Tokyo Olympics
March,9,2021
After an unprecedented year-long delay, the Tokyo Olympics are on course to take place this summer.
Postponed a year because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Summer Olympics are scheduled to begin officially July 23 with the opening ceremony and end Aug. 8 with the closing ceremony. Some events, such as the softball and the men’s and women’s soccer tournaments, begin July 21, before the official start of the Games.
will be held 40 minutes outside of Tokyo on the country’s eastern coast; and the men’s and women’s marathons, as well as the race walking events, will take place in Sapporo, which is located 500 miles north of Tokyo. The soccer matches will be played in six cities, and baseball and softball games will be held in Fukushima and Yokohama.
Miraitowa was created by Japanese artist Ryo Taniguchi, emerging from a competition process that began with more than 2,000 mascot designs.
Track and field events begin July 30 and conclude with the men’s marathon Aug. 8, the final day of the Olympics.
Many Olympic tournaments run nearly the duration of the Games, including basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, water polo, soccer and beach volleyball, and don’t award medals until the final days.
The next four Olympic host sites have been named. Beijing, which staged the 2008 Summer Games, will host the 2022 Winter Olympics, which begin next Feb. 4.
The 2024 Summer Games will take place in Paris, followed by the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The Summer Games will return to Los Angeles, home of the 1984 Olympics, in 2028.
Olympic organizers have not chosen a host for the 2030 Winter Games, though bids could come from Spain (Pyrenees-Barcelona), Japan (Sapporo) and the United States (Salt Lake City). The 2030 site won’t be announced until 2023.
Postponed a year because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Summer Olympics are scheduled to begin officially July 23 with the opening ceremony and end Aug. 8 with the closing ceremony. Some events, such as the softball and the men’s and women’s soccer tournaments, begin July 21, before the official start of the Games.
Who is hosting the Games?
Tokyo is the host city, and most events will be staged throughout the Japanese capital. Several sports will be held in other Japanese cities and towns, however. Road cycling, for example, will take place in the foothills of Mount Fuji; surfingwill be held 40 minutes outside of Tokyo on the country’s eastern coast; and the men’s and women’s marathons, as well as the race walking events, will take place in Sapporo, which is located 500 miles north of Tokyo. The soccer matches will be played in six cities, and baseball and softball games will be held in Fukushima and Yokohama.
What is the mascot?
Miraitowa is a blue-checkered creation intended to represent both old traditions and celebrate new innovations. The cartoon character supposedly resides in the digital realm but has the ability to transport itself to the real world. Its name is a combination of two Japanese words: mirai, meaning “future,” and towa, which means “eternity.”Miraitowa was created by Japanese artist Ryo Taniguchi, emerging from a competition process that began with more than 2,000 mascot designs.
What’s the schedule for the Olympics?
The first medals will be handed out July 24, followed by more than two weeks of dizzying action. Swimming and gymnastics likely will take center stage in the opening week. Swimming competition runs July 24-Aug. 1, and gymnastics is July 25-Aug. 3.Track and field events begin July 30 and conclude with the men’s marathon Aug. 8, the final day of the Olympics.
Many Olympic tournaments run nearly the duration of the Games, including basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, water polo, soccer and beach volleyball, and don’t award medals until the final days.
Where is the next Olympics?
The next four Olympic host sites have been named. Beijing, which staged the 2008 Summer Games, will host the 2022 Winter Olympics, which begin next Feb. 4.
The 2024 Summer Games will take place in Paris, followed by the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The Summer Games will return to Los Angeles, home of the 1984 Olympics, in 2028.
Olympic organizers have not chosen a host for the 2030 Winter Games, though bids could come from Spain (Pyrenees-Barcelona), Japan (Sapporo) and the United States (Salt Lake City). The 2030 site won’t be announced until 2023.
