On July 21, the Olympic Ring Sign in Tokyo Bay was lit. Xinhua News Agency
After a year more wait than ever, the 32nd Summer Olympics will finally open at the National Hippodrome in Tokyo, Japan, at night.
There is no doubt that this is the most special Olympic Games in the history of human sports: fully enclosed management, up to 700 pages of epidemic prevention manuals, most of the competitions will not have spectators, the winners have to receive their own medals... Coupled with the doubts of the Japanese people about the Olympic Games during the epidemic in the early stage, and the fact that many people in the relevant personnel of the recent games have tested positive for the new crown, many people may want to ask the same question:
Why are the Olympics being held at this time?
"If not now, when is it supposed to be?" Two-time Olympic triathlon gold medalist Aristel Brownley, British alike, asked back when asked this question. "Obviously, the Olympics didn't go as usual, which is a pity." "But I think given the environment we're in right now, it's going to be a fantastic victory, after all, it's going to be able to host the Olympics at this time, which is definitely much better than canceling the Olympics for athletes," he said. ”
In fact, because most of the professional athletes' training plans are strictly planned in accordance with the Olympic cycle, due to the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics in the past year, some elderly celebrities have lost the opportunity to stand on the Olympic stage again; some athletes have not been able to maintain the peak of sports, even if they come to Tokyo, it is difficult to achieve the desired results. But the Olympics has always been the highest dream of all athletes, and many of them may only have this one chance in their lives, and from this point of view, the significance of the Olympic Games will be extremely important.
Chinese gymnast Zhang Jin trains on balance beams on July 22. Xinhua News Agency
Ashley Barty, the first sister of women's tennis from the Australian team, came with a childhood dream. The WTA singles-ranked player, who is already number one, won the women's singles title at the recently concluded Wimbledon Open. Some people suggested that she did not have to rush to Tokyo at the risk of competing in the Olympics, an event that was not very highly regarded in professional tennis.
"I remember the feeling of being stunned when I was a kid and seeing Kathy Freeman in the women's 400m final at the Sydney Olympics." Barty was only 4 years old at the time, and Freeman's ability to sprint in the last 100 meters of the 400 meters also shocked the world, "She is the person who has inspired me the most in my sports career." The idea of participating in the Olympics was also planted in the mind of Barty Jr. from then on, so under the momentum of a group of women's tennis superstars quitting the Olympic Games, Barty was the first person to determine a certain participation, "I must not miss this." She said.
Zeng Wenhui, a member of the Chinese skateboarding team and an athlete from Guangdong, is in training on July 22. Xinhua News Agency
The participation of top athletes has been the main reason for the Olympic motto, but this year to better respond to the post-pandemic era, the IOC voted on Tuesday to add a new word, "more united," after the old Olympic motto, "Faster, Higher, Stronger."
"At present, we need to unite even more, not only to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, but also to deal with the huge challenges we face." IOC President Bach explained, "Today's world depends on each other, and individuals alone can no longer solve these challenges. So I'm proposing that in order to be faster, higher, stronger, we need to work together, we need to be more united. ”
The new maxim "Faster, higher, stronger – more united" was echoed by athletes. "The Olympics have always brought the world together, and I think that's something we need more than ever, for all of us to come together and connect with each other." Adam Petty, the world record holder in the men's 100m breaststroke, said he also hadn't competed in nearly a year, but he hopes to put his best comeback at the Olympics, which is to challenge his own world record in Tokyo. "I remember last year when the pandemic started, all the matches were cancelled, we didn't see the spectators, the training was interrupted... And now that I can get back on the field and show myself to the fullest, to show the side of those who have gone through bad days but remain optimistic and continue to challenge themselves, I believe that everyone can draw strength from it. ”
On November 3, 2018, uzbekistan's Chusovykina finished fourth with 14.300 points in the women's vault final at the 48th Gymnastics World Championships in Doha. The 46-year-old will play at the Olympics for the eighth time and serve as the flag bearer of uzbekistan's delegation. Xinhua News Agency
This strength belongs not only to people who love sports, but also to all mankind - in this Olympic Games, you will accompany the 46-year-old Chusovkina to cross the Vault on the Olympic field for the eighth time and admire the strength of a mother; you will also applaud rama Ali, the first Somali boxer in history to participate in the Olympic Games, a girl with the same surname as The Boxer Ali who played wild boxing in the London underground park 5 weeks ago to save money; of course, you will look forward to the safe victory of all participants and an early reunion with their long-separated relatives. No longer have to be separated from his young daughter by the fence like gymnastics assistant Teng Haibin...
"No matter how long this dark tunnel is, we will walk together to the end, and the Olympic flame is the light at the end of the tunnel." So why do we need the Olympics? This quote from Chairman Bach is the answer.
Nandu reporter Wang Yayun