Still Coming Together at the Olympics of 2020-2021

Ever since I was a kid, and read lots of books about the states of the USA and countries around the world, I developed a certain fascination with Japan.  I engaged my interest further when I was in Arts and Culture class during 6th grade and learned lots more, even doing activities like calligraphy.

My interest in Japanese culture came to mind with the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo this summer.  The Olympics are an event that I find inspirational and that resonates with me a deep level, as the world comes together for something positive like sports.

I was concerned the Olympics wouldn't be held at all because of the ongoing pandemic, similar to how World Wars I and II prevented the Olympics from happening in 1916, 1940, and 1944.  I was glad that they were postponed and were still held, a year later in 2021, the year notable for the 125th anniversary of the First Modern Olympic Games in Athens.

I especially enjoy watching the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic games, since the programming is an opportunity for the host nation to showcase its identity and culture.

There was something very poetic about the Japanese national anthem.  I looked at the song's lyrics, and basically, it's an ode to the emperor, that he may have a long reign, using nature metaphors in tribute to wishes for longevity.

I was fascinated to hear the story about how the organizers of the 1964 Summer Tokyo Olympics devised a collection of symbols for all of the Olympic sporting events to help visitors unfamiliar with the Japanese language navigate.  It was fascinating to see the figures displayed as part of the opening ceremony.

I also liked seeing the artistic design representative of the iconic Mount Fuji in the Olympic stadium.  It was a marvel to see it open in a flower-like fashion to be the cauldron for the Olympic flame.

The scene was intriguing when the man at the switches turned on the lights of Tokyo, highlighting the various notable sites in the city.

During the closing ceremony, it was cool to see the musicians perform for the athletes, in the spirit of what happens in Tokyo on the streets.  One part of it was a fascinating combination of modern rhythms and the classical Beethoven melody.

And I was rather mesmerized by the video shown to promote the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.  The vocals of the choristers were spellbinding that accompanied the footage of the crowd at the Eiffel Tower and the three planes flying in unison over Paris ejecting the French tricolors.

In his remarks before those gathered in Tokyo, IOC President Thomas Bach commended the athletes for the effort they exerted to qualify for and participate in the Tokyo Olympics and he also spoke about hope.  I think there was a great sense of hope that the Olympics could still happen in spite of the challenging circumstances of hosting and running the Olympics in the midst of a pandemic.  The athletes strove greatly to be part of the Olympics, each of them embarking on their own journey.

It was truly an inspiration to see the world come together as these athletes participated in spirited competition, striving to be "Faster, higher, stronger, together"--the word "together" added to the Olympic motto this year in light of the recent circumstances.

It's a beautiful reality, indeed, when we can come together and aspire together for greatness that builds up the people of the world as a whole, just like in "I Believe", performed so marvelously by Nikki Yanofsky for the 2010 Winter Olympics.  

I hope that the Olympics can continue to inspire us to come together with purpose.