Olympics 2020

The Olympics 2020, which are the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Japan, will be held from 23 July 2021 to 8 August 2021.

Let’s find out a bit more about the upcoming Summer Olympics and learn some fun facts about this global multi-sports event.

To get some proper insights, let's start with some basic Olympic Games Facts everybody should know:

10 Olympics Facts 

1. The Olympics are one of the most prestigious international sporting event for athletes from around the world.
2. There are Summer Olympic Games and Winter Olympic Games which are both held every four years. Summer and Winter Olympics are spaced two years apart.
3. The Olympics are held in different countries every time. Paralympic Games for athletes with impairment are held also every four years in the same country that hosts the Olympics.
4. The original and so-called ancient Olympic Games were held in Olympia/ Greece more than 2,800 years ago - in 776 BC.
5. The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in the summer of 1896.
6. Pierre de Coubertin from France is the founder of the International Olympic Committee and seen as 'The Father of Olympics'.
7. Since 1904 the first, second and third placed athlete of any event in the Olympics will win a gold, silver or bronze medal. 
8. The Olympic symbol is shown on the Olympic flag. The five rings in blue, yellow, black, green and red are depicted on white background.
9. The Olympic flame is always lit at the Temple of Hera in Olympia in Greece.
10. The Olympic motto is Citius - Altius - Fortius which is from the Latin language and means 'Faster - Higher - Stronger'.
    

Tokyo Olympics 2020 | The Summer Olympics

Now that we all know the basics, we can explore what's going on with the Olympics 2020.

The 2020 Summer Olympic Games were meant to take place from 24 July 2020 to 9 August 2020 in Tokyo/Japan.

Due to the Covid-19-pandemic, the olympic games were postponed to 2021, though the name still is kept as 'Tokyo 2020' or 'Olympic Games 2020'.

The Olympic Games in 2021 will be held from 23 July 2021 to 8 August 2021 in Japan.

In the 2020 Tokyo Games, more than 11,000 participants are expected to compete in 339 sporting events.

The Tokyo Olympics cover 33 sports - and 50 disciplines. Karate, surfing, skateboarding and sport climbing events will be held for the first time at the Tokyo Olympics. 

The various events of the Olympics will be held in 42 venues all over the country.

The 2020 Olympic torch relay is planned to take 121 days. The relay shall lead through all 47 prefectures of Japan. The torch relay is meant to showcase the cultural and scenic attractions of the country.

The torch relay began in Fukushima on 25 March 2021. The motto of the torch relay is "Hope Lights Our Way."

Tokyo 2020 Olympics

The opening ceremony of the Tokyo Games will be held on 23 July 2021 in the new national stadium in Tokyo. 

The Tokyo Paralympic Games for athletes with impairment will be held form 25 August to 6 September there as well.

The Tokyo Olympics will put a strong focus on innovation and new initiatives such as field support robots in the games. Mascot-type robots will greet athletes and visitors at the Olympic Games venues.

For the first time these robots including humanoid robots will be used at the Olympic events. Humanoid robots will give people who cannot attend the Games the chance to virtually attend the events when they interact with these robots.

Tokyo Olympics 2020 | Motto

The motto of the 2020 Olympic Summer Games in Japan is 'Discover Tomorrow'.

Olympics 2020 | Mascot

The official mascot of the Tokyo Olympic Summer Games is Miraitowa, a cheerful character that is able to teleport.

The name comes from the Japanese words 'mirai' (meaning 'future' in English) and 'towa' (which means 'eternity' in English). The term refers to the wish that "everlasting hope will carry on in the the hearts of everyone around the world".

The official mascot of the Paralympic Games is called Someity. This mascot is a strong character that has telepathic superpowers to move objects without touching them.

This mascot's name comes from the Japanese word 'someiyoshino' which is a cherry blossom and adapts to the English phrase 'so mighty' to describe the determination of the athletes to overcome their personal obstacles.

Tokyo 2020 Olympics | Logo

The logo of the Tokyo Olympics depicts a circle in a checkered pattern in traditional Japanese indigo blue.

The pattern consists of three different varieties of rectangular shapes which symbolise "different countries, cultures and way of thinking" with the message of unity in diversity.

The logo of the Tokyo Paralympics shows a similar pattern in a circular form with an opening at the top.

Olympics in Tokyo 2021

Tokyo is the host city for the Olympics for the second time - after 1964.

New sports disciplines this time include basketball 3x3, karate, climbing, skateboarding and surfing.

The international teams still have until beginning of July to qualify in their countries for the participation in the global sports event.

More about the Olympic Games

Olympics 2020 | Resources

• The International Olympic Committee. "Olympic Games." Olympic.org. Last accessed 14 April 2021
• The International Olympic Committee. "Tokyo 2020." Olympic.org. Last accessed 14 April 2021
• The International Olympic Committee. "Olympic House." Olympic.org. Last accessed 14 April 2021

Images on the Tokyo Olympics 2020 page: Tokyo Olympics Header Image: Chaay_Tee/ shutterstock.com; torch: KirillS/ shutterstock.comMascots: Octavio Acosta Carlock/ shutterstock.com; Logo: Krovop58/ shutterstock.com

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