2020 Summer Olympics

{{Short description|Multi-sport event in Tokyo, Japan}} {{Redirect-multi|4|Tokyo 2020|Tokyo 2021|2020 Olympics|2021 Olympics||2020 Summer Paralympics|and|2020 Winter Youth Olympics}} {{Use American English|date=July 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}  {{Infobox Olympic games|2020|Summer|Olympics| |image = 2020 Summer Olympics logo new.svg |image_size = 160 |caption = Emblem of the 2020 Summer Olympics{{Efn|The new emblem, created by Asao Tokolo, was introduced at the closing ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics in [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil. Made by checkboards, it expresses a refined elegance and sophistication that exemplifies Japan. Previously, the original emblem, made by Kenjirō Sano, was scrapped after his design was found to have plagiarized the logo of [[Théâtre de Liège]], a Belgian theatre company.}} |host_city = Tokyo, Japan |motto = ''United by Emotion''{{efn|Only an English motto was used during the Games. There was no Japanese equivalent of the motto adopted.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tokyo2020.org/en/news/united-by-emotion-to-be-the-tokyo-2020-games-motto|title='United by Emotion' to be the Tokyo 2020 Games Motto|publisher=[[Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games]]|website=Tokyo2020.org|date=17 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313010742/https://tokyo2020.org/en/news/united-by-emotion-to-be-the-tokyo-2020-games-motto|archive-date=13 March 2020}}</ref>}} |nations = 206 (including [[IOC Refugee Olympic Team at the 2020 Summer Olympics|EOR]] and [[Russian Olympic Committee|ROC]] teams) |athletes = 11,319 (5,910 men, 5,409 women)<ref name="Kyodo 20220621">{{cite news|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/06/09ef8c31ec70-olympics-tokyo-games-cost-totals-142-tril-yen-twice-bid-figure.html|title=Olympics: Tokyo Games cost totals 1.42 tril. yen, twice bid figure|date=21 June 2022|work=[[Kyodo News]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621160709/https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/06/09ef8c31ec70-olympics-tokyo-games-cost-totals-142-tril-yen-twice-bid-figure.html|archive-date=21 June 2022|url-status=live|quote=A total of 11,420 athletes took part in the Tokyo Olympics and a record-high 4,403 at the Paralympics, the organizers said.}}</ref> |events = 339 in 33 [[Olympic sports|sports]] (51 disciplines) |opening = {{date|2021-07-23|DMY}} |closing = {{date|2021-08-08|DMY}} |opened_by = [[Emperor Naruhito]] |closed_by = [[President of the International Olympic Committee|IOC president]] [[Thomas Bach]] |cauldron = [[Naomi Osaka]] |stadium = [[Japan National Stadium]]{{Efn|Named "Olympic Stadium" during the games.}} |summer_prev = [[2016 Summer Olympics|Rio 2016]] |summer_next = [[2024 Summer Olympics|Paris 2024]] |winter_prev = [[2018 Winter Olympics|Pyeongchang 2018]] |winter_next = [[2022 Winter Olympics|Beijing 2022]] }} {{2020 Summer Olympics}}

The {{nihongo foot|'''2020 Summer Olympics'''|2020年夏季オリンピック|Nisen Nijū-nen Kaki Orinpikku|lead=yes |group=lower-alpha|post=,}} officially the {{nihongo foot|'''Games of the XXXII Olympiad'''|第三十二回オリンピック競技大会|Dai Sanjūni-kai Orinpikku Kyōgi Taikai|group=lower-alpha}} and officially branded as {{nihongo foot|'''Tokyo 2020'''|東京2020|Tōkyō Nii Zero Nii Zero|group=lower-alpha|post=,}} were an international [[multi-sport event]] held from July 23 to August 8, 2021, in [[Tokyo]], Japan, with some of the preliminary sporting events beginning on July 21, 2021. Tokyo was selected as the [[List of Olympic Games host cities|host city]] during the [[125th IOC Session]] in [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina, on September 7, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|date=7 September 2013|title=Olympics 2020: Tokyo wins race to host Games|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/olympics/24002795|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205031153/https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/24002795|archive-date=5 February 2016|access-date=13 February 2018|work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

Originally scheduled to take place from July 24 to August 9, 2020, the Tokyo Games were postponed until 2021 on March 24, 2020 as a result of the global [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the first such postponement in the history of the [[Olympic Games]] (some previous editions had been cancelled but not rescheduled).<ref name="LATimes24032020">{{cite web|title=Olympics history: Have the Games been postponed before?|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/story/2020-03-24/olympics-history-tokyo-games-postponed|date=24 March 2020|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329004624/https://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/story/2020-03-24/olympics-history-tokyo-games-postponed|archive-date=29 March 2020|access-date=29 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=García-Hodges |first1=Ahiza |last2=Talmazan |first2=Yuliya |last3=Yamamoto |first3=Arata |date=2020-03-24 |title=Tokyo 2020 Olympics postponed over coronavirus concerns |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/tokyo-2020-olympics-postponed-over-coronavirus-concerns-n1165046 |website=[[NBC News]]}}</ref> However, the '''Tokyo 2020''' branding was retained for marketing purposes.<ref name=":5">Multiple sources: *{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/reason-why-olympics-2021-will-still-called-olympic-2020-games-1494333|title=The Reason why Olympics in 2021 will still be called the 2020 Olympic Games|first=Scott|last=McDonald|date=25 March 2020|website=[[Newsweek]]|access-date=30 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401220902/https://www.newsweek.com/reason-why-olympics-2021-will-still-called-olympic-2020-games-1494333|archive-date=1 April 2020|url-status=live}} *{{cite news|last1=Denyer|first1=Simon|last2=Maese|first2=Rick|date=20 March 2021|title=Tokyo Olympics organizers ban spectators from outside Japan in pandemic-control measure|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/dtokyo-olympics-torch-begins-journey-through-japan-as-organizers-ban-outside-fans/2021/03/20/f8588344-8335-11eb-be22-32d331d87530_story.html|access-date=20 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320125930/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/dtokyo-olympics-torch-begins-journey-through-japan-as-organizers-ban-outside-fans/2021/03/20/f8588344-8335-11eb-be22-32d331d87530_story.html|archive-date=20 March 2021}} *{{cite web|date=8 July 2021|title=Spectators banned from most Olympic events as Covid emergency declared|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/08/tokyo-to-be-put-under-state-of-emergency-for-duration-of-2020-olympic-games|access-date=8 July 2021|website=The Guardian|last1=Ingle|first1=Sean|last2=McCurry|first2=Justin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711182858/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/08/tokyo-to-be-put-under-state-of-emergency-for-duration-of-2020-olympic-games|archive-date=11 July 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> The events were largely held [[Behind closed doors (sport)|behind closed doors]] with no public spectators permitted due to the declaration of a state of emergency in the [[Greater Tokyo Area]] in response to the pandemic, the only Olympic Games to be held without official spectators.{{efn|Overseas spectators were first banned in March 2021, followed by residents of Japan in July of that year to avoid any risk of a [[superspreading event]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/08/world/asia/tokyo-state-of-emergency-olympics.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210708084119/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/08/world/asia/tokyo-state-of-emergency-olympics.html |archive-date=2021-07-08 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title='Spectators Will Be Barred at Tokyo Olympics Amid New Covid Emergency|website=The New York Times|date=8 July 2021|last1=Dooley|first1=Ben}}</ref>}} As a consequence of the postponement and the additional challenges caused by the pandemic, the 2020 Games were the most costly ever, with a total expenditure of over $20 billion.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cervantes|first=Alberto|date=2021-07-23|title=The Tokyo Olympics' Staggering Price Tag and Where It Stands in History|language=en-US|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-tokyo-olympics-staggering-price-tag-and-where-it-stands-in-history-11627049612|access-date=2021-11-07|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=13 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113010645/https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-tokyo-olympics-staggering-price-tag-and-where-it-stands-in-history-11627049612|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 2020 Games were the fourth Olympics to be held in Japan, following the [[1964 Summer Olympics]] (Tokyo), the [[1972 Winter Olympics]] ([[Sapporo]]), and the [[1998 Winter Olympics]] ([[Nagano (city)|Nagano]]). Tokyo became the first city in [[Asia]] to hold the [[Summer Olympic Games]] twice.{{Efn|Tokyo was set to host the [[1940 Summer Olympics]] but pulled out in 1938 due to the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/03/24/1940-tokyo-olympics-postponed-coronavirus/|title='This isn't the first time Olympics in Japan have been disrupted|newspaper=The Washington Post|first1=Gillian|last1=Brockell|date=24 March 2020|access-date=8 August 2021|archive-date=25 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525203828/https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/03/24/1940-tokyo-olympics-postponed-coronavirus/|url-status=live}}</ref>}} The 2020 Games were the second of three consecutive Olympics to be held in [[East Asia]], following the [[2018 Winter Olympics]] in [[Pyeongchang County|Pyeongchang]], South Korea, and preceding the [[2022 Winter Olympics]] in [[Beijing]], China. Because of the one-year postponement, Tokyo 2020 is the only Olympic Games to have taken place in an odd-numbered year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2021/07/20/an-olympics-like-no-other-tokyo-perseveres-to-host-games/47804171/ |title=An Olympics like no other, Tokyo perseveres to host Games |publisher=Usatoday.com |date=2021-07-20 |access-date=2022-02-20 |archive-date=20 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220032848/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2021/07/20/an-olympics-like-no-other-tokyo-perseveres-to-host-games/47804171/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

New events were introduced in existing sports, including [[3x3 basketball]], [[freestyle BMX]], and mixed-gender team events in a number of existing sports, as well as the return of [[Madison (cycling)|madison cycling]] for men and an introduction of the same event for women. New [[IOC]] policies allowed the host city's organizing committee to add new sports to the [[Olympic sports|Olympic program]] for just one Games. The disciplines added by the [[Japanese Olympic Committee]] were [[Baseball at the 2020 Summer Olympics|baseball]] and [[Softball at the 2020 Summer Olympics|softball]], [[Karate at the 2020 Summer Olympics|karate]], [[Sport climbing at the 2020 Summer Olympics|sport climbing]], [[Surfing at the 2020 Summer Olympics|surfing]], and [[Skateboarding at the 2020 Summer Olympics|skateboarding]]; the last four of these were making their Olympic debuts, and the last three have remained on the Olympic program.<ref name="Japan Through the Lens of the Tokyo Olympics">{{cite book|last=Kremers|first=Daniel|title=Japan Through the Lens of the Tokyo Olympics|date=2020|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-00-303390-5|editor=Barbara Holthus|editor2=Isaac Gagné|editor3=Wolfram Manzenreiter|editor4=Franz Waldenberger|chapter=Outdoor sports in the periphery: Far from the compact games|doi=10.4324/9781003033905|doi-access=free}}</ref>

