The Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 and Its Legacy

Overview of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020

Olympic Games Tokyo 2020

Period: July 23 –August 8, 2021 (17 days)

Sports: 33 sports (of which new additions: baseball, softball, karate, skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing)

Venues: 42 venues (24 in Tokyo, 18 outside of Tokyo)

Participating countries, etc.: 205 NOCs, and the Refugee Olympic Team

Participants: 11,417 athletes (of which 583 were from the Japanese team) *Female athletes: about 49%

Spectators: [No general spectators] Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa, Hokkaido, Fukushima
　　　　　　[Spectators] Miyagi, Shizuoka, Ibaraki (schoolchildren only) *43,300 spectators

Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

Period: August 24 - September 5, 2021 (13 days)

Sports: 22 sports (of which new additions: badminton and taekwondo)

Venues: 21 venues (15 in Tokyo, 6 outside of Tokyo)

Participating countries, etc.: 162 NPCs and the Refugee Paralympic Team

Participants: 4,403 athletes (of which 254 were from the Japanese team) *Female athletes: about 42%

Spectators: No general spectators
　　　　　　[Schoolchildren spectators] Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba (10,543 in Tokyo)

 

Athletes participating in the Tokyo 2020 Games for the Olympic Games numbered 11,417 from 205 NOCs and the Refugee Olympic Team, in a tie for the most ever. For the Paralympic Games, there were 4,403 athletes from 162 NPCs and the Refugee Paralympic Team, which was more than the Rio Games. The Games were brimming with diversity, with participation by many sexual minority athletes.

The athletes put on high quality performances, setting 26 new world records in the Olympic Games, and 158 new records in the Paralympic Games.

According to a survey by the International Olympic Committee, a total of 3.05 billion unique viewers watched broadcasts on television and digital platforms, and coverage on the digital platforms of Olympic broadcast partners generated up to 28 billion video views.

Tokyo 2020 Legacy

Thanks to the cooperation of many, Tokyo was able to deliver a successful Tokyo 2020 Games amid the unprecedented circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, a one year delay and no spectators.

The various legacies that were born through the Games, both tangible and intangible, will be developed upon to create a future Tokyo that abounds in diversity and inclusion.

 

©Tokyo 2020 / Shugo TAKEMI

1. A safe and secure Games was able to be held by gathering the full resources of Japan. Building on the legacy of the initiatives taken during the Games for risk management, preparations for all kinds of disasters will be reinforced to make Tokyo a city that is safe and secure.

 

©Tokyo 2020 / Meg Oliphant

2. The vibrant performances of the athletes allowed the entire world to share in the wonder of sports. Such connections to sports, which were made possible by the Games, will become an integral part of our daily lives for the realization of Tokyo as a sports field.

 

 

©Tokyo 2020 / Kenta Harada

3. The sight of the competing Para athletes gave us a solid sense of the meaning of “inclusive society.” By translating the insights gained from the Games into individual actions, we will make Tokyo an inclusive city where people of diverse backgrounds live together and accept one another.

 

 

©Tokyo 2020 / Ryosei WATANABE

4. The sincere activities of the volunteers brought smiles to people's faces. Tokyo will establish a culture of volunteerism and realize a society where everyone helps each other.

 

 

 

 

©Ilona Maher
(@ilonamaher on TikTok)

5. The athletes let the world know about the attractions of Tokyo and Japan. With the appeal of Tokyo, which spread around the world through the Games, serving as a legacy, art, traditional arts and performances, cuisine, and other strengths will be leveraged to evolve Tokyo into a city that people would want to visit over and over again.

 

 

 

©Tokyo 2020 / Ken Ishii

6. The way to a sustainable society was demonstrated at situations throughout the Games. By developing on the behavioral changes of people brought on from their participation and the advanced initiatives that were taken, a “zero emissions Tokyo,” with net zero carbon emissions, will be achieved.

 

 

7. An exciting future was sensed through state-of-the-art technology. The pioneering technology used at the Games will be applied in the city for the realization of a Smart Tokyo, where residents can lead high quality lives.

 

 

8. Efforts taken for the Games have initiated changes to communities and lifestyles. Tokyo will become a city where everyone can spend their days safely and comfortably, and lead vibrant lives.

 

 

 

©Tokyo 2020 / Ken Ishii

9. A message of gratitude was delivered to the world, showing the present situation of the Tohoku region and other areas recovering from earthquake disasters. The deep emotion and rapport shared with these regions will be carried on to the future.