The summer Olympics 2020, also known as Tokyo 2020 is an international multi-sport event to be held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan which began on 21st July 2021. As the result of COVID-19, this was originally scheduled in from 24 July to 9 August 2020. Despite being held this year, the Tokyo 2020 as the name will remain the same. As these events will finish, summer Paralympics will be held from 24th August and 5 September 2021.
Tokyo as the centre of Olympics was selected during 125th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Argentina 7th September 2013. As per the President of International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach the goal for Tokyo Olympics on one hand is to give it more youthful and Urban entice and on the other to increase the number of female participant. The Games will have 339 events in 33 different sports, encompassing a total of 50 disciplines. Alongside the five new sports that are expected to be introduced in Tokyo, fifteen new events are also planned. New games are being introduced in Olympics this time including 3×3 basketball and freestyle BMX.
The Tokyo Olympics are on but there has been a strong case of cancellation. Despite making sure the Covid protocols such as physical distance and use of marks are to be maintained yet there are games such as wrestling which will require physical contact hence the protocols will compromise. As per the recent record in the news poll has showed that 80% people are against Japan holding the game. The people are ready to share the burden of the event, which has reached more than 3 trillion yen ($29 billion) making it most expensive summer Olympics in the history. Although much of Japan is under a state of emergency due to Covid-19, Prime Minister Suga has been unable to cancel the event. At this point it is difficult for the international fans to be allowed to attend the Tokyo Games especially when the numbers of flights are limited in service, but the Japanese spectators might still be allowed to come.
According to the officials estimate, 15,400 athletes will be participating in the Olympics and Paralympics that will take place throughout the month of July and August. Including the coaches, family members, media, IOC staff and sponsors, the events are to bring about 93,000 people from 200+ countries into Japan. Although this event is the much awaited one but due to the current situation will only bring new kind of problems including the fear of wide spread of this disease. But the IOC is making sure that all precautions are taken care of and followed throughout the event. According to IOC president Thomas Bach more than 80% of the 11,500 people staying in the athletes’ village are to be vaccinated by 23 July.
From India around 22 athletes and 6 officials will attend and participate in the opening ceremony on Friday at the National Stadium. The athletes include Six times world champion boxer MC Mary Kom and National Men’s Hockey team skipper Manpreet Singh.
