 years of British Olympians and will be sold nightly through auctions and at fixed prices.

In a statement, Tim Ellerton, Team GB commercial director, highlighted how pleased he was to be forming the partnership with Tokns ahead of “what is set to be a very different Games for our Olympians in Tokyo.

”With fans not allowed to travel to attend, he added that the team was “delighted” to be able to “provide moments digitally that will be available for fans and collectors.

”One of the first items to be sold as an NFT will be Team GB Gymnast Max Whitlock celebrating his double gold medal-winning achievements in Rio.

Artist-in-residence for Team GB Ben Mosley will create expressionist-style wall paintings to capture inspiring moments from the previous day during the games.

These will be bundled with other physical and experiential offers within an auction taking place through the dedicated website from the studio on Carnaby Street in London.