2021 Olympic Summer Games in Tokyo (image from NBC Sports)
XXXII Olympic Summer Games – Japan $12.6 Billion
By Amaury Pi-González
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
The government of Japan has invested the equivalent of $12.6 billion dollars to host this Summer Olympic Games. Although it will be held between July 23 and August 8, 2021 the Tokyo Olympics will still be called the 2020 Olympics, that could not take place because of the Pandemic.
This is the first time this world sporting event will be held in an odd-numbered year, since the modern era began in 1896. Total of 11,091 athletes from 206 nations are scheduled to participate at the Japan National Stadium, in Tokyo.
Japan is the third most industrialized and third largest economy in the world, however beginning this 2021 newly reported cases of Coronavirus are an all-time high in Tokyo and a second state of emergency for the capital Tokyo with a population of 9.5 million people has been declared. Despite the current circumstances, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has remained steadfast in his plan to host the 2020 Olympic Games this summer.
The budget for this Olympic Games in Tokyo is a US equivalent of $12.6 billion dollars, by far the most expensive in history. And late last year it was reported it could even be twice as much. Even for a rich country as Japan, money is no match for the Coronavirus.
World Wars, politics, terrorism and pandemics have infringed the Olympics during history. If the Olympics do not take place, Japan looses a huge investment, but its only money and a rich country like Japan definitely could survive it.
For the thousands of athletes around the world, that have trained for years this moment in their lives that could definitely be devastating. After all they take place every four years. A 16-year old female gymnast, if the games are cancelled would be 20 years old when their next opportunity comes around.
That, most likely would kill the chances of that gymnast. A Gymnast has a window of opportunity when they are at the “top of their game”, during their young teen years. It would also affect mentally as well as physically most participants, regardless of age.
Many American Olympic hopefuls keep training and praying that the games take place as scheduled. The last Summer Olympic Games took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The USA delegation was the largest among all 206 nations, with 554 athletes. This year is expected to be very similar in size. There are a handful of new sports added this time.
Baseball and softball are back on the Olympics after being absent since the Beijing 2008 games. Major League Baseball players are not allowed to participate in the Olympics.
Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Hall of Fame Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
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