Exciting week of The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games… Besides my daily morning routine commitment, I am so spoiled with the luxury of time to follow many of the sports events live broadcast for the rest of the days.
It has been an emotional roller coaster ride just watching those games, and more so when there is a specific country that you are rooting to win. Tons of screams, tears and shadow commentary of “oh no, why ….” ; “oh yeah hooray…” and the intensity built up exponentially into the final moments when the match was a really close fight.
Great Sportsmanship
I cannot imagine the mental pressure these athletes have to handle but what certainly stands out is their great sportsmanship.
These athletes trained many years just to make it to the centre stage and they all have only one goal in mind, which is to WIN. They played to their level best, did not give up even knowing they were on the losing streak and always had a positive attitude till the very last point. Despite the emotional pain and disappointment from losing, they respected their opponent and graciously accepted the game outcome with a friendly handshake at the end.
My heart goes out to those athletes who were unfortunately tested Covid positive and could not proceed with the competition. No words can describe their disappointments and we can only wish them well and safe through their recovery process.
My Bias
Covid19 has unfortunately disrupted Olympic 2020 and delayed it by a year to 2021. Candidly, like many others, I was originally concerned that the IOC has decided to proceed despite Tokyo being declared a state of emergency due to Covid19. Seeing those athletes in action, I can now appreciate the IOC decision to proceed. Besides economic and commercial reasons, they are also accountable to these athletes who have trained their entire life just to make it to this centre stage.
My heart also goes out to Japan who has to deal with the tremendous pressure and challenges to keep the games going and everyone safe. Credit to their determination to enforce very strict Covid19 protocols, stringent testing; mask and social distancing; restricted movements in public transportation and unprecedented events with no spectators.
Hence, I have a bias and have been rooting for Japan in many of the events. Many Japanese were extremely concerned with the Olympic proceeding given the risk of Covid spread and the potential burden on their health care system. I believe winning will at least help cheer up the entire nation !
Dreams Do Come True
In my first congratulatory message to my Japanese friend on Japan winning the Gold Medal for Table Tennis Women’s double, this was what he replied me :
“They made us very proud and are a huge encouragement to us knowing that we can make it happen. Dreams do come true if we continue to practice and try our best…” At the time of this writing, Japan has already won 15 Gold Medals (highest count in the game) with a total medal of 22.
Everything is possible.. if you believe in it and work hard for it !
Stay Safe Everyone !
Lyn 🌻😊
Glad that this event went on for the athletes who have been training for years. I cannot imagine the disappointment for them if the decision was otherwise. Enjoy watching Lyn!
Indeed, highest respect for Japan, the IOC and the athletes determination to make this happen…against all odds !
Thanks Lyn for writing this. I have the same feeling about whether Tokyo 2020 should have been allowed to proceed but seeing the various games and competitions, i am glad they did. Enjoying watching as well. Rooting for all underdogs hahaha..
Thank you Daniel ! Such an irony right.. and those people that make the decisions know it much better then us . And yes, I love rooting for the underdogs too !
Let me guess who your Japanese friend is
Am sure you can guess 🙂
I shared a story just yesterday with my team about an athlete who decides to step back from participating in the Olympics to deal with her injuries.
All of them made they sacrifices to be our national pride. They are all winners!
Agreed, they simply are our inspirations ! To make it to Olympics is already a huge win !
Great read as always. Only Japan could have pulled it off!
In many disciplines missing one Olympic cycle could mean missing forever and an end to their Olympic dreams. Such are the fitness demands at this level. Hence conducting during a pandemic is even more creditable and hats off to team Japan and IOC.
Japan is my favourite too, after India of course!!
Thanks Rajiv ! Yes, kudos indeed to all the athletes and the team in Japan and IOC !
Agree w your views. Tough minds tough hearts are what olympiads are made of.
Thanks Yam ! Yes tough is the word indeed…
Hi Lyn,
I am happy to find your blog after seeing you on LinkedIn. I too have time to watch the Olympics, and being an athlete myself, I can understand all the emotions of the competition (just not at the highest level). Now, imagine adding the excitement, stress, and expectations of representing your country on the world stage! My favorite moments are when the athletes show good sportsmanship toward one another. I believe even the best athletes in the world only make it this far because of the great sportsmanship they have within themselves.
Hi Carla, so happy to have you connected to my blog via LinkedIn. I really appreciate your comments here, especially sharing from the lens of an athlete yourself, it means a lot to me . So well said on sportsmanship within themselves, those qualities and human values are so pivotal to define their world class accomplishments and way beyond !
Agree with you on great sportsmanship! For me, watching the Tokyo Olympics is inspirational and heartwarming. The sportsmanship and outstanding achievement is remarkable. The triumph and the agony of defeat is for the most part overshadowed by the courage, commitment and aspiration to achieve excellence.
Spot on Talleah ! The journey is what makes an Olympian…there is so much we can learn from their journey even in our careers and daily lives…positive thoughts and actions, when get repeated will form into good habits which would develop into good character that will define success.
Hi Lyn so blessed and lucky able to follow many of the sports events live broadcast. 2021 olympics in Tokyo will be memorable despite a surge in covid cases in Japan. Japanese athletes have kept a low profile despite earn 21 record olympic gold medal so far. Yeah agree, Lyn what lessons can we learn from the Olympians who inspired us e.g. discipline, practice, commitment to your goal, sacrifice, keep strong and confident mind and right altitude.
Indeed, all these Olympian qualities are absolutely being tested at the highest level and boundaries pushed operating under strict protocols dealing with the Global Pandemic. Kudos to all of them, including Japan host country in making this significant event happened, against all odds.
Lyn, I was inspired by Singapore Yu Mengyu fighting spirit into the semi-final for table tennis woman single despite her injury and close to retirement. It’s not just about winning the medal, it’s the Olympic spirit to inspire and motivate! Love what your quote: “Everything is possible, if you believe in it and work hard for it!”
Very well said Jimmy ! I really like the way you sum up the Olympic spirit..there are thousands of Olympians out there who would not make it to the medal podium and they are already a great source of inspirations and motivations by just making it to centre stage.