The Tokyo Olympics, christened with 2020 but held in 2021 after a year’s pandemic delay and threats of cancellation, glided to their conclusion in a Covid-emptied Tokyo Olympic Stadium on August 8 night. The cost of the games reportedly overran estimates as they were held without spectators at all venues, meaning most of $820 million in estimated ticket revenues from Tokyo Olympic and paralympics disappeared. Yet the Tokyo2020 games, rated as a success, brought back the flares of the Olympics to the entire globe thanks to the revolution in information and communication technology. Tokyo will now hold Paralympics from August 24.
At the closing ceremony, Tokyo handed over the Olympic flag to the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, setting the stage for the next games there in 2024. In stark contrast to Tokyo, several thousand cheering sports fans in the French capital waving the tricolour flag thronged into a fan zone across the river from the Eiffel Tower, emphasising human contact even as the pandemic continues. The United States finished off the tally with 39 gold medals, one more than rival China and Japan 27.
The Olympics have lifted Japan into a celebratory mood amid the pandemic. The success of the Tokyo Olympics is that the devastating Corona could not stop the journey of the games. Over 11,000 athletes from 206 countries and regions participated, rejoiced and shared compassions with one another. They were fearless, determined and free from politics. Olympic moments abound, whether widely noticed or barely. There were 339 events in 33 sports.
The games were held in empty stadiums but this did not dampen the spirit of the athletes who were on the run to create new records and demonstrate limitless human potentials. Sports lovers from all over the world remained tuned to Olympic events of their choices and athletes by their performances made them forget that the games were held under the shadow of Corona pandemic.
Gymnastics star Simone Bales of the United States who is rated as the greatest of all times (GOAT) drew sympathies from all corners when she withdrew from the US team event as she said she had to take care of her mental fitness. She finally came back to the balanced beam individual event final and took the bronze.
The value of the Olympics has been demonstrated also by the International Cricket Council (ICC) which has sought inclusion of cricket into the games. This also reminds all that the attraction of the over 3,000-year-old games which originated in ancient Greece will never fade.
We congratulate the organisers and the Japanese government for the success of the Olympics 2020 by surmounting the insurmountable to the joy of athletes and the world. They achieved a wonder despite the horror of the pandemic.
