Review of Tokyo 2020(1) Tokyo brought many other issues to the forefront and will leave a long-term legacy for the sports movement, whether it be Simone Biles withdrawing due to the ‘twisties’ and the ensuing debate about athlete mental health, or the need to rein in the increasing trends of cyber bullying on social media platforms.
Tokyo became a memorable and successful Olympic Games, but for very different reasons than originally envisaged. With an atmosphere drained of the traditional pomp and full of anxiety, the attention turned fully onto the athletes and their Olympic journey, one of survival and resilience. Theirs was a journey not that different from the journey of the Olympic Movement itself: its ability to survive over the past 120 years, no matter what challenges have been thrown at it.
Published Sports Business International, 2021.