The [[United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics|United States]] topped the [[2020 Summer Olympics medal table|medal table]] both by gold (39) and total medals (113), with [[China at the 2020 Summer Olympics|China]] finishing second (38 and 89, respectively). Host nation [[Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics|Japan]] finished third, setting a record for the most gold and overall medals won by their delegation at an Olympic Games with 27 and 58, respectively. [[Great Britain at the 2020 Summer Olympics|Great Britain]] finished fourth, with 22 gold and 64 total medals. The [[Russian Olympic Committee athletes at the 2020 Summer Olympics|Russian delegation]], competing as the [[Russian Olympic Committee|ROC]], finished fifth with 20 gold medals and third in the overall medal count, with 71 medals. [[Bermuda at the 2020 Summer Olympics|Bermuda]], the [[Philippines at the 2020 Summer Olympics|Philippines]], and [[Qatar at the 2020 Summer Olympics|Qatar]] won their first-ever Olympic gold medals.<ref>{{cite news|date=26 July 2021|title=Flora Duffy wins Bermuda's first Olympic gold as GB's Georgia Taylor-Brown takes silver|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/flora-duffy-bermuda-triathlon-georgia-taylorbrown-tokyo-b1891052.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726234515/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/flora-duffy-bermuda-triathlon-georgia-taylorbrown-tokyo-b1891052.html |archive-date=2021-07-26 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|access-date=26 July 2021|website=The Independent|first1=Lawrence|last1=Ostlere}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Philippines Wins Its First Olympic Gold After Nearly 100 Years Of Trying|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/tokyo-olympics-live-updates/2021/07/26/1020710023/the-philippines-wins-its-first-ever-olympic-gold-after-nearly-100-years-of-tryin|date=26 July 2021|last1=Chappell|first1=Bill|access-date=26 July 2021|website=NPR.org|archive-date=25 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425000112/https://www.npr.org/sections/tokyo-olympics-live-updates/2021/07/26/1020710023/the-philippines-wins-its-first-ever-olympic-gold-after-nearly-100-years-of-tryin|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Weightlifter Meso wins Qatar's first ever Olympic gold medal|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1111041/weightlifter-meso-qatar-olympics-gold|access-date=31 July 2021|website=[[Inside the Games]]|last1=Oliver|first1=Brian|date=31 July 2021|archive-date=31 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731135251/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1111041/weightlifter-meso-qatar-olympics-gold|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Burkina Faso at the 2020 Summer Olympics|Burkina Faso]], [[San Marino at the 2020 Summer Olympics|San Marino]], and [[Turkmenistan at the 2020 Summer Olympics|Turkmenistan]] also won their first-ever Olympic medals.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://punchng.com/breaking-hugues-zango-wins-burkina-fasos-first-ever-olympic-medal/|title=Hugues Zango wins Burkina Faso's first-ever Olympic medal|newspaper=[[The Punch]]|date=5 August 2021|last=Oyeleke|first=Sodiq|access-date=5 August 2021|archive-date=5 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805044421/https://punchng.com/breaking-hugues-zango-wins-burkina-fasos-first-ever-olympic-medal/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=San Marino wins first Olympic medal in nation's history|url=https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/san-marino-wins-first-olympic-medal-nations-history|access-date=29 July 2021|website=nbcolympics.com|language=en|date=29 July 2021|last1=Mercer|first1=Bryan|archive-date=15 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215113726/https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/san-marino-wins-first-olympic-medal-nations-history|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/2020-tokyo-olympics-sports-health-coronavirus-pandemic-turkmenistan-c197b8c867bca8ffa2902a830e60d573|title=Weightlifter Guryeva wins Turkmenistan's 1st Olympic medal|website=APNews|date=27 July 2021|last=Ellingworth|first=James|access-date=27 July 2021|archive-date=31 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331141850/https://apnews.com/article/2020-tokyo-olympics-sports-health-coronavirus-pandemic-turkmenistan-c197b8c867bca8ffa2902a830e60d573|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Bidding process == {{Main|Bids for the 2020 Summer Olympics}}

The three candidate cities were [[Tokyo bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics|Tokyo]], [[Istanbul bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics|Istanbul]], and [[Madrid bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics|Madrid]]. The applicant cities of [[Baku bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics|Baku]] and [[Doha bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics|Doha]] were not promoted to candidate status. A [[Rome bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics|bid from Rome]] was withdrawn.<ref name=":6">{{cite web|date=2021-04-27|title=Olympic Host City Election {{!}} From Candidate to Host City|url=https://olympics.com/ioc/2020-host-city-election|access-date=2021-08-08|website=International Olympic Committee|language=en|archive-date=8 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808074714/https://olympics.com/ioc/2020-host-city-election|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Host city selection === The [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC) voted to select the host city of the 2020 Summer Olympics on September 7, 2013, at the [[125th IOC Session]] in [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina, using an [[exhaustive ballot]] system.<ref name=":6" /> None of the candidate cities won more than 50% of the votes in the first round; Madrid and Istanbul were tied for second place, so a runoff vote was held to determine which of the two cities would be eliminated. The final vote was a head-to-head contest between Tokyo and Istanbul. Tokyo was selected by 60 votes to 36, gaining at least the 49 votes required for a majority.<ref name=":6" />

== Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic == {{Main|COVID-19 cases at the 2020 Summer Olympics and 2020 Summer Paralympics|List of athletes not attending the 2020 Summer Olympics due to COVID-19 concerns}} {{See also|COVID-19 pandemic in Japan|Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports}} [[File:Shibuya Crossing 2020-04-19 (2).jpg|thumb|Few pedestrians on the [[Shibuya Crossing]] during the state of emergency in the middle of Japan's [[Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan|first wave]] of the COVID-19 pandemic, early 2020]] In January 2020, concerns were raised about the potential impact of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] on athletes and visitors to the Summer Olympic Games.<ref name=":10">{{cite news|last=Swift|first=Rocky|title=Coronavirus spotlights Japan contagion risks as Olympics loom|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-2020-china-virus/coronavirus-spotlights-japan-contagion-risks-as-olympics-loom-idUSKBN1ZM0YJ|access-date=23 January 2020|work=[[Reuters]]|date=23 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124225619/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-2020-china-virus/coronavirus-spotlights-japan-contagion-risks-as-olympics-loom-idUSKBN1ZM0YJ|archive-date=24 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Tokyo organizers and the International Olympic Committee insisted they were monitoring the spread of the disease to minimize its effects on preparations for the Olympics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/01/tokyo-2020-organisers-fight-false-rumours-olympics-cancelled-over-coronavirus-crisis|title=Tokyo 2020 organisers fight false rumours Olympics cancelled over coronavirus crisis|first=Justin|last=McCurry|date=1 February 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=20 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419143926/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/01/tokyo-2020-organisers-fight-false-rumours-olympics-cancelled-over-coronavirus-crisis|archive-date=19 April 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> The IOC stated that in 2020, their Japanese partners and Prime Minister [[Shinzo Abe]] "made it very clear that Japan could not manage a postponement beyond next summer [2021] at the latest".<ref>{{cite web|date=2 June 2021|title=Frequently Asked Questions about the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 – Olympic News|url=https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc/tokyo-2020-q-a|access-date=6 June 2021|website=International Olympic Committee|archive-date=6 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606125455/https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc/tokyo-2020-q-a|url-status=live}}</ref> Unlike the [[Concerns and controversies at the 2016 Summer Olympics#Zika virus|case for Zika virus]] during the [[2016 Summer Olympics]] in Rio de Janeiro, [[Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2|SARS-CoV-2]] can be transmitted directly between humans, posing tougher challenges for the organizers to counteract the infectious disease and host a safe and secure event.<ref name=":10" /> Also unlike the [[Concerns and controversies at the 2010 Winter Olympics#H1N1 pandemic|case for H1N1 "swine flu"]] during the [[2010 Winter Olympics]] in Vancouver, COVID-19 has a higher fatality rate, and there was no [[COVID-19 vaccine|effective vaccine]] until December 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/tokyo-2020-olympics-postponed-over-coronavirus-concerns-n1165046|title=Tokyo 2020 Olympics postponed over coronavirus concerns|first1=Ahiza|last1=García-Hodges|first2=Yuliya|last2=Talmazan|first3=Arata|last3=Yamamoto|date=24 March 2020|website=[[NBCNews.com]]|access-date=5 August 2020|archive-date=25 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725084435/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/tokyo-2020-olympics-postponed-over-coronavirus-concerns-n1165046|url-status=live}}</ref> In a February 2020 interview, [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[2020 London mayoral election|London mayoral candidate]] [[Shaun Bailey (London politician)|Shaun Bailey]] argued that London would be able to host the Olympic Games at the former [[Venues of the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics|2012 Olympic venues]] should the Games need to be moved because of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cityam.com/exclusive-bailey-calls-for-london-to-host-olympics-if-coronavirus-forces-move/|title=Exclusive: Bailey calls for London to host Olympics if coronavirus forces Tokyo move|last=Silvester|first=Andy|date=18 February 2020|newspaper=[[City A.M.]]|access-date=20 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219125316/https://www.cityam.com/exclusive-bailey-calls-for-london-to-host-olympics-if-coronavirus-forces-move/|archive-date=19 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Governor of Tokyo|Tokyo Governor]] [[Yuriko Koike]] criticized Bailey's comment as inappropriate.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Slodkowski |first=Antoni |date=February 21, 2020 |title=Tokyo governor criticizes suggestion that London could host 2020 Olympics |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/sports/tokyo-governor-criticizes-suggestion-that-london-could-host-2020-olympics-idUSKBN20F0N6/ |access-date=December 24, 2024 |work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> In early 2021, officials in the US state of [[Florida]] offered to host the delayed Games in their state, while [[John Coates (sports administrator)|John Coates]], the IOC vice president in charge of the Tokyo Olympics, said the Games would open even if the city and other parts of Japan were under a state of emergency because of COVID-19.<ref>{{cite web|title=Florida offers to host Olympics if Tokyo backs out: state official|url=https://japantoday.com/category/sports/florida-offers-to-host-olympics-if-tokyo-backs-out-state-official|access-date=27 January 2021|website=Japan Today|date=26 January 2021|last1=Fong|first1=Philip|archive-date=26 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126203534/https://japantoday.com/category/sports/florida-offers-to-host-olympics-if-tokyo-backs-out-state-official|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Tokyo Olympics Will Be Held Even If Japan Emergency Continues, IOC Official Insists|url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/tokyo-olympics-japan-will-be-held-state-of-emergency-ioc-1234762448/|access-date=23 May 2021|website=Deadline|date=22 May 2021|last1=Haring|first1=Bruce|archive-date=23 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523010851/https://deadline.com/2021/05/tokyo-olympics-japan-will-be-held-state-of-emergency-ioc-1234762448/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Estimates by the [[National Institute of Infectious Diseases (Japan)|National Institute of Infectious Diseases]] and [[Kyoto University]] predicted that states of emergency might be required during the Games.<ref>{{cite web|title=東京五輪中に緊急事態宣言が必要になる可能性も...厚労省の専門家組織会合で試算結果＜新型コロナ＞：東京新聞 TOKYO Web|url=https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/110884|trans-title=There is a possibility that a state of emergency may be required during the Tokyo Olympics ... Estimated results at an expert organization meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare|access-date=16 June 2021|website=東京新聞 TOKYO Web|language=ja|date=16 June 2021|archive-date=16 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616023631/https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/110884|url-status=live}}</ref> The reports published at the Ministry of Health experts' panel also showed new patients increasing to 10,000 if the Games were to allow spectators.<ref>{{cite news|last=共同通信|date=16 June 2021|title=五輪観客入れると感染者1万人増も｜共同通信|url=https://nordot.app/777740773507170304|trans-title=The number of infected people will increase by 10,000 when the Olympic spectators are included|access-date=16 June 2021|website=共同通信|trans-website=Kyodo news|language=ja|archive-date=16 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616034658/https://nordot.app/777740773507170304|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Qualifying event cancellation and postponement ===

