Unique Olympic Starts

On the opposite side of the planet, a global sports festival began. The opening ceremony of Rio de Janeiro Olympic was held in Maracanã Stadium with athletes from 205 countries or regions, the biggest number in the history of Olympic. Cerebrating the first Olympic on the continent of South America, the people expected seventeen days of the world united as one.

Diversity is the main concept of Rio de Janeiro Olympic. Brazil has been positive in accepting immigrants, consisting one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. Native Amerindians, Europeans or Africans are living in the country with certain harmony, which is totally different from the social situation in the country of next Olympic in 2020. One Japanese newscaster quoted the words of “cerebrate difference” as a key word of Brazilian spirit.

There are many things new in Rio de Janeiro Olympic. International Olympic Committee organized a team of refugees with ten athletes from Syria, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo or Ethiopia. Yusra Mardini is a swimmer from Damascus, Syria. She pushed with swimming a plastic boat with twenty refugees on board to Greece in Mediterranean Sea, when she evacuated her home country. “I represent all refugees to persuade them that any difficulties or storms will be ceased,” told Mardini.

One major country, Russia, was excluded from Rio de Janeiro Olympic amidst of doping scandal, also marking uniqueness of the event. Doping of Russian athletes was too organized to attribute it to some evil athletes. To enhance national prestige, some countries do not hesitate choosing ethically inappropriate measures. This is degradation of spirit of Olympic.

In the speech in opening ceremony, IOC President, Thomas Bach, required all athletes to protect the value of Olympic games. Referring to uncertain situation of the world covered with crisis and distrust, Bach insisted that true value of Olympic was for the athletes from every corner of the world to spend days in an athletes’ village and recognize each other.

For Japan, it is not easy to emphasize ethnic diversity inside the nation. However, the government of Japan is preparing for building a showcase of coexistence of indigenous people and the Japanese. As shown in an attitude to the people in Okinawa, where an independent kingdom existed until one and a half century ago, Japanese government is not good at treating ethnic minority. The point for Tokyo Olympic 2020 would be how it can learn lessons from Rio de Janeiro.