thependulumswings

There’s no time like the present unless you want to wait a year.  And, time heals all wounds unless it doesn’t.  And so it goes for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics as they will officially open in 24 hours.  It’s 2021, but better late than never.

And for many, the Olympics is about to start(maybe), or is over, or started and nearly over before it officially starts.  Got that?

For one the Olympics were over before they started. American Sha’Carri Richardson qualified for the women’s 100-meter dash and was expected to be on the 4×100 meter relay team as well.  She failed a drug test for marijuana and will watch(or not) from the U.S.

Her error seems awfully insignificant compared to what follows.

For one it ended right before it started. Organizing committee president Seiko Hashimoto said a day ahead of the opening ceremony that its opening ceremony director, Kentaro Kobayashi, has been dismissed. Kobayashi used a joke about the Holocaust in his 1998 comedy act, including the phrase “Let’s play Holocaust.”  1998 is a long time ago, but some things should never be forgotten or trivialized.

Out goes the music composer for the opening as well.  Earlier this week, composer Keigo Oyamada, whose music was to be used at the ceremony, was forced to resign because of past bullying of his classmates, which he boasted about in magazine interviews. The segment of his music will not be used.

For the fans, it’s must-see TV because it’s must stay away due to the latest pandemic concerns.  The ceremony will be held without spectators as a measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus infections, although some officials, guests, and media will attend.  Maybe some officials, guests, and media types don’t spread the disease?

On Thursday(Japan is 12 hours ahead of the US) the positive Covid cases in Japan soared to heights not seen since January 15th with nearly 2000 cases.  The country’s population is 126 million.  if you are wondering what 2000/126,000,000 is, it’s 1.5 people per 100,000.  Extrapolated over a week and it’s 1 in 10,000.  Better safe than sorry “they” say.

For the USWNT (United States Women’s National Soccer Team) the games have started before the opening ceremony.  And, after kneeling before the start of the opener, their 3-0 loss to Sweden in match one has the team with 44 wins in a row prior in a must-win situation.  They’ll most likely need to win out to advance to the medal round.

Politically charged player Megan Rapinoe called it “do or die mode.”  Maybe she should have visited the White House four years ago when she and her teammates won gold and were invited to.

Meanwhile.  “We are going to have the opening ceremony tomorrow, and yes, I am sure there are a lot of people who are not feeling easy about the opening of the Games,” Organizing Committee President Seiko Hashimoto said.

Let the games(Olympic or otherwise) begin, continue, or end.

It’s 2021, but is it better never than late?