Concerns about the pandemic began to affect qualifying events in early 2020. Some that were due to take place in February were moved to alternative locations to address concerns about traveling to the affected areas, particularly China. For example, the [[2020 FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments – Belgrade 2|women's basketball qualification]] was played in [[Belgrade]], Serbia, instead of [[Foshan]], China.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fiba.basketball/news/fiba-women%E2%80%99s-olympic-qualifying-tournament-relocated-to-belgrade-serbia|title=FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament relocated to Belgrade, Serbia|date=27 January 2020|website=fiba.basketball|publisher=[[International Basketball Federation|FIBA]]|access-date=15 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201131525/http://www.fiba.basketball/news/fiba-women%E2%80%99s-olympic-qualifying-tournament-relocated-to-belgrade-serbia|archive-date=1 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[2020 Asia & Oceania Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament|Asia & Oceania boxing qualification tournament]], which was originally planned to be held from February 3–14 in [[Wuhan]], China (the location of the original outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic), instead took place in [[Amman]], Jordan, at the beginning of March.<ref>{{cite news|title=Olympic boxing qualifiers moved to Jordan|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/01/25/more-sports/boxing-2/olympic-boxing-qualifiers-moved-jordan/|access-date=25 January 2020|website=[[The Japan Times]]|agency=[[Reuters]]|date=25 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125123315/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/01/25/more-sports/boxing-2/olympic-boxing-qualifiers-moved-jordan/|archive-date=25 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The third round of the [[2020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament|women's football qualification tournament]] was also affected, as the group matches formerly scheduled to be held in China were moved to Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.matildas.com.au/news/2020-afc-womens-olympic-qualifying-tournament-be-hosted-sydney-australia|title=2020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament to be hosted in Sydney, Australia|website=matildas.com.au|publisher=[[Football Federation Australia]]|date=26 January 2020|access-date=27 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126165649/https://www.matildas.com.au/news/2020-afc-womens-olympic-qualifying-tournament-be-hosted-sydney-australia|archive-date=26 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[2020 European Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament|European boxing qualification]] began on March 14, 2020 in [[London]], United Kingdom, but was suspended after two days of competition before being rescheduled for April 2021.<ref>{{cite news|title=Boxing Road to Tokyo European qualifier in London suspended|url=https://olympics.com/en/news/boxing-road-to-tokyo-qualifiers-suspended|access-date=16 March 2020|website=olympics.com|date=16 March 2020|author=ZK Goh|archive-date=9 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509044859/https://olympics.com/en/news/boxing-road-to-tokyo-qualifiers-suspended|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=European Olympic boxing qualification event returning to London in April|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/55133403|date=1 December 2020|access-date=2 December 2020|last=Hope|first=Nick|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204050733/https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/55133403|archive-date=4 December 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> It eventually resumed in June 2021 but was moved to [[Paris]], France,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxing.athlete365.org/the-qualification-events/european-qualifying-event-paris-fra-4-8-jun-2021/|title=European Qualifying Event|date=7 May 2021|access-date=2 August 2021|website=boxing.athlete365.org|archive-date=2 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802102031/https://boxing.athlete365.org/the-qualification-events/european-qualifying-event-paris-fra-4-8-jun-2021/}}</ref> because of renewed concerns over [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|travel to the UK]]. Other qualifying events that were due to take place in March to June 2020 began to be postponed until later in the year and mid-2021 as part of a wider suspension of international sporting competitions in response to the pandemic. A multitude of Olympic sports were affected, including archery, baseball, cycling, handball, judo, rowing, sailing, volleyball, and water polo.<ref>{{cite news|title=Olympics postponed; to be held latest by 2021 summer, says Japanese PM|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/olympics-postponed-to-be-held-latest-by-2021-summer-says-japanese-pm/article31154196.ece|access-date=21 June 2022|date=24 March 2020|archive-date=6 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406014437/https://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/olympics-postponed-to-be-held-latest-by-2021-summer-says-japanese-pm/article31154196.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Effect on doping tests ===

Mandatory doping tests were significantly restricted by the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. European anti-doping organizations raised concerns that blood and urine tests could not be performed and that mobilizing the necessary staff before the pandemic's end would pose health risks. Despite the need for extensive testing ahead of the Games, the [[World Anti-Doping Agency]] (WADA) stated that public health and safety remained its top priority.<ref name="Sharma">{{cite web|url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/tokyo-olympics-2020-coronavirus-doping-tests-for-players-a-big-question-mark/|title=Tokyo Olympics 2020: Coronavirus Doping Tests For Players – A Big Question Mark|first=Aryan|last=Sharma|date=23 March 2020|website=essentiallysports.com|access-date=24 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425103026/https://www.essentiallysports.com/tokyo-olympics-2020-coronavirus-doping-tests-for-players-a-big-question-mark/|archive-date=25 April 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[China Anti-Doping Agency]] (CHINADA) temporarily suspended testing on February 3, 2020, with plans to resume phased testing later that month.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sport-doping-china/drug-testing-to-resume-in-china-after-coronavirus-outbreak-idUSKBN20F2JQ|title=Drug testing to resume in China after coronavirus outbreak|work=Reuters|date=21 February 2020|access-date=24 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324042848/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sport-doping-china/drug-testing-to-resume-in-china-after-coronavirus-outbreak-idUSKBN20F2JQ|archive-date=24 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> By the end of March, anti-doping organizations in the US, France, Great Britain, and Germany had also reduced their testing activities.<ref name="Sharma" />

It was subsequently revealed that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the drug [[trimetazidine]], but were permitted to compete, after CHINADA claimed they had ingested tiny amounts unawares from a kitchen. Some, including [[Zhang Yufei (swimmer)|Zhang Yufei]], [[Wang Shun]], and [[Qin Haiyang]], went on to win medals. The affair resulted in deep upset amongst the international athletic community.<ref>Top Chinese Swimmers Tested Positive for Banned Drug, Then Won Olympic Gold, ''New York Times'', 20 April 2024; [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/20/world/asia/chinese-swimmers-doping-olympics.html]</ref>

=== Postponement to 2021 ===

The [[Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games]] (TOCOG) released a statement on March 2, 2020, confirming that preparations for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics were "continuing as planned".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Trotter|first1=Anthony|last2=Winsor|first2=Morgan|date=2 March 2020|title=No plans to cancel or postpone Tokyo 2020 Olympics amid coronavirus outbreak, organizers say|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/plans-cancel-postpone-tokyo-2020-olympics-amid-coronavirus/story?id=69281972|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304155528/https://abcnews.go.com/International/plans-cancel-postpone-tokyo-2020-olympics-amid-coronavirus/story?id=69281972|archive-date=4 March 2020|access-date=20 April 2020|website=abcnews.go.com|publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]}}</ref> On March 23, both Canada and Australia indicated that they would withdraw from the Games if they were not postponed by a year.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Reuters|date=23 March 2020|title=Canada, Australia withdraw from Tokyo 2020 as organizers ponder postponement|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/23/olympics-canada-australia-withdraw-from-tokyo-2020.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323112916/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/23/olympics-canada-australia-withdraw-from-tokyo-2020.html|archive-date=23 March 2020|access-date=23 March 2020|website=CNBC}}</ref> On the same day, Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe stated he would support a proposed postponement, citing that ensuring athlete safety was "paramount", and veteran IOC member and former vice president [[Dick Pound]] said he expected the Games to be postponed.<ref>{{cite news|date=23 March 2020|title=Coronavirus: Olympic doubts grow as Canada withdraws athletes|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-52000044|url-status=live|access-date=23 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323060511/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-52000044|archive-date=23 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Brennan|first=Christine|date=23 March 2020|title=IOC member says 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be postponed due to coronavirus pandemic|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2020/03/23/olympics-2020-ioc-member-tokyo-games-postponed-dick-pound-coronavirus/2899848001/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323180609/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2020/03/23/olympics-2020-ioc-member-tokyo-games-postponed-dick-pound-coronavirus/2899848001/|archive-date=23 March 2020|access-date=23 March 2020|website=USA Today}}</ref>

On March 24, 2020, 122 days to go for the planned start, the IOC, TOCOG, and prime minister Abe released a joint statement announcing that the 2020 Summer Olympics and [[2020 Summer Paralympics|Paralympics]] would be rescheduled to a date "beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021". They stated that the Games could "stand as a beacon of hope to the world during these troubled times", and that the [[Olympic flame]] could become "the light at the end of the tunnel in which the world finds itself at present".<ref name="Joint Statement from IOC & TOCOG">{{cite web|date=24 March 2020|title=Joint Statement from the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee|url=https://www.olympic.org/news/joint-statement-from-the-international-olympic-committee-and-the-tokyo-2020-organising-committee|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324143837/https://www.olympic.org/news/joint-statement-from-the-international-olympic-committee-and-the-tokyo-2020-organising-committee|archive-date=24 March 2020|access-date=25 March 2020|website=olympic.org|publisher=[[IOC]]}}</ref> Prime Minister Abe stated that IOC president [[Thomas Bach]] responded "with 100% agreement" to his proposal to delay the Games. For continuity and marketing purposes, it was agreed that the Games would still be branded as Tokyo 2020 despite the change in schedule.<ref name=":5" />

On March 30, 2020, the IOC and TOCOG announced that they had reached an agreement on the new dates for the 2020 Summer Olympics, which would begin with the opening ceremony on July 23, 2021 and end with the closing ceremony on August 8, 2021, still to be held in Tokyo.<ref name="IOC_2021_Dates">{{cite web|date=30 March 2020|title=IOC, IPC, Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and Tokyo Metropolitan Government Announce New Dates for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020|url=https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-ipc-tokyo-2020-organising-committee-and-tokyo-metropolitan-government-announce-new-dates-for-the-olympic-and-paralympic-games-tokyo-2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200330121555/https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-ipc-tokyo-2020-organising-committee-and-tokyo-metropolitan-government-announce-new-dates-for-the-olympic-and-paralympic-games-tokyo-2020|archive-date=30 March 2020|access-date=30 March 2020|website=olympic.org|publisher=[[IOC]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Pavitt|first=Michael|date=20 March 2020|title=Rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympics to open on July 23 in 2021|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1092594/postponed-tokyo-olympics-july-23-opening|access-date=20 March 2020|website=[[Inside the Games]]|archive-date=18 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218085845/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1092594/postponed-tokyo-olympics-july-23-opening|url-status=live}}</ref> The subsequent [[2022 Winter Olympics|Winter Olympics in Beijing]] were scheduled to begin on February 4, 2022, less than six months later. Shortly before the postponement was confirmed, the IOC and Tokyo 2020 organizers formed a task force named "Here We Go" with the remit to address any issues arising from postponing the Games, such as sponsorship and accommodation. The organizers confirmed that all athletes who had already qualified for Tokyo 2020 prior to March 24, 2020 would keep their qualification slots.<ref>{{cite web|last=Binner|first=Andrew|date=30 March 2020|title=New Tokyo 2020 Olympic Dates Will Be 23 July to 8 August 2021|url=https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/stories/news/detail/new-tokyo-2020-olympics-2021-dates-revealed/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331131518/https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/stories/news/detail/new-tokyo-2020-olympics-2021-dates-revealed/|archive-date=31 March 2020|access-date=31 March 2020|website=olympicchannel.com}}</ref>

