＜prologue＞
I started a blog called “The Baby Boomer Generation’s Miscellaneous Blog”（Dankai-sedai no garakutatyou:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳） in July 2018, about a year before I fully retired. More than six years have passed since then, and the number of articles has increased considerably.
So, in order to make them accessible to people who don’t understand Japanese, I decided to translate my past articles into English and publish them.
It may sound a bit exaggerated, but I would like to make this my life’s work.
It should be noted that haiku and waka （Japanese short fixed form poems） are quite difficult to translate into English, so some parts are written in Japanese.
If you are interested in haiku or waka and would like to know more, please read introductory or specialized books on haiku or waka written in English.
I also write many articles about the Japanese language. I would be happy if these inspire more people to want to learn Japanese.
my blog’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳 | 団塊世代が雑学や面白い話を発信しています
my X’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多帳（@historia49) on X
<Added on 2020/9/23> IOC President Bach expresses confidence that the Games can be held safely
IOC President Thomas Bach published a message to athletes and other stakeholders titled “Olympism and COVID-19.” In it, he mentioned how many sporting events have resumed despite the impact of COVID-19, and expressed confidence that “the Tokyo Olympics can be held safely even without a vaccine.”
I think this is only natural, but coming from the head of the IOC, these words carry weight. I hope that everyone involved will pool their wisdom and ingenuity to realize “the Tokyo Olympics as proof that we have overcome COVID-19.”
<Added 9/7/2020> IOC Coordination Commission President Coates declares that “the Olympics will open on July 32nd next year.”
In an interview with a French news agency, IOC Coates, head of the IOC Coordination Committee, who oversees preparations for the Tokyo Olympics, stated, “The Tokyo Olympics will undoubtedly be a symbol of overcoming COVID-19. Whether COVID-19 is still around or not, the Games will open as scheduled on July 32nd next year,” expressing confidence that the Games will go ahead as scheduled, according to reports.
This is something I think is only natural, but coming from an IOC official, it carries weight.
With no end in sight to the coronavirus pandemic and concerns about a second wave of infections, some are beginning to question whether the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics can actually be held. Some have even gone a step further, calling for the games to be canceled. It seems that many athletes aiming to compete in the Tokyo Olympics are questioning or worried about whether the games will go ahead.
In this article, I would like to consider this issue.
1. An inspiring message from Ikee Rikako
On July 23, 2020, one year before the opening of the Tokyo Olympics, the Organizing Committee held a ceremony at 8 pm at the National Stadium, the venue for the opening ceremony, entitled “One Year Later. One Step Forward. ~+1 Message~ TOKYO 2020.” At the ceremony, female swimmer Rikako Ikee, who hopes to make a comeback from leukemia, delivered a message to the world. I was deeply moved.
Hello, I’m Ikee Rikako.
Today, I’d like to speak a few words as both an athlete and a person.
If reality had been real, the grand opening ceremony of Tokyo 2020 would have been taking place here at the National Stadium around this time tomorrow.
It had been my dream to compete in these games, too. The Olympics and Paralympics are special events for athletes.
Having such a huge goal suddenly disappear before their eyes must have been an indescribable sense of loss for the athletes.
I myself have suffered from the serious illness of leukemia, so I understand all too well. The future you had imagined changes overnight, like a completely different world. It was an incredibly difficult experience.
Even in times like these, what saved me was the support I received from the doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals. Seeing them up close made me realize just how difficult their jobs are. And now, they are also battling a new enemy: COVID-19. I’m truly grateful. Thank you.
Experiencing the extraordinary year of 2020 has taught me that sports are not just something athletes can do. Sports exist thanks to the support of many different people. I truly believe that.
One year from now, how wonderful it would be if the world were able to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. While we’re living through many ups and downs right now, I sincerely hope that peaceful everyday life will return as soon as possible.
I believe sports give people courage and bonds. While I was battling illness, I was greatly inspired by the efforts of my fellow athletes. That’s still true now. I can’t keep up with everyone in practice. It’s frustrating. Those feelings, too, give me the strength to move forward.
TOKYO 2020. The year that begins here today shouldn’t be thought of as simply a one-year postponement, but as “plus one.” I think that’s a very future-oriented and positive way of thinking. Of course, I understand that there will be some negative voices about even talking about sports during these difficult times. However, I also believe that the power of hope is absolutely necessary when overcoming adversity. It’s precisely because hope shines in the distance that we can look forward and persevere, no matter how difficult the situation.
In my case, I wanted to get back in the pool. That single-minded desire helped me overcome the painful treatments. For athletes around the world and all those who draw courage from athletes, I hope that a flame of hope will still shine here, one year from now.
Rikako Ikee, Competitive Swimmer
Thank you for today.
