What the Tokyo Olympics left behind is ~ 17 days after the fight, August 9, 1:09

The Tokyo Olympics, which was held in Corona, ended in a 17-day fierce battle.

While most of the venues were unattended, athletes from all over the world, especially the local Japanese athletes, performed remarkably.

On the other hand, the influence of corona was undeniable, as the infection of the new coronavirus spread rapidly in Japan and the number of infected people involved in the tournament continued.

It is still difficult to evaluate whether a safe and secure tournament has been realized.

So what will the Tokyo Olympics leave behind?

What we noticed is that the Games were held in a society where the pros and cons of the Olympic Games were divided and the division was deepening.

(Tokyo Olympics coverage group)

The power of the "audience" that I felt again

Applause sent to the players and countless flags swaying in the spectators' seats.

On the final day of the tournament, the Izu Velodrome in Shizuoka Prefecture, which was the venue for the bicycle track event, was sweaty and hot.

The enthusiasm of the audience is felt because most of the venues were unattended.

The venue in Shizuoka Prefecture was held with an audience after setting an upper limit.

In the women's omnium, the compound event that concludes this competition, Japanese player Yumi Kajihara was in a position to aim for the gold medal, and fell on the last eight laps of the final event, when the final dead heat was approaching.

The cheers calmed down in an instant.

Kajiwara rebuilds his bicycle and starts pedaling again.

Immediately, the audience raised the Hinomaru and applauded.

Kajiwara, who won the silver medal, waved to the spectators' seats with a smile after the match.

"A big applause pushed my back."

Some people shed tears and praised the appearance in the audience seats.

There was certainly a feeling of tension and a warm atmosphere unique to the Olympic Games.

A 53-year-old man

"I could see the silver medal won without giving up until the end even if I dropped off, and I could feel that this is the Olympics."

An exceptionally unattended audience was held at Corona.

There were many disappointing voices from the media people who visited from overseas.

Agence France-Presse reporter

"I think the competition environment for athletes is perfect, but the strangest thing is that there are no spectators to cheer on. The presence of spectators is absolutely indispensable for sporting events. Is the spiritual pillar of the players. It turns out that the lack of spectators is a big problem. "

To share joy

There is an impressive scene in this tournament where most of the venues were unattended.

Immediately after the match, the players are talking online with their families.

I have seen many times at the Olympic Games so far, the sight of the athletes expressing their gratitude and reporting the results to their loved ones who supported them.

However, at the Corona Olympics, even expressing gratitude was not easy.

Athing Mu, USA (800m gold medal for track and field women)

"To be honest, I wanted someone to be there. However, even if I wasn't really here, I was able to secure an" audience "using this mechanism. I'm happy. Thank you. "

The words of gratitude heard from the participating athletes were directed not only to their families and those who supported them, but also to the fact that the tournament was held.

Czech Adam Ondra (Sports Climbing Men 6th)

"I think it's good to have the Olympics. It may not be the end of the pandemic, but it shows the fact that the world is moving forward."

Refugee Team Rose Nathike Lokonien (800m for Athletics Women)

"It is very important for us refugees to participate in the Tokyo Olympics and to be able to meet with athletes from all over the world. I can tell you. "

“It was impossible to get an audience”

The size of the presence of spectators who have been highlighted by the unattended Olympics.

It was the same on the side that runs the tournament.

Organizing Committee executive

"I wish I had an audience, but it was impossible to have an audience in this situation."

Since the decision to postpone the tournament, the selection of no spectators has been indispensable for the "safe and secure tournament" that has been flagged by the Organizing Committee and the IOC.

Nevertheless, the tournament management was extremely difficult.

Thorough inspections were conducted on athletes and officials participating in the Olympic Games, and the number of inspections conducted under the jurisdiction of the Games exceeded 600,000.

The total number of infected people related to the Olympics on August 8 of the Organizing Committee is 430.

Of these, 29 were players, some of whom were forced to abstain shortly before taking the stage they had been waiting for for many years.

In some cases, there were players who became positive after participating in the competition, and there were clusters of six people in the Greek team.

It has been pointed out that there are holes everywhere in the isolated space called the "bubble," and there have been a number of cases in which the rules for infection control, such as going out without permission of athletes and related parties, were violated.

Nevertheless, the Organizing Committee said it was able to stop the spread of the infection to the extent that it affected the operation of the Games.

Successive changes in "heat" beyond expectations

Corona measures were not the only operational difficulty.

Due to the heat of Japan, which was beyond the imagination of the players, the competition time for tennis and women's marathon was changed, and the time and venue for soccer were changed.

The change of venue was prepared by the Organizing Committee as an emergency plan, but executives said, "I never thought I would use it."