=== Calls for cancellation ===

Health experts expressed concern in April 2020 that the Games might have to be cancelled if the pandemic should persist.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rich|first1=Motoko|last2=Keh|first2=Andrew|date=28 April 2020|title=Summer Olympics in 2021? 'Exceedingly Difficult' Without a Coronavirus Vaccine|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/28/sports/olympics/coronavirus-olympics-vaccine-tokyo.html|url-status=live|access-date=3 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501210657/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/28/sports/olympics/coronavirus-olympics-vaccine-tokyo.html/|archive-date=1 May 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In an interview, the then president of TOCOG and former Japanese prime minister, [[Yoshirō Mori]], asserted that the Games would be "scrapped" if they could not go ahead in 2021.<ref name="Mori rte">{{cite web|date=28 April 2020|title=Next Olympics to be 'scrapped' if 2021 date is missed according to Tokyo 2020 president|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/olympics/2020/0428/1135246-next-olympics-to-be-scrapped-if-2021-date-is-missed/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503203934/https://www.rte.ie/sport/olympics/2020/0428/1135246-next-olympics-to-be-scrapped-if-2021-date-is-missed/|archive-date=3 May 2020|access-date=3 May 2020|website=[[RTÉ.ie]]}}</ref> On April 29, 2020, Prime Minister Abe stated that the Games "must be held in a way that shows the world has won its battle against the coronavirus pandemic".<ref>{{cite news|last=Ingle|first=Sean|date=29 April 2020|title=Tokyo Olympics in 2021 at risk of cancellation admits Japan's PM|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/apr/29/tokyo-olympics-not-reliant-on-covid-19-vaccine-senior-ioc-member|access-date=4 May 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200504231210/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/apr/29/tokyo-olympics-not-reliant-on-covid-19-vaccine-senior-ioc-member|archive-date=4 May 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Thomas Bach acknowledged in an interview on May 20, 2020, that the job of reorganizing the Tokyo Games was "a mammoth task" and also admitted that the event would have to be cancelled altogether if it could not take place in the summer of 2021.<ref name="Bach bbc">{{cite web|last=Roan|first=Dan|date=20 May 2020|title=IOC's Thomas Bach accepts Tokyo Olympics would have to be cancelled if not held in 2021|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/52747797|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200826073128/https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/52747797|archive-date=26 August 2020|access-date=24 May 2020|work=BBC Sport}}</ref> However, both Mori and Bach expressed optimism about the Games going ahead.<ref name="Mori rte" /><ref name="Bach bbc" />

A member of the Japanese COVID-19 Advisory Committee on the basic action policy co-authored a ''[[The BMJ|British Medical Journal]]'' editorial, which stated, "holding Tokyo 2020 for domestic political and economic purposes—ignoring scientific and moral imperatives—is contradictory to Japan's commitment to global health and human security".<ref name="BMJ373n962">{{cite journal|last1=Shimizu|first1=Kazuki|last2=Sridhar|first2=Devi|last3=Taniguchi|first3=Kiyosu|last4=Shibuya|first4=Kenji|date=14 April 2021|title=Reconsider this summer's Olympic and Paralympic games|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n962|journal=BMJ|volume=373|pages=n962|doi=10.1136/bmj.n962|issn=1756-1833|pmid=33853866|s2cid=233224002|doi-access=free|access-date=16 May 2021|archive-date=16 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516073248/https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n962|url-status=live|hdl=20.500.11820/1759d60f-2204-4234-963e-d7bf60f25628|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

On January 21, 2021, multiple sources reported that the Japanese government had "privately concluded" that the Games would have to be cancelled.<ref>{{cite web|last=Murphy|first=Chris|date=21 January 2021|title=Japan Reportedly 'Privately Concludes' to Cancel the 2021 Olympic Games Due to the Coronavirus|url=https://www.vulture.com/2021/01/japan-might-cancel-2021-tokyo-olympics-due-to-coronavirus.html|access-date=24 January 2021|website=Vulture|archive-date=24 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124031841/https://www.vulture.com/2021/01/japan-might-cancel-2021-tokyo-olympics-due-to-coronavirus.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The government dismissed the claims, stating the reports were "categorically untrue".<ref>{{cite web|title=Japan denies as 'categorically untrue' report Tokyo Olympics could be cancelled|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/japan-denies-categorically-untrue-report-tokyo-olympics-could-be-cancelled-n1255266|access-date=24 January 2021|website=NBC News|first1=Arata|last1=Yamamoto|first2=Adela|last2=Suliman|date=22 January 2021|archive-date=23 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123230122/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/japan-denies-categorically-untrue-report-tokyo-olympics-could-be-cancelled-n1255266|url-status=live}}</ref> The new Japanese prime minister [[Yoshihide Suga]] confirmed on February 19 that the [[Group of Seven|G7]] had given unanimous support for the postponed Games to go ahead as scheduled.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Takenaka |first1=Kiyoshi |last2=Williams |first2=Alison |last3=Fallon |first3=Clare |date=19 February 2021 |title=Japan PM: won G7 unanimous support for holding Olympics this summer|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-g7-meeting-japan-olympics-idUSKBN2AJ1XL|access-date=24 February 2021|archive-date=20 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220105101/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-g7-meeting-japan-olympics-idUSKBN2AJ1XL|url-status=live}}</ref> It was reported in April 2021, just three months before the start of the Games, that there was still the option to cancel the Tokyo Olympics with the country having vaccinated less than 1% of its population, with tens of thousands of volunteers expected to take part and athletes not being required to quarantine after arriving in Japan.<ref>{{cite news|date=15 April 2021|title=Tokyo Olympic Games could still be cancelled due to coronavirus, senior Japanese government official says|website=ABC.net.au|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-15/cancelling-tokyo-olympics-still-an-option-japanese-official-says/100071704|access-date=16 April 2021|archive-date=16 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416042543/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-15/cancelling-tokyo-olympics-still-an-option-japanese-official-says/100071704|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Essig|first1=Blake|last2=Jozuka|first2=Emiko|last3=Westcott|first3=Ben|date=15 April 2021|title=With 100 days until the Tokyo Olympics, Japan has vaccinated less than 1% of its population. That's a problem|website=CNN.com|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/04/13/sport/japan-covid-tokyo-olympics-100-days-dst-intl-hnk/index.html|access-date=16 April 2021|archive-date=5 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105145801/https://edition.cnn.com/2021/04/13/sport/japan-covid-tokyo-olympics-100-days-dst-intl-hnk/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Public support for the Games in Japan decreased significantly amid a 2021 surge in [[COVID-19 pandemic in Japan|COVID-19 cases in the country]].<ref>{{cite news|title=What pandemic? Doctors asked to volunteer at Tokyo Olympics|url=http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14342641|access-date=16 May 2021|website=The Asahi Shimbun|date=4 May 2021|archive-date=16 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516073247/http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14342641|url-status=live}}</ref> Multiple organizations of medical professionals voiced oppositions to the Games,<ref name="BMJ373n962" /><ref>{{cite web|date=3 May 2021|title=Japan nurses voice anger at call to volunteer for Tokyo Olympics amid Covid crisis|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/may/03/japan-nurses-voice-anger-at-call-to-volunteer-for-tokyo-olympics-amid-covid-crisis|access-date=16 May 2021|website=The Guardian|last=McCurry|first=Justin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506014638/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/may/03/japan-nurses-voice-anger-at-call-to-volunteer-for-tokyo-olympics-amid-covid-crisis|archive-date=6 May 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Rich|first=Motoko|date=2 May 2021|title=How Can the Olympics Protect 78,000 Volunteers From the Coronavirus?|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/02/world/asia/olympics-volunteers-coronavirus.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/02/world/asia/olympics-volunteers-coronavirus.html|archive-date=2021-12-28|url-access=limited|access-date=16 May 2021|issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}</ref> while an opinion poll in April 2021 saw 40% of participants support the cancellation of the Games and 33% support a second postponement.<ref>{{cite news|date=4 May 2021|title=9 governors say Tokyo Games should be canceled, delayed depending on circumstances: poll|work=Mainichi Daily News|url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210504/p2a/00m/0na/017000c|access-date=16 May 2021|archive-date=16 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516073247/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210504/p2a/00m/0na/017000c|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2021, 83% of those polled supported the cancellation or postponement of the Games.<ref>{{cite news|last=Inoue|first=Makiko|date=18 May 2021|title=A new poll in Japan finds 83 percent don't want the Olympics this summer.|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/world/asia/covid-japan-olympics-poll.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/world/asia/covid-japan-olympics-poll.html|archive-date=2021-12-28|url-access=limited|access-date=21 May 2021|issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The Tokyo Medical Practitioners Association called for cancellation, stating that hospitals in Tokyo "have their hands full and have almost no spare capacity" in an open letter to the prime minister.<ref>{{cite web|title=Japanese Medical Group Calls for Cancellation of Tokyo Olympics|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/covid-19-pandemic_japanese-medical-group-calls-cancellation-tokyo-olympics/6205941.html|access-date=7 June 2021|website=Voice of America|date=18 May 2021|archive-date=7 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607095713/https://www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/japanese-medical-group-calls-cancellation-tokyo-olympics|url-status=live}}</ref> At least nine out of 47 elected governors supported cancellation of the Games.<ref>{{cite news|date=12 April 2021|title=70% of Japanese want Tokyo Games cancelled or delayed – poll|work=Reuters|agency=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/70-japanese-want-tokyo-games-cancelled-or-delayed-poll-2021-04-12/|access-date=17 May 2021|archive-date=17 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517021111/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/70-japanese-want-tokyo-games-cancelled-or-delayed-poll-2021-04-12/|url-status=live}}</ref> Nearly 37% of Japanese companies surveyed supported cancellation of the Games, and 32% supported postponement.<ref>{{cite web|date=20 May 2021|title=Most Japan firms say Olympics should be cancelled or postponed, poll shows|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/fretting-about-covid-most-japan-firms-say-olympics-should-be-cancelled-or-2021-05-20/|access-date=21 May 2021|website=Reuters|last1=Kajimoto|first1=Tetsushi|archive-date=21 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521000649/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/fretting-about-covid-most-japan-firms-say-olympics-should-be-cancelled-or-2021-05-20/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Kenji Utsunomiya]], who had previously run for Governor of Tokyo, collected more than 351,000 signatures on a petition calling for the organizers to "prioritize life" over the Olympics.<ref>{{cite web|date=15 May 2021|title=Tokyo Olympics: Widespread protests as COVID wave sweeps Japan|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/olympics/tokyo-olympics-widespread-protests-as-covid-wave-sweeps-japan/news-story/b44dc0a268a94fd11df03e703f128761|access-date=26 May 2021|website=NewsComAu|archive-date=19 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519073348/https://www.news.com.au/sport/olympics/tokyo-olympics-widespread-protests-as-covid-wave-sweeps-japan/news-story/b44dc0a268a94fd11df03e703f128761|url-status=live}}</ref> Japanese writers [[Jirō Akagawa|Jiro Akagawa]]<ref>{{cite web|title=（声）五輪中止、それしか道はない：朝日新聞デジタル|url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/DA3S14930065.html|trans-title=The Olympics are canceled, that's the only way: Asahi Shimbun Digital|access-date=7 June 2021|website=朝日新聞デジタル|language=ja|author1=赤川次郎|date=6 June 2021|archive-date=6 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606234712/https://www.asahi.com/articles/DA3S14930065.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=赤川次郎氏「五輪中止を決断するしか道はない」朝日新聞の投稿欄に掲載 - スポニチ Sponichi Annex 社会|trans-title=Jiro Akagawa "There is no choice but to decide to cancel the Olympics" posted in the post section of the Asahi Shimbun --Sponichi|url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/society/news/2021/06/07/kiji/20210607s00042000195000c.html|access-date=7 June 2021|website=スポニチ Sponichi Annex|language=ja|archive-date=6 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606211115/https://www.sponichi.co.jp/society/news/2021/06/07/kiji/20210607s00042000195000c.html}}</ref> and [[Fuminori Nakamura]] also called for the Games to be postponed or cancelled.<ref>{{cite web|title=中村文則の書斎のつぶやき：五輪利権のために|trans-title=Fuminori Nakamura's study tweet: "For Olympic rights"|url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20210603/ddl/k23/070/173000c|access-date=7 June 2021|website=毎日新聞|language=ja|author=毎日新聞|date=3 June 2021|archive-date=7 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607024356/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20210603/ddl/k23/070/173000c|url-status=live}}</ref>

