T Minus 100...and counting...torched (?)

On your mark...Mark your calendars, for this represents the day from which we count down 100 days until the (postponed) '2020' Olympics to be held in Tokyo, Japan. I've written about the significance of the postponement as well as the Olympics in general in previous posts, but this is an important update, highlighting the significance for those of us in these parts of of our globe, Japan in particular, as well as the world at large. Social, financial, and psychological implications of Olympic proportions (groan!).

T is for...in countdown lingo, the sequence of backward counting to indicate the time remaining before an event is to occur. NASA employs the terms "L-minus" and "T-minus" during the launch prep, and even "E-minus for events that involve craft already in space...where "T" stands for  "Test" or "Time". In our case, I am taking editorial license and being even more inclusive (or expansive, if you like), and include T for Tokyo, as well as torch, trials, and tribulations. In addition to the clock in Tokyo, we have the "trial" clock(s) closer to home--one located in Omaha, Nebraska, and one in Eugene, Oregon, where the swimming and track and field trials are due to occur, respectively, while all eyes remain on Tokyo...

Torched: Relayed, Delayed...the torch in question, a symbol of both the ancient and modern Olympics, was lit at the Temple of Hera, the sacred site of Ancient Olympics in Greece on March 12, 2020, and arrived in Japan on March 20, 2020, where it has been keeping warm for the last year throughout the postponement due to COVID-19. The (postponed) relay then finally began on March 25th, 2021 at the prefecture of Fukushima (you'll no doubt remember this was the site that was heavily damaged on 3/11/11, due to an earthquake, subsequent tsunami, and nuclear meltdown)...for the first time in history the torch will be fueled by hydrogen during some of the journey...torchbearers (who will not be required to wear masks whereas observers are) will be outfitted with uniforms made from recycled plastic bottles provided by one of the perennial Olympic sponsors, Coca-Cola...I wonder whether they could also provide a special mask with breathing oxygen-hydrogen exchange mechanisms the runners could don, at least while cruising by the meltdown site (otherwise, they're likely going to have to sign off on a consent form of Olympic proportions....).

Cheers, Jeers, Tears...On this particular torch drive, those turning out to either offer shouts of encouragement or to ward them off (more on this later) are themselves discouraged from vocal projections and encouraged instead to simply wave (or other hand signals that come to mind, I guess). Sign of the times, of course. Participants represent may symbolic accomplishments, both of an athletic and societal nature and are too many to list, but those wanting to see if you know any can easily find it on the official website; I always find it interesting. 

Stakeholders, Steakholders, Clash of the Titans: This particular Olympics has re-illuminated the many factions who are significantly impacted by this every four year event with a global audience, ranging from the host country/region (in the billions, with many CV postponement added costs this time, whether or not they pull it off), the athletes themselves, the TV network and sponsors, and the HUGE number of services, venues, and employees, including, of course, Japanese steakhouses! Many articles of great breadth and depth covering this over the past several months and, of course, this morning. Highly complex, highly important to all those with a vested interest...

A (Olympic Village) House Divided: Great, another reason for divisiveness! This one involves an evolutionary shift in Japan itself, where initially cheers could be heard across the oceans when the IOC awarded the 2020 Olympics to Tokyo, where the most recent survey of any credibility reported that 75% of the citizens now think it's about the last thing they would want, a huge influx of foreigners, when only a small percentage of its citizens have been vaccinated and they have passed 500,000 COVID cases...the athletes themselves have ranged from the "you can't make me" to the "you can't stop me" camps. 

Stay Tuned: Whether to NBC, who paid a handsome sum to cover this (and who, while publicly endorsing the safety of the athletes and citizens, is quietly cheering for guess what outcome?), or other broadcasts today, as we approach our U.S. Olympic trials in June (where I always tune in, as I have shared before, as this is where you see hundreds of well qualified athletes who don't quite make it and shed tears of both sadness and joy, the latter for the experience of making it this far, no regrets)...we certainly haven't heard or seen the last of it.

"100, 99, 98..." I have an Olympic countdown calendar with a cookie under each date, so it's a win-win!