Tokyo Olympics 2020 Opening Ceremony was held on 23/7/2021, 364 days after original date 24/7/2020. Corona had spread to many countries in March 2020 and there was fear. Vociferous minority of athletes demanded postponement of Olympics and so it was. After the decline of Corona cases there was rise again. In Japan the situation in 2021 was not better than that of 2020. Cancellation of Olympics would have resulted in huge losses to Japan and International Olympic Committee and it was decided the show must go on.
This time there were two flag bearers for each flag; one man and one woman.
Olympic motto was Faster, higher, stronger. IOC added ‘together’ to it.
Festival atmosphere is missing from Olympics. Athletes are treated as unwanted guests. They have to come five days before their event and leave soon after their participation is over. There are restrictions on where they can go. They have to finish their meals within stipulated time. No spectators in stadium. People can watch events on television or internet.
Some athletes tested positive and had to return. In case an athlete taking part in a team sport tests positive, whole team or all who came in contact with him/her are quarantined. If it happens on a match day it can be loss without playing. It is unfair to other athletes.
Corona mutates and variants appear. Now they are named after Greek letters. Delta variant which originated in India is said to be more deadly than others. When 24 letters of Greek alphabet are over, there has to be another series.
Olympics needs to be restricted to single athlete events. Football, hockey, volleyball, basketball, rugby, doubles in badminton and tennis, relays and such events should not be part of Olympics. Also boxing, wrestling and such events should not be part of Olympics. Hitting or pushing someone is a hostile act.
India has sent 125 athletes to Tokyo, three more than 122 sent to Rio. Around one fourth of athletes belong to two hockey teams. In Rio India won two medals; one silver and one bronze. I hope India does better this time.