Current time in Tokyo: Aug. 8, 9:25 p.m.
An interpretive dance representing the Ainu people takes center stage. The Ainu are Japan’s indigenous people and faced centuries of persecution. Only a handful of people who speak Ainu are left in the world.
If you hit the taiko wrong you can break your arm. Maybe it should be a new Olympic sport.
OK, taiko was what was criminally missing from the opening ceremonies. There is nothing like these massive drums to get your blood moving.
At every Olympics, thousands of volunteers serve as the glue that hold the Games together, driving official vehicles, fetching water, carrying Olympic medals. This time in Tokyo, they were also among the most visible and plentiful presence in the venues that were shorn of spectators.
Their tasks were myriad: wiping perspiration from table tennis tables, fetching soccer balls kicked over the goal into empty stadium seats, sweeping the gym floor during basketball games.
Sumika Yoneda, 22, who was responsible for leading press photographers into the so-called moat of the National Stadium for athletics events, was shocked by how fast the photographers would run to get a picture when an athlete fell on the track. “It was so surprising to me at first, thinking about the athletes’ feelings,” said Yoneda, who was on duty at the closing ceremony. “That’s not the first thing I would do, but I guess that’s the job of a photographer.”
Journalists in general seemed to surprise the sensibilities of the volunteers. Journalists “are very strong minded,” said Rachel Leng, 31. They “are very creative with trying to sneak into the media seats even if they don’t have the proper ticket — they’ll try to hide their badges, or some will come in once and then leave and give their credential to a colleague that doesn’t have the right to be in the space and try to pass it off as themselves, it’s been a mess!”
Now a tribute to the thousands of Olympic volunteers. certainly appropriate given how hard they work, often at thankless tasks. On the other hand, there is the thorny question of why an organization like the I.O.C., which is swimming in television money, relies on unpaid labor at all.
Whenever an agenda says “the next protocol element is …” you know you may not be in for riveting stuff. It turns out we’re going to be introduced to some new members of the athletes’ commission of the I.O.C.
We’ll see in about 13 hours, but this is generally a moment when broadcasters say, “And we’ll be right back.”
One of the loveliest moments of the Olympics was when marathon silver medalist Abdi Nageeye waved his friend and bronze medalist Bashir Abdi to the finish line.
As the medalists for the men’s and women’s marathons are honored, it’s worth noting that several countries scored their first medals at these Games. The Philippines won its first gold medal, courtesy of Hidilyn Diaz in women’s weight lifting. San Marino won not only its first but also its second medal, entering the history books as the smallest country to score a podium finish. Bermuda struck gold in the women’s triathlon, making it the smallest nation to win gold in the Summer Games.
Burkina Faso won its first medal, bronze in men’s triple jump. Turkmenistan also gained its first medal, silver in women’s weight lifting.
“It’s unbelievable,” Diaz, the Philippine lifter, said after her surprise triumph in the 55 kilogram weight lifting division. “I never thought this would happen today.”
Kenya, like other parts of Africa and Asia, is suffering from a devastating wave of coronavirus cases. One wonders what some of these athletes will face when they return home.
Molly Seidel was a surprise medalist to some. She looks suitably thrilled.
The top marathon finishers traditionally get their medals awarded as part of the closing ceremony. In the past it has just been the men’s marathon, but the women get to be part of the show as well this year.
So here’s to Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya, Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands, Bashir Abdi of Belgium. And Peres Jepchirchir and Brigid Kosgei of Kenya and Molly Seidel of the United States.
Anthem time! All rise for Greece, the founder of the Games, way back in 776 B.C. (and again in 1896 A.D.).
It’s hard not to feel wistful that most of the Olympic visitors did not get to see this side of Tokyo in real life. And the thousands of people who wanted to be here to see it, but could not.
Olympics Stadium is just a short walk from Tokyo’s Yoyogi Park, a massive green space in the city center famous for its people watching opportunities. Despite the pandemic and the brutal summer heat, it has been full with its usual characters — e.g. a rockabilly dance troupe that appears every weekend — and a steady stream of Tokyoites engaged in typical park activities from jogging and picnicking to yoga and impromptu musical performances.
But coronavirus restrictions have stopped athletes from visiting the park or any of the city’s other famous tourist destinations. To make up for the missed opportunity, organizers have created a faux park inside the stadium, complete with fake grass, soothing light effects and buskers. The organizers said that the setup is intended to give athletes a taste of the city that they never got to experience: “Just like a Sunday afternoon at a park in Tokyo.”
Not quite: park goers were dressed in pastel ponchos and a ska band blasted out a brassy soundtrack as athletes milled around the field taking selfies. But for most of the participants in this year’s Olympics, this ersatz park will be the closest they get to experiencing the real thing. The rules require they head home 48 hours after their event ends, and there are no opportunities for tourism.
There have been a handful of exceptions, though: two Georgian athletes had their credentials revoked after Japanese media reported that they had been seen taking photos at Tokyo Tower. They had already finished their event.
Hearing Milet sing “Hymne à l’amour” is making me long to get back to a small Tokyo jazz bar with some live music.
A reminder that Japan is also a syrupy ballad capital. With a proper back beat.
