The 2020 Tokyo Olympics faced intense criticism and skepticism leading up to the event, with many labeling it a “suicide mission” and a potential disaster waiting to happen amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these dire warnings, the Games proceeded as Japan prepared to host the year-delayed event in July 2021.
Comparisons to historical events like the Nazi 1936 Olympics in Berlin and the Japanese public’s reluctance to support the Games drew parallels to World War II sentiments. However, the predicted disaster did not come to pass, with no superspreader events or Olympic variant of the virus emerging.
As Paris gears up to host the next Olympics, the narrative surrounding the Tokyo Games has evolved. While the event might not have been the catastrophe many feared, the success did not protect former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who advocated for the Games to proceed.