On May 26, 2021, the {{transliteration|ja|[[The Asahi Shimbun|Asahi Shimbun]]}} newspaper, which was a local sponsor of the Games, published an editorial calling for Prime Minister Suga to "calmly and objectively assess the situation and decide on the cancellation of the event this summer."<ref>{{cite web|date=26 May 2021|title=Tokyo Olympics: Asahi Shimbun newspaper says Japan Games must be cancelled|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/26/tokyo-olympics-asahi-shimbun-newspaper-games-must-be-cancelled-covid-outbreak-japan|access-date=26 May 2021|website=The Guardian|last=McCurry|first=Justin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723142855/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/26/tokyo-olympics-asahi-shimbun-newspaper-games-must-be-cancelled-covid-outbreak-japan|archive-date=23 July 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> On June 4, it was reported that Japanese sponsors proposed to the organizers for "the Games to be postponed for several months," citing a comment by a corporate sponsor senior executive: "It just makes much, much more sense from our perspective to hold the Games when there are more vaccinated people, the weather is cooler and maybe public opposition is lower."<ref>{{cite web|title=Olympics sponsors call for Tokyo Games delay to allow more spectators|url=https://www.ft.com/content/fff1d4cd-1fb3-43b0-8bc8-6c1f57c02578|website=The Financial Times|date=4 June 2021|last1=Lewis|first1=Leo|last2=Inagaki|first2=Kana|location=Tokyo|url-access=subscription|access-date=5 June 2021|archive-date=5 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605085238/https://www.ft.com/content/fff1d4cd-1fb3-43b0-8bc8-6c1f57c02578|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2021, it was announced that all events in Tokyo were to be held [[Behind closed doors (sport)|behind closed doors]] with no spectators due to a new state of emergency. A poll by the {{transliteration|ja|Asahi Shimbun}} found that 55% of those surveyed supported cancellation of the Olympics, and 68% felt that organizers would not be able to suitably control COVID-19 at the Games.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last=Brzeski|first=Patrick|date=19 July 2021|title=Toyota Cancels Tokyo Olympics TV Ads in Japan, CEO Won't Attend Opening Ceremony|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/toyota-cancels-tokyo-olympics-ads-wont-attend-opening-ceremony-1234984353/|access-date=20 July 2021|website=The Hollywood Reporter|archive-date=20 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720015519/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/toyota-cancels-tokyo-olympics-ads-wont-attend-opening-ceremony-1234984353/|url-status=live}}</ref> The decision was also detrimental to local sponsors, which had planned in-person presences to promote their products during the Games; an executive of official sponsor [[Toyota]] stated that the company had pulled a television advertising campaign it had planned for the Games in Japan, citing that the Olympics were "becoming an event that has not gained the public's understanding."<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Gale|first=Alastair|date=13 July 2021|title=Tokyo Olympics Sponsors Spent Big Bucks but Their Plans Are Falling Flat|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tokyo-olympics-sponsors-spent-big-bucks-but-their-plans-are-falling-flat-11626175499|access-date=20 July 2021|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=20 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720004705/https://www.wsj.com/articles/tokyo-olympics-sponsors-spent-big-bucks-but-their-plans-are-falling-flat-11626175499|url-status=live}}</ref>

Had the Games been cancelled, it would have been the first time since [[World War II]] that an Olympic event had been called off and the first Games to be scrapped due to circumstances unrelated to war.{{efn|The [[1916 Summer Olympics]] was called off due to [[World War I]], while the [[1940 Summer Olympics|1940]] and [[1944 Summer Olympics]] were also called off due to [[World War II]].}} A complete cancellation would have also cost Japan {{JPY|4.52}}{{nbsp}}trillion ({{USD|41.5}}{{nbsp}}billion), based on operating expenses and [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism|loss of tourism]] activity to Japan, which had closed its international borders to foreign travelers since March 2020, did not reopen until October 2022, and was initially scheduled to end preventive border measures in May 2023 but had moved early at the end of April of that year, less than two years after the Games ended.<ref name="Costs" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/04/27/national/border-measures-early-end/|title=Japan plans to end COVID-19 border controls on Saturday|work=[[The Japan Times]]|date=27 April 2023|access-date=1 May 2023|archive-date=27 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230427151240/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/04/27/national/border-measures-early-end/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Costs and insurance ===

According to an estimate conducted by professor emeritus Katsuhiro Miyamoto of [[Kansai University]] and reported by the [[NHK]] in March 2020, the cost of delaying the 2020 Olympics by one year would be 640.8 billion yen ([[United States dollar|US$]]5.8 billion), taking maintenance expenditures for the unused facilities into account.<ref name="Costs">{{cite web|url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20200323/k10012345211000.html|title=東京五輪・パラ１年延期の経済損失 6400億円余専門家試算|trans-title=Tokyo Olympics/Paralympics 1-year postponement, economic loss over 640 billion yen experts estimate|website=nhk.or.jp|publisher=[[NHK]]|date=23 March 2020|language=ja|access-date=30 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324182559/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20200323/k10012345211000.html|archive-date=24 March 2020}}</ref>

The [[Nomura Research Institute]] estimated that cancelling the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics in 2021 would cost around 1.81 trillion yen ($17 billion), less than the economic damages projected if another state of emergency is declared, noting that a decision to hold the Games "should be made based on the impact on infection risks, not from the standpoint of economic loss".<ref>{{cite web|title=Tokyo Games cancellation likely to cost Japan $17 bil.|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/05/4d2b45b5fe61-tokyo-games-cancellation-likely-to-cost-japan-17-bil.html|access-date=4 June 2021|website=Kyodo News|date=25 May 2021|archive-date=4 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604035637/https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/05/4d2b45b5fe61-tokyo-games-cancellation-likely-to-cost-japan-17-bil.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Tokyo Games were protected through the commercial insurance marketplace [[Lloyd's of London]], by global reinsurers [[Munich Re]] and [[Swiss Re]]. The IOC takes out around $800 million of insurance for each Summer Olympics, with the total amount of loss insured for the 2020 Games likely to be more than $2 billion.{{update inline|reason=The Games are now over – any updates on this?|date=September 2021}} The disruption caused by postponing the Games was covered by the insurance policy, with those likely to make claims for their financial losses including local organizers, sponsors, hospitality firms, and travel providers.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cohn|first1=Carolyn|last2=Hussain|first2=Noor Zainab|date=24 March 2020|title=Olympics delay, not cancellation, provides reprieve for insurers|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-olympics-insurance-idUSL8N2BH255|access-date=1 November 2020|archive-date=8 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608070455/https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-olympics-insurance-idUSL8N2BH255|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Croucher|first=Martin|title=Munich Re Losses Soar to €1.5B As Virus Bites Sector|url=https://www.law360.com/articles/1293899/munich-re-losses-soar-to-1-5b-as-virus-bites-sector|access-date=1 November 2020|website=[[Law360]]|date=21 July 2021|archive-date=9 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009041910/https://www.law360.com/articles/1293899/munich-re-losses-soar-to-1-5b-as-virus-bites-sector|url-status=live}}</ref>{{update inline|reason=Any new info on total losses?|date=September 2021}}

Holders of tickets purchased from overseas prior to postponement were entitled to refunds for both Olympic and Paralympic ticket purchases, except for the costs of cancelled hotel bookings. Although about 600,000 Olympic tickets and 300,000 Paralympic tickets were eligible to be refunded, organizers said they would not release the total costs of the refunds.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/tokyo-2021-japan-bans-foreign-fans-from-olympic-games-due-to-covid-19-risks-12251330|title=Tokyo 2021: Japan bans foreign fans from Olympic games due to COVID-19 risks|date=20 March 2021|last=Minelle|first=B.|publisher=Sky News|access-date=20 March 2021|archive-date=20 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320105724/http://news.sky.com/story/tokyo-2021-japan-bans-foreign-fans-from-olympic-games-due-to-covid-19-risks-12251330|url-status=live}}</ref> Reuters quoted industry sources who estimated that the Tokyo Olympics Committee had taken out US$500–$800 million in insurance, and that after accounting for costs such as rebooking sporting venues and the Olympic Village, little of that payout would be available to recoup the proceeds of lost and refunded ticket sales.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Carolyn|last1=Cohn|first2=Noor Zainab|last2=Hussain|date=13 July 2021|title=UPDATE 1-Local Olympics organisers face uninsured loss from spectator ban-sources|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/olympics-2020-spectators-insurance-idCNL1N2OP0IP|access-date=27 July 2021|archive-date=27 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727113842/https://www.reuters.com/article/olympics-2020-spectators-insurance-idCNL1N2OP0IP|url-status=live}}</ref> The local organizers are responsible for ticket sales and use them to defray the costs of holding the Games; ticket sales were expected to bring in approximately US$800 million, but actual sales were close to zero.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Maggie|last1=Gile|date=2 July 2021|title=Japan could lose $800M in Olympic ticket sales if games have no spectators|url=https://www.newsweek.com/japan-could-lose-800m-olympic-ticket-sales-if-games-have-no-spectators-1606421|access-date=27 July 2021|website=Newsweek|archive-date=27 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727113841/https://www.newsweek.com/japan-could-lose-800m-olympic-ticket-sales-if-games-have-no-spectators-1606421|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2022, the Tokyo Organizing Committee revealed in the final budget report for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics that the cost for the Olympic Games was 640.4 billion yen (US$5.8 billion{{Efn|based on the average USD/JPY 2021 exchange rate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://olympics.com/ioc/news/tokyo-2020-organising-committee-publishes-final-balanced-budget|title=Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee publishes final balanced budget|date=21 June 2022|publisher=[[International Olympic Committee]]|access-date=23 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623004902/https://olympics.com/ioc/news/tokyo-2020-organising-committee-publishes-final-balanced-budget|archive-date=23 June 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>}}), which was higher than the cost for the [[2016 Summer Olympics#Cost|Rio 2016]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1124749/tokyo-2020-reveals-final-olympics-cost|title=Final bill for Tokyo 2020 twice as much as when awarded Olympics, but less than forecast after Games|last=Mackay|first=Duncan|date=21 June 2022|website=[[Inside the Games]]|access-date=22 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622073728/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1124749/tokyo-2020-reveals-final-olympics-cost|archive-date=22 June 2022|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Kyodo 20220621" /> The total, final cost of the delayed Games was 1.4 trillion yen (US$13 billion).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-21 |title=Tokyo closes books on delayed Games; $13 billion price tag |url=https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-politics-sports-japanese-yen-d4c65d8e702c455ed54fa1e9a667891b |access-date=2026-04-01 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>