Organizing Committee Chairman Hashimoto

"I don't think it's true if the tournament was 100% successful. I think there was something to be done in terms of management, and I think it was possible to run it more smoothly. I want to make use of it for the Paralympics. "

The Tokyo Olympics have been held on the premise of safety and security.

It will take time to verify and evaluate whether it has been achieved.

As a lesson for the Olympic Games of Corona and the future of a society that coexists with Corona, in order to make the most of this Olympic Games, it is necessary for the organizers and the Organizing Committee to thoroughly disclose information on what happened at this Games. necessary.

What was aimed at the players ...

And it wasn't just the management of the tournament that emerged as an issue.

In the case of a series of SNS slander against players, the negative side of the digital society emerged.

Among Japanese athletes, Daiki Hashimoto, who won two gold medals in gymnastics boys, and Jun Mizutani, a table tennis player, revealed that they posted slanderous posts on their SNS.

The JOC = Japanese Olympic Committee has indicated that it will deal with it in cooperation with related organizations, saying that it is "not forgiven by any means".

To "praise each other" instead of "to quarrel"

The rapid spread of infection and various problems that emerge.

The leading players still tried to show their best performance.

What was particularly impressive was the venue for the new competition adopted by the Tokyo Olympics.

Ao Okamoto of the skateboarding women's park was the gold medal candidate at the top of the world ranking.

At the tournament, he continued to challenge difficult techniques, but unfortunately he did not reach the medal.

When Okamoto finished his final challenge, Japanese and overseas players rushed in and praised him.

Not only competing for ranking, but also overcoming various differences, respecting each other, and pursuing one's best.

It was also a moment that reminded me of the significance of the Olympics and sports questioned by the new Corona, and the importance of "praising each other" rather than "conflicting" that the society covered with corona had lost sight of.

Beyond hospitality

What is the significance of the Olympic Games held in Japan for the first time in 57 years?

"Heavy" "Beautiful"

Athletes who wear gold medals around their necks with their eyes shining and watch over the shy children with a gentle expression.

There was a woman who gazed at the situation with her eyes moistened.

Mr. Akiho Suzuki of the "Hayama Town Support Team" who has been responsible for hospitality in Hayama Town, Kanagawa Prefecture, the host town of the British national team for sailing.

Before I parted from the players, my memories of four years passed through my head.

In sailing, where the natural environment such as wind and waves greatly influences the development of the game, the practice off the coast of Enoshima, which is the venue, is of utmost importance, so the British team has come to visit Hayama every year.

The "support team" formed there is about 10 volunteer townspeople who have been in charge of interpreters, drivers, cooking assistance, and so on.

Mr. Suzuki, who had just moved to Hayama, decided to participate, saying, "I hope it will be a stepping stone to blend in with the community."

Hayama Town Support Team Akiho Suzuki

"I've been supporting you like a mother"

However, at the Tokyo Olympics held in Corona, the "support team" was forced to limit itself to activities that did not come into contact with the players.

In early July, the activities to support the athletes who came to Japan for the tournament were completely different.

The shopping with the players will be done by one member of the support team after listening to the request, and the help in the kitchen will be done after the players finish their meals and no one is left.

Mr. Suzuki wanted to do as much as he could because the faces of the players came to mind even if he couldn't interact with him as he had imagined.

With the help of a local supermarket, I took pictures of sweets and liquor, created a catalog, and created a page for shampoo and beauty face masks for female athletes. ..

You can't hold hands face-to-face and send ale.

Still, I wanted to convey the feeling of "supporting".

At the Tokyo Olympics, the British national team won five medals, including three gold medals, the most in the participating teams, and finished the fight with a smile.

Women's 470 Gold Medal Hannah Mills

"In a really friendly town, the support team treated me like a family."

On the day the team departed, Mr. Suzuki, who was given a farewell greeting on behalf of the "support team," became choppy English due to the tears that came up.

Still, he desperately spun the words, "I just wanted to convey the feeling of" thank you "."

Mr. Suzuki's facial expression, which he saw off until he couldn't see the bus carrying the players, was lonely and full of fulfillment.

Mr. Suzuki

"It was very difficult to support while keeping a distance, but I was able to spend a time that I could not buy with money, such as the smile of the player looking at the distance and waving my hand, and it became a memory of my life."

After a 17-day battle

The 17 days of the Tokyo Olympics that left people with various thoughts.

Holding the tournament while the pros and cons are divided is not enough to say "I'm glad it's over" and "I'm glad that the players played an active part".

However, the Olympic Games, which was held for the first time in a world where the new coronavirus covered the world, gave us a lot of awareness because the Games were held.

In the future, the threat we face may not be limited to the new Corona.

At that time, the athletes showed us what we should do at the Tokyo Olympics held in the midst of difficulties.

It's up to us to find the real meaning in the tournament.