As Japan readies to douse the Olympic flame, a glance at the big stories of the Games

A year full of drama, politics, frenzy and turmoil over a once-in-a-generation pandemic will come to an end when Japan douses the Olympic flame on Sunday, August 8. The Tokyo Games, once expected to be a financial blockbuster for the host, was managed with several restrictions, no spectators and mental health making headlines. 

Despite all the criticism by experts, the opposition in the opinion polls and also protests, the Japanese authorities pulled off the multi-sport international event comprising of 50,000 people in the same premises without a COVID-19 outbreak. Four sports – surfing, skateboarding, karate and sport climbing – made their Olympic debut. 

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The last time Tokyo hosted the Olympics in 1964, things were a lot different. There was no Delta variant of a life-endangering virus that forced an electric capital to go on complete lockdown. Hospitals and medical authorities were not so overwhelmed and bio-bubble was not even a relevant concept. However, even with all the uncertainty prior to the Games, the 2020 Olympics did present a fair share of thrill and drama. 

The Japanese public grew less cynical, as per Reuters, of the authorities after the hosts managed to bag more than some medals. With  38 golds as of late on Saturday, China led the tally. United States (36) and Japan (27) followed. On Sunday, thirteen events will unfold before the closing ceremony. Japan will hand over the Olympic baton to the next host city, Paris, at a ceremony that starts at 8:00 PM JST/ 4:30 PM IST. 

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From Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, who refused to return home to US gymnast Simone Biles, who pulled out of five events and abruptly abandoned one of them, the Tokyo Olympics had its share of controversies and discussions. 

Biles brought to the fore the mental health issues athletes go through. She ultimately won a bronze for Team USA. 

Australia witnessed its best-ever haul at the Olympics. Powered by their swimmers, the Kangaroos won nine golds in the 21 overall medals. 

India finishes the Olympics with seven medals, including a much-awaited gold. Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian athlete to win an Olympic medal when he scored gold on Saturday. PV Sindhu, Lovlina Borgohai, Bajrang Punia, Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Mirabai Chanu and the men’s hockey team were the other medallists. Indian golfer Aditi Ashok and the women’s hockey team came fourth in their events.