=== Public opinion and COVID-19 effect during and after the Games === Prior to the Tokyo Olympics being held, many Japanese people were negative about hosting the event, but their attitudes had become more positive toward the end of the Games. According to a public opinion poll conducted jointly by the [[Nippon News Network]] and the ''[[Yomiuri Shimbun]]'' newspaper, which targeted Japanese citizens at the end of the Olympics, 38% of respondents said it was possible to hold the Olympics in a safe manner against COVID-19, while 55% said it was not possible. However, 64% answered it was good that the Tokyo Games had gone ahead, while 28% answered that they wished the event had not been held. Of the respondents, 61% were glad the event had been held without spectators, and only 12% said that spectators should have been allowed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/c6a0cc5a6bffe2253936ac819947cc479a554d9a?tokyo2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809142326/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/c6a0cc5a6bffe2253936ac819947cc479a554d9a?tokyo2020|title=世論調査菅内閣「支持」35%...発足以来"最低" 五輪開催「良かった」64%|trans-title=A public opinion poll showed 35% support for the Suga Cabinet, the lowest since its inauguration. 64% said they were glad the Olympics were held.|website=Yahoo! Japan News|date=9 August 2021|archive-date=9 August 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

On July 29, less than a week into the Games, journalist Masaki Kubota reported his analysis of the Japanese people's perspective on the Olympics, which he believed was greatly influenced by the change in the way the Japanese news media reported on the Games. He pointed out that many Japanese news media had insisted on canceling the Olympics, citing fears that COVID-19 would spread, but once Japanese athletes started winning medals, the media changed their reporting policy and began livening up the Olympics, which had the effect of altering public opinion in Japan.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://diamond.jp/articles/-/277978?page=2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729005640/https://diamond.jp/articles/-/277978?page=2|title=「メダルラッシュで日本の世論はコロッと変わる」という予言が的中した理由|trans-title=The reason why the prediction that "Japanese public opinion will change drastically with the medal rush" was correct|website=Diamond Online|date=29 July 2021|archive-date=29 July 2021|last=Kubota|first=Masaki|url-status=live}}</ref>

Once the Tokyo Olympics were underway, followed by the [[2020 Summer Paralympics|Tokyo Paralympics]], there was a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases in Japan, especially those caused by the [[SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant|Delta variant]]. On July 26, there were 60,157 cases detected in Japan, breaking the record of 44,961 cases recorded on May 10. On August 9, one day after the Olympics had ended, daily cases in Japan reached 100,000 for the first time, and new cases continued to increase until the peak on August 23, when 156,931 cases were recorded.<ref>{{cite web|date=6 September 2021|title=Japan: WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard With Vaccination Data|url=https://covid19.who.int/region/wpro/country/jp|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903123151/https://covid19.who.int/region/wpro/country/jp|archive-date=3 September 2021|access-date=6 September 2014|website=covid19.who.int|publisher=[[World Health Organization]]}}</ref>

== Development and preparations == {{See also|Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games}} [[File:Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games- Monument of Olympic Rings.jpg|thumb|The [[Olympic rings]] on display at [[Tokyo Bay]] to promote the Games]] The [[Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games|Tokyo Organizing Committee]] was originally headed by former Japanese prime minister Yoshirō Mori,<ref>{{cite news|last=Armstrong|first=Jim|date=24 January 2014|title=Mori heads Tokyo 2020 organizing committee|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/mori-heads-tokyo-2020-organizing-075207442--spt.html|agency=AP|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208022538/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mori-heads-tokyo-2020-organizing-075207442--spt.html|archive-date=8 February 2014|access-date=4 February 2014|website=[[Yahoo Sports]]}}</ref> but he resigned in February 2021 due to backlash from sexist comments about women in meetings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/02/d31630ba463d-breaking-news-tokyo-olympic-chief-mori-to-resign-sources.html|title=Tokyo Olympics chief Mori to quit over "sexist" remarks|date=11 February 2021|publisher=[[Kyodo News]]|access-date=11 February 2021|archive-date=11 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211055245/https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/02/d31630ba463d-breaking-news-tokyo-olympic-chief-mori-to-resign-sources.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/sports/tokyo-olympics-chief-resigns-amid-uproar-over-sexist-comments/|title=Tokyo Olympics Chief Resigns amid Uproar Over Sexist Comments|date=12 February 2021|publisher=[[People (magazine)|People.com]]|access-date=12 February 2021|first1=Rachel|last1=DeSantis|archive-date=12 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212171701/https://people.com/sports/tokyo-olympics-chief-resigns-amid-uproar-over-sexist-comments/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=kyodo180221>{{cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/02/54b8bfc71f2e-breaking-news-olympic-minister-hashimoto-shows-readiness-to-be-tokyo-games-head.html|title=Female ex-Olympic athlete Hashimoto takes over as Tokyo Games chief|date=18 February 2021|website=english.kyodonews.net|publisher=[[Kyodo News]]|access-date=18 February 2021|archive-date=18 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218011928/https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/02/54b8bfc71f2e-breaking-news-olympic-minister-hashimoto-shows-readiness-to-be-tokyo-games-head.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Seiko Hashimoto]] was chosen to succeed him. [[Tamayo Marukawa]], Minister for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, was responsible for overseeing the preparations on behalf of the Japanese government.<ref name=kyodo180221 />

The [[Tokyo Metropolitan Government]] set aside a fund of ¥400 billion (more than US$3.67 billion) to cover the cost of hosting the Games. The [[Government of Japan|Japanese government]] was considering easing airspace restrictions to allow an increased [[Landing slot|slot]] capacity at both [[Haneda Airport|Haneda]] and [[Narita International Airport|Narita]] airports. A new railway line was planned to link both airports through an expansion of [[Tokyo Station]], cutting travel time from Tokyo Station to Haneda from 30 to 18 minutes, and from Tokyo Station to Narita from 55 to 36 minutes; funded primarily by private investors, the line would cost ¥400 billion. The [[East Japan Railway Company]] (JR East) was also planning a new route near [[Tamachi]] to Haneda Airport.<ref>{{YouTube|HvyCUgi2HrM|JR東日本、東京五輪を前に都心部と羽田空港結ぶ新路線整備を}}</ref>

There were plans to fund the accelerated completion of the [[Central Circular Route (Shuto Expressway)|Central Circular Route]], [[Tokyo Gaikan Expressway]], and [[Ken-Ō Expressway]], and the refurbishment of other major expressways in the area.<ref>{{cite news|title=羽田・成田発着を拡大、五輪へインフラ整備急ぐ|trans-title=Expand departures and arrivals at Haneda and Narita, and hurry to improve infrastructure for the Olympics|language=Japanese|url=http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASGC0900Z_Z00C13A9MM8000/|access-date=10 September 2013|newspaper=日本経済新聞|trans-newspaper=Nihon Keizai Shimbun|date=10 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911073939/http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASGC0900Z_Z00C13A9MM8000/|archive-date=11 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Yurikamome]] automated transit line was also to be extended from its existing terminal at [[Toyosu Station]] to a new terminal at [[Kachidoki Station]], passing the site of the Olympic Village, although the line was not expected to have adequate capacity to serve major events in the [[Odaiba]] area on its own.<ref>{{cite news|title=五輪で東京に1000万人過密都市ゆえの課題多く|trans-title=10 million people in Tokyo at the Olympics Many challenges due to overcrowded city|url=http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNZO59486280Q3A910C1EA2000/|access-date=10 September 2013|newspaper=日本経済新聞|trans-newspaper=Nihon Keizai Shimbun|language=Japanese|date=10 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911233326/http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNZO59486280Q3A910C1EA2000/|archive-date=11 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2018, the Tokyo Organizing Committee signed a partnership with the [[International Labour Organization]] to ensure [[decent work]] in the preparation of and during the 2020 Olympic Games.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_626828/lang--en/index.htm|title=ILO, Tokyo 2020 sign agreement to promote decent work in run-up to the Games|date=26 April 2018|work=[[International Labour Organization]]|access-date=28 July 2021|archive-date=28 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728144116/https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_626828/lang--en/index.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2020, the chief executive of the Organizing Committee, [[Toshirō Mutō]], stated that the committee was exploring options for streamlining the Games to achieve cost savings.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tokyo 2020: Olympics will be 'simplified' in 2021|date=10 June 2020|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/52997023|access-date=28 September 2020|archive-date=27 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927090038/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/52997023|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 25, the IOC and Tokyo Organizing Committee agreed to a suite of measures to simplify the Games' logistics, including a cut to non-athlete staff, use of online meetings, and streamlined transport, among others. The committee also outlined areas it would be exploring to maintain the health and safety of all participants.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tokyo 2020 organisers agree on 52 measures for simplified Games|url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/tokyo-2020-olympics-cost-saving-safety-measures|access-date=28 September 2020|website=SportsPro|last1=Carp|first1=Sam|date=28 September 2020|archive-date=18 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018110742/https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/tokyo-2020-olympics-cost-saving-safety-measures|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Venues and infrastructure === [[File:New national stadium tokyo 1.jpg|thumb|The newly built [[Japan National Stadium]] in Tokyo was the venue for the ceremonies and the athletics events.]] {{Main|Venues of the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics}}

