Page 16 - Issue 34

ELITE Vol.1, issue 34, August 2021
Vol.1, issue 34, August 2021

tokyo 2020: better late than

never

Farah el melegy - maram mofreh - economics departement
The 2020 summer olympic games finally kicked off in Tokyo
after a one year delay as a result of the outbreak of the covid-
19 pandemic. Despite the widespread fears as well as
reservations either globally or among the local Japanese
population and specifically between the citizens of Tokyo
themselves owing to the fact that the coronavirus cases have
generally increased in another wave of the pandemic in
Tokyo. The city in which a state of emergency was declared
along with the imposition of several precautionary
countermeasures including closing restaurants at eight PM,
prohibiting alcohol purchases and warning citizens from
being in crowded areas which has led to raising controversies
regarding the possibility of launching the Olympics around
the majority of Japanese communities who raised calls to
delay the games believing that the timing is simply not
suitable for holding such a giant global event. However, the
Japanese government along with the organizational
committee of the games insisted on holding it as planned Even with the absence of spectators, the games continue with
starting from the 23rd of July till the 8th of August the athletes competing even without the attendance of their
challenging the unusual circumstances. supportive families and friends. In fact, until the termination
Consequently, it was decided to hold the games without of the seventh day of the Olympic competitions, China has
spectators as one of the precautions decided on by the occupied the first place in the medals ranking, followed by
organizers of the Olympic Games as well as wearing masks, Japan and the United States of America. China remained
leaving distance between the attendees of the event along occupying the top position in the ranking until the very last
with other well-known procedures. This cautiousness has day in the games, when the United States of America
spread to the opening ceremony of the games which was held surprised everyone by claiming the top position proving that
in Tokyo stadium with less than a thousand people in all's well that ends well.
attendance including the Japanese Emperor Naruhito, Prime This version of the Olympic games witnessed the official
Minister Yushihidi Suga, French President Emanuel Macron debut of street skateboarding as a participating Olympic
as well as US first lady Jill Biden. The party that was held game, in which Japan was able to reap the golden medals in
with the theme "United by Emotion", missed the usual both the male and female contests. What's worth mentioning
extravagant grandeur of the ceremonies of previous games is that the athlete who was able to obtain the golden medal in
and was described as modest. A spectacular drone and the female competition is young Momiji Nishiya who is only
fireworks show was held at the ceremony, but it cannot thirteen years old, followed by Brazilian Rayssa Leal winning
recompense the silence resulting from the absence of the silver medal at thirteen as well.
spectators.
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