By Vivian Rice
I love the Olympics. Both the Summer and Winter Olympics are only held every four years, giving the best of the best athletes lots of time to prepare for the largest and most important competition of their careers. Unfortunately, as everyone knows, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, rescheduled to take place from July 23, 2021 – August 8, 2021. The 2020 Olympics are the first Olympic Games to have been canceled for a reason other than war, as the 1916 Summer Olympics were canceled due to WWI, and the 1940 and 1944 Summer and Winter Olympics because of- surprise!- WWII.
Though the Olympics are still being held, things will likely be different in some ways due to the ever-changing situation. The number of spectators will be reduced and protocols will be taken to ensure the health and safety of both athletes and spectators. Of course, since I’m dead broke, I will be watching the Olympics from the comfort of my home, like most people do. There are plenty of sports fans eagerly waiting to watch: soccer, swimming, track and field, archery, volleyball, and my personal favorite, gymnastics. Surfing is one of the new sports being added to the Olympic roster. However, Russia will not formally be competing in the 2021 Olympics due to a lingering doping controversial scandal, meaning Russia will not have an anthem or flag at the games. The Russian athletes will compete under the ROC, Russian Olympic Committee, and will be allowed to wear Russia’s colors.
Despite the uncertainties and concerns over hosting the Olympics in the midst of the COVID pandemic, it is sure to be an Olympics no one will ever forget. To quote Effie Trinket from The Hunger Games in regards to the Olympic athletes, “May the odds be ever in your favor!”
Source:
Maese, Rick. “Everything You Need to Know about the 2021 Tokyo Olympics,” The Washington
Post, February 20, 2021.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/02/20/tokyo-olympics-2021-guide/