So for the past 4.5 hours, I've been watching NBC's delayed broadcast of the opening ceremony for the 2020 Summer Olympics (yes, that year is still being used for these Games) in Tokyo, Japan.
Obviously, this ceremony would've been much more exciting if there was a full capacity of 68,000 people in the stands at Japan National Stadium...but it's amazing that these Games are even being played considering the fact the world is nowhere near reaching the end of the coronavirus pandemic.
There were some entertaining moments, nonetheless, with the obvious highlights being the Parade of Nations (Team USA consists of 613 athletes while Japan's delegation is made up of 631 competitors) and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron. Naomi Osaka—the 4-time Grand Slam champion and reigning US Open winner who feels that the mandatory post-game press conference is needlessly stressful—was the final torchbearer who lit the cauldron with the Olympic flame.
The Tokyo Games will last through August 8. And next year, those Commie goofballs in Beijing will host the 2022 Winter Games while Paris and Los Angeles will conduct the Summer Olympics in 2024 and 2028, respectively. As someone who lives in Southern California, guess which one I'm most excited for? Have a nice weekend.
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PS: The last time the Olympic Games were played in an odd-numbered year was 393 AD. Roman emperor Theodosius I, a Christian (well obviously), sought to ban all “pagan” festivals, ending the ancient Olympic tradition...which took place in Olympia, Greece every 4 years since 776 BC. What a killjoy. (Thanks for the trivia, History.com!)
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