2. Lost Olympic Athletes of the Past
(1) The 1940 “Phantom Tokyo Olympics”
Thanks to the efforts of Jigoro Kano and Masaru Tabata, Japan secured a spot at the 1940 Tokyo Olympics. However, due to the impact of the Sino-Japanese War, the Japanese government “gave up the hosting rights,” resulting in the “phantom Tokyo Olympics.”
(2) The 1948 London Olympics
As a defeated nation in World War II, Japan was not permitted to participate in the 1948 London Olympics, the first postwar Olympic Games.
In 1948, Hironoshin Furuhashi (former president of the Japan Olympic Committee) broke the world records in the 400m and 1500m freestyle swimming events, giving hope and confidence to the Japanese people devastated by defeat. However, because Japan was not permitted to join the International Swimming Federation at the time, his world records were not recognized, and he was unable to participate in the London Olympics.
“Not allowing defeated countries to participate” was contrary to both the ideals of the ancient Olympics and the spirit of the Olympic Charter of the modern Olympics.
The direct origin of the ancient Olympics is said to be when King Iphitus of Elis, troubled by the spread of an infectious disease, sought refuge at the Temple of Apollo and received a revelation that said, “Stop fighting and restore the games.” Even during wartime, participants had to suspend fighting to participate (a sacred truce).
The modern Olympics, proposed by Baron de Coubertin, also states in the Olympic Charter that its purpose is “to promote the development of the physical and moral qualities that are the foundation of sport, to educate young people in a spirit of friendship and the promotion of mutual understanding through sport, and thereby contribute to the construction of a better, more peaceful world,” and that “there will be no discrimination on grounds of race, origin, or other status.”
(3) The 1980 Moscow Olympics
During the Cold War, the 1980 Moscow Olympics were held in Moscow, the Soviet Union, the leader of the Eastern Bloc. The US led a collective boycott by Western countries, including Japan, in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979.
I remember vividly the judoka Yasuhiro Yamashita (current JOC president) “shed tears of regret” and the wrestler Yuji Takada (current executive director of the Japan Wrestling Federation) “tearfully appealing for participation in the Moscow Olympics.”
3. Should next year’s Tokyo 2020 Olympics be held? Or should they be canceled?
According to a public opinion poll (July 17-20, 1,298 adult men and women) released on July 22, 31% said the Olympics should be canceled, 35% said they should be further postponed, and 26% said they should be held as scheduled, with a total of 66% expressing a negative reaction to holding the Olympics as scheduled.
(1) Disadvantages of Hosting the Games
① Even if the spread of infection in Japan has subsided or subsided, there is a risk of an explosive spread of infection due to the large number of athletes participating, including from countries with a high number of infections, such as the United States, Brazil, and India, as well as from developing regions such as Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America.
② Depending on the development status of treatments and vaccines, there is a risk that the safety of athletes, officials, and spectators may not be ensured.
③ There is a risk that COVID-19 infections will spread throughout Japan, causing a medical system collapse.
(2) Advantages of Hosting the Games
① Meeting the expectations of athletes who have worked hard to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
② Inspiring courage and hope for people around the world, including the Japanese people who are devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
③ Cancelling the Games would result in a huge expenditure of national funds, resulting in a “waste of money with no gains.” However, if the Games can be held, not only will losses be minimized, but various ripple effects can also be expected.
(3) My Thoughts
I also believe it’s impossible to hope for a grand, complete Olympics like those held before COVID-19. It will be difficult to hold the “complete Olympics as proof that we have overcome COVID-19,” as Prime Minister Abe once stated.
Some international athletes will decline to participate due to fears of COVID-19 infection. Some countries will probably not send athletes. This is unavoidable.
However, I believe it’s possible to hold a “new type of Olympics” in the “with COVID-19 era” by taking all possible measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as thorough PCR testing, avoiding crowded places, and frequent disinfection, as well as by reducing the number of managers, coaches, and accompanying staff other than participating athletes and reducing the number of spectators. I hope that efforts will be made to go ahead and hold the Olympics.
As can be said of the “Go To Travel Campaign,” the Tokyo Olympics will be impossible to realize unless we abandon our belief in zero risk. Minimizing risk will require the wisdom and ingenuity of those involved.
I truly hope that the Olympics will serve as a model for large-scale events in the with-COVID era.
In order to address the funding shortfall, I believe that in addition to “additional solicitation for the Tokyo Olympic Sponsorship Jumbo Lottery,” “additional solicitation from corporate sponsorship money,” and “raising funds by displaying the names of sponsoring companies on spectator seats,” the government should also bear additional financial burden.
The IOC has said that it will not allow a “further postponement” beyond 2021, so in the worst case scenario, it would be acceptable to hold “games without spectators,” such as “games with limited spectators” with as few spectators as possible. I hope that all those involved will rack their brains and make every effort to hold the games.
If the IOC, the organizing committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and other relevant parties back down, nothing will be able to be realized. Are there any passionate people like Jigoro Kano or Masaharu Tabata left today?