Dinesh Kamath's Editorial '2020 Olympics in Tokyo' that was published in Newsband

2020 Olympics in Tokyo

It has been decided that Tokyo will host the 2020 Olympic Games. This is the second time that Tokyo is hosting Olympic Games.

The situation at the crippled Fukushima nuclear reactor did create some problem in deciding whether Tokyo should host the games but a firm assurance from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who allayed fears about the radioactive water leak from Fukushima convinced the IOC members and they chose Tokyo for holding the Olympic. The IOC members opted for Japanese efficiency, financial health and technical competence which the other countries who made a bid for holding of the games could not match. Japan’s ‘clean’ image in matters of doping also made it the winner. The IOC members were very much happy with the $9.80 billion Tokyo budget.

Another good news, especially for India, is that Wrestling has also staged a comeback into the Olympic sports programme. It is already part of the 2016 Games.

The structure of this sport has been revamped, the format has been changed to make it more appealing, and more representation has been given to women. India, particularly, which has won many medals in wrestling in the past at the International level, should be pleased with its return to the Games.

For a country that was devastated by tsunami in March 2011 which cascaded into a nuclear disaster and still recovering, to bid for Olympic in itself requires a heroic and courageous task. Last century, Japan recovered remarkably after Hiroshima and Nagasaki and in this century their bid and selection is a pointer that they can repeat any recovery plan with ease, determination and dexterity.

India should take a leaf out of this style.