The Olympic flame was extinguished in Tokyo last night. Many have asked me in the leadup and during the games how Japan has been feeling about it all. Let me share my personal perspective. 

Don’t get me wrong. The Olympics were still a magical moment for Japan and something that we can all be proud of. Japan ended the games with its largest medal haul ever. Countless touching stories of victory and loss. The magic was certainly here. But it could have been so much more and it’s important to recognize what Japan lost.

A once in a generation chance to welcome the world

Being able to welcome the world with open arms during the Olympics is one of the proudest moments for a generation and it forms collective national pride that is passed on for many more generations to come. It’s also a chance for the host country and its people to meet folks from all around the world, share in each others cultures and make connections and memories that last a lifetime. Sadly, Japan was pretty much denied this opportunity.

For the 50K+ athletes, officials and journalists that Japan was able to welcome, they did so with the hospitality they are so famous for. This is the hospitality that embraced me when I first ventured here at the age of 13 and it ignited a lifelong affection for this remarkable country. Many journalists and athletes echo this feeling of being welcomed in a way you just don’t experience in other places. Japanese hospitality is so unique that its local term - Omotenashi - is now widely recognized abroad. The Michelin guide sums it up pretty well.

Unfortunately the world couldn’t come. And this was such a tragic loss for Japan. Originally expecting 40M visitors during 2020, it was a once in a generation opportunity for Japan to have the world discover its magic and meet its hospitable people. 

Experiencing the magic first hand

Getting to see all the Olympic magic in-person inspires people is a way the television can’t. This isn’t just for those that got tickets to actually Olympic matches, but for anyone that goes out on the town to see the city beating with energy and passion. Vancouver came to life in a way we didn’t know it could and allowed everyone to feel the magic of the Olympics and a bond with your fellow city and country people that didn’t exist before. This experience is especially meaningful for children and is often a catalyst for many of them to pursue their dreams with a determination and passion they didn’t know was possible.

Sure we were able to get some of this magic from our homes, but it pains me to know just how much Japan lost as a result of this socially distanced, vistor-less and almost fully spectator-less Olympics. I can only hope that the little magic our kids were able to experience in our homes is enough for them to look back on this moment with fondness and pride. 

A bittersweet loss - hopefully not totally in vain

Could something different have been done to salvage a more normal Olympics for Japan? Should have the games been further postponed, or even cancelled? All questions that will probably be debated for years to come. And what is done has been done. The Olympics happened and Japan held its head high and delivered something that was magical and worthy of a lot of pride. 

But the sad reality doesn’t change: its people, especially its children, were robbed of the true magic of being a host city/country. 

As the IOC, broadcasters and Olympians from all around the world celebrate (and profit from) a successful games, they may also want to take a few moments to truly recognize what their host Japan lost and all that it sacrificed. Looking through the various articles in the Western media and Athletes’/National Olympic Committees Twitter accounts I haven’t seen much of that yet unfortunately.

So all I can say now is, let’s make sure we collectively thank our gracious hosts and give them and their children reason to be super proud of what Japan did.