In February 2012, it was announced that Tokyo's former [[National Stadium (Tokyo, 1958)|National Stadium]], the central venue for the [[1964 Summer Olympics]], would undergo a ¥100 billion renovation for the [[2019 Rugby World Cup]] and the 2020 Summer Olympics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/rugby-japan-olympics/rugby-tokyo-stadium-set-for-billion-dollar-facelift-idUSL4E8D65NM20120206|last=Himmer|first=Alastair|title=Rugby-Tokyo stadium set for billion dollar facelift|work=Reuters|date=6 February 2012|access-date=17 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918110500/http://www.reuters.com/article/rugby-japan-olympics/rugby-tokyo-stadium-set-for-billion-dollar-facelift-idUSL4E8D65NM20120206|archive-date=18 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2012, the Japan Sport Council announced it was taking bids for proposed stadium designs. Of the 46 finalists, [[Zaha Hadid Architects]] was awarded the project, which would replace the old stadium with [[Japan National Stadium|a new 80,000-seat stadium]]. There was criticism of Hadid's design—which was compared to a [[bicycle helmet]] and regarded as clashing with the surrounding [[Meiji Shrine]]—and widespread disapproval of the costs, even with attempts to revise and "optimize" the design.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2014/nov/06/zaha-hadids-tokyo-olympic-stadium-slammed-as-a-monumental-mistake-and-a-disgrace-to-future-generations|title=Zaha Hadid's Tokyo Olympic stadium slammed as a 'monumental mistake' and a 'disgrace to future generations'|last=Wainwright|first=Oliver|date=6 November 2014|work=The Guardian|access-date=16 October 2019|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016164003/https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2014/nov/06/zaha-hadids-tokyo-olympic-stadium-slammed-as-a-monumental-mistake-and-a-disgrace-to-future-generations|archive-date=16 October 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2015, the government announced plans to reduce the new stadium's permanent capacity to 65,000 in its athletics configuration (although with the option to add up to 15,000 temporary seats for football) as a further cost-saving measure.<ref>{{cite news|title=新国立、整備費2500億円従来デザイン維持で決着|trans-title=New National, maintenance cost 250 billion yen, settled by maintaining the conventional design|url=http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXLASDG23H9L_T20C15A6EA2000/|access-date=27 June 2015|work=Nihon Keizai Shimbun|date=24 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626152047/http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXLASDG23H9L_T20C15A6EA2000/|archive-date=26 June 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=国立競技場将来構想有識者会議|trans-title=National Stadium Future Vision Experts Meeting|date=7 July 2015|url=http://www.jpnsport.go.jp/newstadium//tabid/411/Default.aspx|website=日本スポーツ振興センター. Japan Sport Council|access-date=11 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226065218/http://www.jpnsport.go.jp/newstadium/tabid/411/Default.aspx|archive-date=26 December 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> The original plan to build a retractable roof was also abandoned.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/07/29/national/government-drops-plan-build-retractable-roof-olympic-stadium-costs-soar/|title=Government drops plan to build retractable roof on Olympic stadium as costs soar|date=29 July 2015|agency=[[Kyodo News|Kyodo]]|work=[[The Japan Times]]|access-date=16 October 2019|issn=0447-5763|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016164015/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/07/29/national/government-drops-plan-build-retractable-roof-olympic-stadium-costs-soar/|archive-date=16 October 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> At the end of 2015, in response to public opposition to the increasing costs of the new stadium (which had reached ¥252 billion), the government chose to reject Hadid's design entirely and selected a new design by Japanese architect [[Kengo Kuma]]. Inspired by traditional temples and with a lower profile, Kuma's design had a budget of ¥149 billion. The changes meant the new stadium could not be completed in time for the [[2019 Rugby World Cup]] as originally intended.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35158004|title=Tokyo Olympic stadium gets new, cheaper design|date=22 December 2015|work=BBC News Asia|access-date=16 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227042502/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-35158004|archive-date=27 December 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> The National Stadium, which was inaugurated on December 21, 2019, was named the Olympic Stadium for the duration of the Tokyo Games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldathletics.org/news/feature/tokyo-iconic-olympic-stadium|title=All eyes on Tokyo's Olympic Stadium with 100 days to go|work=[[World Athletics]]|date=14 April 2021|access-date=5 July 2021|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709203554/https://www.worldathletics.org/news/feature/tokyo-iconic-olympic-stadium|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2018, the [[Board of Audit (Japan)|Board of Audit]] issued a report stating that the total cost of the Olympic venues could exceed US$25 billion.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/tokyo-2020-olympics-cost-25-billion|title=Tokyo 2020 costs skyrocket to US$25 billion|date=9 October 2018|first=Nick|last=Friend|work=[[SportsPro]] Media|access-date=4 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030114842/http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/tokyo-2020-olympics-cost-25-billion|archive-date=30 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Of the 33 competition venues in Tokyo, 28 were within {{convert|8|km|mi|0|abbr=off|sp=us}} of the Olympic Village, with eleven new venues to be constructed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tokyo2020.jp/en/plan/candidature/dl/tokyo2020_candidate_section_8_enfr.pdf|title=Tokyo 2020 candidature file – section 8 – Sports and Venues|publisher=Tokyo 2020|access-date=10 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405194932/http://tokyo2020.jp/en/plan/candidature/dl/tokyo2020_candidate_section_8_enfr.pdf|archive-date=5 April 2013}}</ref> On October 16, 2019, the IOC announced plans to re-locate the marathon and racewalking events to [[Sapporo]] for heat concerns.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/10/16/more-sports/track-field/ioc-planning-move-tokyo-olympic-marathon-north-sapporo-bid-avoid-heat/|title=IOC planning to move Tokyo Olympic marathon north to Sapporo in bid to avoid heat|date=17 October 2019|work=The Japan Times|first=Ryusei|last=Takahashi|access-date=16 October 2019|issn=0447-5763|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016164012/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/10/16/more-sports/track-field/ioc-planning-move-tokyo-olympic-marathon-north-sapporo-bid-avoid-heat/|archive-date=16 October 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The plans were made official on November 1, 2019, after Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike accepted the IOC's decision, despite her belief that the events should have remained in Tokyo.<ref name=WP110119>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/cool-runnings-after-heated-dispute-tokyo-agrees-to-shift-olympic-marathons-to-more-clement-climes/2019/11/01/3d7ae294-fc57-11e9-9e02-1d45cb3dfa8f_story.html|title=Cool runnings: After heated dispute, Tokyo agrees to shift Olympic marathons to more clement climes|last1=Denyer|first1=Simon|last2=Kashiwagi|first2=Akiko|date=1 November 2019|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=1 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101121019/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/cool-runnings-after-heated-dispute-tokyo-agrees-to-shift-olympic-marathons-to-more-clement-climes/2019/11/01/3d7ae294-fc57-11e9-9e02-1d45cb3dfa8f_story.html|archive-date=1 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

In general, as urban studies scholar Faure notes, "The Tokyo 2020–2021 Games had a relatively moderate impact on the city, compared to previous cases such as Rio and Sochi, or cases in which a major Olympic park was built in Barcelona in 1992, and in Beijing in 2008. The transport infrastructure has been marginally improved by facilitating access for people with mobility constraints and improving signage in other languages. Haneda Airport has been expanded, and a hydrogen-powered bus rapid transit system has been introduced. Several sports and event facilities were built, including the new Olympic Stadium. Finally, the Olympic Village has been built on the Harumi landfill."<ref>{{cite journal |last=Faure |first=Alexandre |date=2023-01-02 |title=How the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games were embedded in urban planning documents: The enforcement of a metropolitan strategy in the Bay Area |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/18692729.2023.2169462 |journal=Contemporary Japan |language=en |volume=35 |issue=1 |pages=136–157 |doi=10.1080/18692729.2023.2169462 |s2cid=258313143 |issn=1869-2729 |access-date=13 July 2023 |archive-date=13 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713002234/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/18692729.2023.2169462 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

=== Security ===

[[File:Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Ariake, police watching on top of industrial building in front of tennis center court.jpg|thumb|Police patrolling and watching from a rooftop near the tennis venue]] In December 2018, the Japanese government chose to ban drones from flying over venues being used for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. A similar ban was also imposed for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which Japan also hosted.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1073588/japanese-government-announce-ban-on-drones-near-venues-during-tokyo-2020|title=Japanese Government announce ban on drones near venues during Tokyo 2020|first=James|last=Diamond|date=25 December 2018|website=[[Inside the Games]]|access-date=10 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110234831/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1073588/japanese-government-announce-ban-on-drones-near-venues-during-tokyo-2020|archive-date=10 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2020, counterterrorism drills began in different parts where the Games would take place, after intelligence data showed that terrorist groups could have carried out an attack to seek worldwide attention.<ref>{{cite news |title=Japan Bolsters Olympic and Paralympic Security amid Heightened Terrorism Concerns |url=https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h00617/japan-bolsters-olympic-and-paralympic-security-amid-heightened-terrorism-concerns.html |access-date=21 June 2022 |work=Nippon.com |date=26 December 2019 |archive-date=21 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621101503/https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h00617/japan-bolsters-olympic-and-paralympic-security-amid-heightened-terrorism-concerns.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2021, prior to the start of the Games, the [[Japan Coast Guard]] conducted [[counterterrorism]] drills in the [[Tokyo Bay]]. The drill consisted of two [[inflatable boat]]s trying to stop a suspicious ship from getting to shore.<ref>{{cite news |last1=ul-Khaliq |first1=Riyaz |title=Japan holds anti-terror drill as Tokyo Olympics near |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/japan-holds-anti-terror-drill-as-tokyo-olympics-near/2302090 |agency=[[Anadolu Agency]] |date=12 July 2021 |access-date=18 February 2022 |archive-date=18 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218214509/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/japan-holds-anti-terror-drill-as-tokyo-olympics-near/2302090 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Volunteers ===

Applications for volunteering at the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games were accepted beginning on September 26, 2018. By January 18, 2019, a total of 204,680 applications had been received by the Tokyo Organizing Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tokyo2020.org/en/special/volunteer/news/notice/20190124-01.html|title=More than 200,000 Applications Received for Tokyo 2020 Volunteer program|publisher=[[Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games|TOCOG]]|website=Tokyo2020.org|access-date=1 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202154343/https://tokyo2020.org/en/special/volunteer/news/notice/20190124-01.html|archive-date=2 February 2019}}</ref> Interviews to select the requisite number of volunteers began in February 2019, with training scheduled to take place in October 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/tokyo-2020-180000-apply-be-volunteers|title=Tokyo 2020: 180,000 apply to be volunteers|date=9 January 2019|publisher=[[International Paralympic Committee|IPC]]|website=paralympic.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110183638/https://www.paralympic.org/news/tokyo-2020-180000-apply-be-volunteers|archive-date=10 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Volunteers at the venues were to be known as "Field Cast", and volunteers in the city were to be known as "City Cast". These names were chosen from a [[Short list|shortlist]] of four from an original 150 pairs of names; the other three shortlisted names were "Shining Blue" and "Shining Blue Tokyo", "Games Anchor" and "City Anchor", and "Games Force" and "City Force". The names were chosen by people who had applied to be volunteers at the Games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympic.org/news/volunteer-names-unveiled-for-tokyo-2020|title=Volunteer names unveiled for Tokyo 2020|date=30 January 2019|publisher=[[International Olympic Committee|IOC]]|access-date=31 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131201607/https://www.olympic.org/news/volunteer-names-unveiled-for-tokyo-2020|archive-date=31 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