Hannah — indeed. And they love old jazz standards sung in a torchy way.
Motoko, absolutely true. What makes Tokyo so special is the serendipity of the streets, one moment all neon and noise, the next moment hushed and reverential at a shrine or perfectly shaped topiary.
Even through the pandemic, Tokyo has been incredible. It’s a shame it wasn’t given more of an opportunity to share itself with the world.
That brief interlude from DJ Matsunaga was awesome. He apparently won the world’s biggest DJ competition in London in 2019.
And a great reminder of how popular turntablism is in Japan (like so many countries). I hope the French organizers are taking cues from this…
Japan has a knack for synthesizing international treasures — chocolate, jazz, whiskey — and making them its own. This display is what was missing from the opening ceremony, a whimsical, inventive joy. This music is bringing me back to childhood summers in Tokyo, shaved ice syrup dribbling down my chin, smoke from fireworks curling in the air.
Performers are enacting scenes from a Tokyo park. Looks we’ve got some capoeira, some stunt bikers, some juggling and double dutch. Considerably livelier than a typical day in the park.
Looks like a flash mob!
A reminder that Tokyo is a street fashion capital.
Now actors are evoking a day in a Tokyo park. I don’t see the anyone who looks like the 50s style greasers who can often be found rocking out to rockabilly in Yoyogi Park near the 1964 Olympic stadium.
How may different ways can the Olympic rings be displayed? Let’s see, you could do it with flame, luminescent shapes, costumed performers, fireworks … yeah those have all been done. With the Games coming every two years (uh, usually), original ideas must be hard to come up with.
The choice this time is forming the rings with tiny points of light. Except, the effect is only visible on TV screens. It’s completely special effects magic. In the stadium, athletes and onlookers see nothing. Hard to imagine the organizers trying that at a normal Olympics with paying spectators in the stands.
The organizers tried to harness the power of athletes’ cellphones for the light show. But there aren’t enough people in the crowd to really make it work.
Lots of songs tonight that are covers or instrumental nods to the hits you love. Like “Got to Be Real” by Cheryl Lynn.
Athletes are taking turns acting out their sports for the camera. Run in place, swish an imaginary basketball, lift the weight of the air.
There is no kiss cam, but athletes are just like us. When they realize they’re on camera in the stadium, they go a little nuts and ham it up.
OK, things are getting a bit more lively out there. Some athletes have decent moves.
Japanese Olympic officials boasted that the medals handed out at the Games were made from recycled materials harvested from used cellphones and other electronic devices. Recycling is a complicated art in Japan, with apartment buildings often requiring residents to divide their trash into tens of bins. Used batteries here, the Styrofoam that electronics came in there.
While a lack of tourists and a coronavirus state of emergency has limited the rubbish produced during the Games, Japan is normally a prodigious producer of trash: miles of wrappers from ubiquitous convenience stores, acres of wrapping paper from a gift-giving culture.
At least the country is committed to cleanliness. Japanese tend not to leave rubbish in stadiums. They pick up after themselves and even after others. Not that much tidying is needed at the Olympic Stadium tonight. There are almost no spectators here.
Here comes Japan, in their trademark fuschia.And the Australians have brought a blow-up kangaroo for the festivities.
Athletes often mug for the cameras as they come into the stadium for a ceremony. But they usually play to the crowd too. No point this year. Today, it’s all about the TV show.
An Azerbaijani athlete is enjoying the camera attention. The country won seven medals in Tokyo.
Just saw an American athlete wave at the camera and mouth “Hi Mom!” Without the pandemic, maybe her mother would be in the stands.
Normally at the closing ceremonies there is a.more clearly visible explosion of athlete joy on the field. I am sure Covid protocols are limiting things, so lot of people are just milling about chatting and filming each other on their cellphones.
Athletes from Lesotho, the only country (I believe) with a hat on the flag, come out with hats on.
The Swiss are owning the puce outfits.
Some of the athletes (i can’t make out which flag from this distance) are attired in full sweat suits, with what look like fairly thick hoodies. I am sleeveless and astonished.
The music is trying its best to enliven things. As are the Ethiopians.
Unlike at the opening ceremony, mask adherence seems better. Although a Ukrainian just made a run at the camera with no mask.
OK, we need a party motivator for these athletes. A bit of a somber walk into the stadium.
Unlike the opening ceremony, during which each country or territory marches individually, the parade of athletes has everyone march together in one big, hopefully happy scrum. The idea, dreamed up by a carpenter at the 1956 Games in Melbourne, was that we are one happy, global family united by our love of sports.
How could they show Tom Daley and not show him knitting?
The world’s most enduring dancers are back, clapping and bouncing in advance of the athletes.
Can we agree that Nepal’s flag is one of the coolest?
Fun flag facts: Indonesia’s flag is Poland’s upside down. Or vice versa. Indonesia’s flag is almost the same as Monaco’s but the Southeast Asian nation’s flag is longer.
Hannah, please sign me up for your fun flag facts newsletter!
Esta nota es parte de la red de Wepolis y fué publicada por Marcelo Lamadrid el 2021-08-08 12:25:50 en:
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