Outstanding Olympics

The recently concluded Tokyo Olympics belied all expectations, that too on many fronts. Fears, that the delayed Games would be a super-spreader of the virus, that the event would ground to a halt midway because of the rise in infections in the bio-bubble and that it would not meet the level of the past Games, were shattered. It was a game-changer (“US finish on top as Tokyo douses Olympic flame closing pandemic-defying Games,” Aug. 8, Gulf Today).

Held in the midst of a raging pandemic, the Games showcased the defying spirit of the hosts as much as that of the participants. Amidst empty stands the 16-day sporting extravaganza gave birth to new sports disciple including skateboarding, surfing, sport climbing and karate.

It was extraordinary also because some of world’s best athletes got a platform to go beyond sport. Mental health and the pressures athletes go through while aiming for the prized medals came to the fore when US gymnast Simone Biles pulled out of some events. And politics too made headlines with the Belarusian Olympic sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya refusing to return to her home country fearing punishment for speaking against her superiors.

The medal tally also pointed to a very competitive event as US topped the table bettering China by just one gold medal.

And for India it was one of the best Olympics producing a rich haul of seven medals — 1 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze. It is the country finest performance of all time. India ended a long 40-year wait for a medal in Men’s field hockey. Though it was only a bronze medal, for India it heralds a new beginning. India was the undisputed champions for 28 years before their reign ended in sixties. Of course the gold by Neeraj Chopra is the icing on the cake.

Aaron D’Souza
By email