As of early June 2021, approximately 10,000 out of the 80,000 registered volunteers resigned from the Games. Media attributed the rise in pandemic cases as the reason for massive quitting.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Chie|last1=Kobayashi|first2=Selina|last2=Wang|first3=Joshua|last3=Berlinger|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/03/sport/tokyo-olympics-volunteers-covid-intl-hnk/index.html|title=About 10,000 Tokyo Olympic volunteers have quit with Games closing in|publisher=CNN|date=3 June 2021|access-date=16 July 2021|archive-date=16 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716141904/https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/03/sport/tokyo-olympics-volunteers-covid-intl-hnk/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> More volunteer assignments were expected to be cancelled due to the spectator ban.<ref>{{cite web|first=Atsushi|last=Murata|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Tokyo-2020-Olympics/An-Olympics-without-fans-Tokyo-volunteers-suddenly-have-no-roles|title=An Olympics without fans? Tokyo volunteers suddenly have no roles|publisher=Nikkei News|date=10 July 2021|access-date=16 July 2021|archive-date=16 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716141905/https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Tokyo-2020-Olympics/An-Olympics-without-fans-Tokyo-volunteers-suddenly-have-no-roles|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Medals === {{further|Olympic medal}} [[File:Mykhailo Romanchuk on the podium at Tokyo 2020.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Due to COVID-19 protocols, the medals were presented to the athletes on a tray and each athlete was asked to put on their own medal, rather than have it placed around their neck by a dignitary.<ref>{{cite web|date=14 July 2021|title=How the Olympics will look different this year|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/article/how-the-olympics-will-look-different-this-year/|access-date=20 July 2021|website=CTVNews|archive-date=15 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715021924/https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/how-the-olympics-will-look-different-this-year-1.5509775|url-status=live}}</ref> ]] In February 2017, the Tokyo Organizing Committee announced an [[electronics recycling]] program in partnership with Japan Environmental Sanitation Center and [[NTT Docomo]], soliciting donations of electronics, such as mobile phones, to be reclaimed as materials for the medals. Aiming to collect eight tonnes of metals to produce the medals for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, collection boxes were deployed at public locations and NTT Docomo retail shops in April 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1046501/tokyo-2020-urge-public-to-help-create-recycled-medals|title=Tokyo 2020 urge public to help create recycled medals|first=Dan|last=Palmer|date=1 February 2017|website=[[Inside the Games]]|access-date=10 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106010321/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1046501/tokyo-2020-urge-public-to-help-create-recycled-medals|archive-date=6 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/01/02/national/project-recycle-old-mobile-phones-olympic-medals-gets-off-slow-start/|title=Project to recycle old mobile phones for Olympic medals gets off to slow start|date=2 January 2018|work=[[The Japan Times]]|agency=[[Jiji Press|Jiji]], [[Kyodo News|Kyodo]]|access-date=4 November 2018|issn=0447-5763|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104170019/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/01/02/national/project-recycle-old-mobile-phones-olympic-medals-gets-off-slow-start/|archive-date=4 November 2018}}</ref> A design competition for the medals was launched in December of that year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1059382/tokyo-2020-launches-olympic-and-paralympic-medal-design-competition|date=22 December 2017|title=Tokyo 2020 launches Olympic and Paralympic medal design competition|first=Daniel|last=Etchells|website=[[Inside the Games]]|access-date=10 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106010406/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1059382/tokyo-2020-launches-olympic-and-paralympic-medal-design-competition|archive-date=6 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2018, the organizing committee reported that they had obtained half the required 2,700 kilograms of bronze but were struggling to obtain the required amount of silver; although bronze and silver medals purely utilize their respective materials, IOC requirements mandate that gold medals utilize silver as a base.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1064844/japan-struggles-for-silver-for-tokyo-2020-medals|title=Japan struggles for silver for Tokyo 2020 medals|website=[[Inside the Games]]|date=9 May 2018 |access-date=10 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105201351/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1064844/japan-struggles-for-silver-for-tokyo-2020-medals|archive-date=5 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The collection of bronze was completed in November 2018, with the remainder estimated to have been completed by March 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1072665/bach-donates-to-project-recycling-metals-for-tokyo-2020-medals|title=Bach donates to project recycling metals for Tokyo 2020 medals|last=Pavitt|first=Michael|website=[[Inside the Games]]|access-date=10 February 2019|date=25 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106010237/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1072665/bach-donates-to-project-recycling-metals-for-tokyo-2020-medals|archive-date=6 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

On July 24, 2019 (one year ahead of the originally scheduled opening ceremony), the designs of the medals were unveiled.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tokyo2020.org/en/news/notice/20190724-01.html|title=Tokyo 2020 Olympic medal design unveiled|date=24 July 2019|publisher=[[Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games|TOCOG]]|website=Tokyo2020.org|access-date=24 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724185027/https://tokyo2020.org/en/news/notice/20190724-01.html|archive-date=24 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="TOCOG medal design">{{cite web|url=https://tokyo2020.org/en/games/medals/olympic-design/|title=Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Medal Design|access-date=24 July 2019|publisher=[[Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games|TOCOG]]|website=Tokyo2020.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724185029/https://tokyo2020.org/en/games/medals/olympic-design/|archive-date=24 July 2019}}</ref> The medals for the Olympic and Paralympic Games were designed by Junichi Kawanishi following a nationwide competition.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hitti|first=Natashah|url=https://www.dezeen.com/2019/07/25/2020-olympic-medals-recycled-smartphones-design/|title=Olympic committee unveils 2020 medals made from recycled smartphones|work=[[Dezeen]]|date=25 July 2019|access-date=26 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726145600/https://www.dezeen.com/2019/07/25/2020-olympic-medals-recycled-smartphones-design/|archive-date=26 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> A new feature shared with the [[2020 Summer Paralympics#Medals|Paralympic medals]] is that the ribbons contain one, two, or three [[Tactile graphic|silicone convex lines]] to distinguish gold, silver, and bronze medals, respectively.<ref name="TOCOG medal design" />

'''Medals used in the Games''' {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- | [[File:Tokyo 2020 bronze medal(2).jpg|115px]] | [[File:Olympic silver medal - Tokyo 2021, side B (cropped).jpg|115px]] | [[File:Tokyo 2020 gold medal (2).jpg|115px]] |- | Bronze medal | Silver medal | Gold medal |}

=== Podium === [[File:Pódio Olímpico (nado, 10km).jpg|thumb|2020 Summer Olympics Swimming Women's marathon 10 kilometre podium]] The 2020 Summer Olympics podiums were made from plastic waste donated by the Japanese population. Artist Asao Tokolo was tasked with their design, which was produced using [[3D printing processes|3D printing technology]] with 400,000 laundry detergent bottles (24.5 tons) collected from stores and schools across the country for over nine months.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Pódio da Olimpíada de Tóquio é feito com resíduos plásticos e impressão 3D - Casa Vogue {{!}} Sustentabilidade |url=https://casavogue.globo.com/amp/Design/Sustentabilidade/noticia/2021/07/podio-da-olimpiada-de-toquio-e-feito-com-residuos-plasticos-e-impressao-3d.html |access-date=2026-05-18 |website=casavogue.globo.com}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |date=6 June 2024 |title=50 days to go: podium, theme music and other key features unveiled |url=https://www.olympics.com/en/news/50-days-to-go-podium-theme-music-and-other-key-features-unveiled |access-date=18 May 2026 |website=Olympics.com |publisher=International Olympic Committee |language=en}}</ref>

Each podium was constructed from a series of small, 3D-printed cube-shaped modules that were connected to form the three traditional pedestals. For the Paralympic Games, they could be transformed into a flat, accessible platform.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9" />

The modules were rendered in the same shade of blue as the Tokyo 2020’s logo, and the [[Olympic rings]] in front of the podiums were made from [[recycled aluminum]], originally used to form temporary housing for those impacted by the major [[Earthquake Japan 2011|earthquake in eastern Japan in 2011]].<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9" />

[[File:Victory ceremony of the men's middleweight boxing event at Tokyo 2020.jpg|thumb|Men's middleweight boxing event podium at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics]]

=== Torch relay === {{Main|2020 Summer Olympics torch relay}}

The slogan of the 2020 Summer Olympics torch relay was "Hope Lights Our Way".<ref name="IOC2020 Torch Relay">{{cite web|url=https://www.olympic.org/news/tokyo-2020-unveils-details-of-greek-torch-relay-events|title=Tokyo 2020 unveils details of Greek torch relay events|date=11 November 2019|publisher=[[IOC]]|website=Olympic.org|access-date=28 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113131150/https://www.olympic.org/news/tokyo-2020-unveils-details-of-greek-torch-relay-events|archive-date=13 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Tokyo2020 Torch Relay">{{cite web|url=https://tokyo2020.org/en/torch/news/journey-begins|title=With the concept of 'Hope Lights Our Way,' a 121-day journey begins in Fukushima|date=3 February 2020|website=Tokyo2020.org|publisher=[[Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games|TOCOG]]|access-date=28 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228171015/https://tokyo2020.org/en/torch/news/journey-begins|archive-date=28 February 2020}}</ref>

As determined by a 2009 IOC ruling that banned international torch relays for any future Olympic Games,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/7967284.stm|title=International torch relays banned|date=27 March 2009|work=BBC Sport|access-date=28 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090329010554/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/7967284.stm|archive-date=29 March 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> the 2020 Summer Olympics torch was scheduled to only visit two countries: Greece and host nation Japan. The first phase of the relay began on March 12, 2020, with the traditional flame lighting ceremony at the [[Temple of Hera, Olympia|Temple of Hera]] in [[Olympia, Greece]]. The torch then travelled to [[Athens]], where the Greek leg of the relay culminated in a handover ceremony at the [[Panathenaic Stadium]] on March 19, during which the torch was transferred to the Japanese contingent.<ref name="IOC2020 Torch Relay" /> The flame was placed inside a special lantern and transported from [[Athens International Airport]] on a chartered flight to [[Higashimatsushima]] in Japan. The torch was then expected to begin the second phase of its journey on March 20, as it traveled for one week around the three most affected areas of the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami]]—[[Miyagi Prefecture|Miyagi]], [[Iwate Prefecture|Iwate]] and [[Fukushima Prefecture|Fukushima]]—where it would go on display under the heading "Flame of Recovery". After leaving [[Naraha, Fukushima|Naraha]] on March 26, the torch would commence its main relay around Japan, incorporating all 47 [[Prefectures of Japan|prefectural]] capitals.<ref name="Tokyo2020 Torch Relay" />

After the decision to postpone the Games, the torch was placed again in a special lantern on display in the city of Fukushima for a month. Then, the lantern was transferred to the Tokyo prefecture, where it was kept safe until the restart of the relay in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 March 2020 |title=Olympic flame flickers amid Tokyo 2020 uncertainty {{!}} NHK WORLD-JAPAN News |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/986/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414052113/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/986/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 April 2020 |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=NHK WORLD |language=en}}</ref> On July 23, 2020 (one year ahead of the rescheduled opening ceremony), a promotional video was released featuring Japanese swimmer [[Rikako Ikee]] carrying the lantern inside Japan National Stadium, drawing comparisons between emergence from the pandemic and her own return to sport after being diagnosed with [[leukemia]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Tokyo 2020 releases one-year-to-go countdown video starring swimmer Ikee|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1096603/rikako-ikee-swimmer-tokyo-2020|access-date=28 September 2020|website=[[Inside the Games]]|date=23 July 2020 |archive-date=22 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722172626/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1096603/rikako-ikee-swimmer-tokyo-2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On August 20, 2020, it was announced that the torch relay would begin again in Naraha, Fukushima on March 25, 2021, nearly a year later than originally planned.<ref name="Olympic Flame exhibit">{{cite news|title=Olympic flame to be exhibited in Fukushima, Tokyo|url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200329_02/|access-date=31 March 2020|agency=NHK News|date=28 March 2020}}{{dead link|date=February 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-2020-torch/olympics-torch-relay-schedule-intact-for-next-year-kyodo-idUSKCN25G0LM|title=Olympics: Torch relay schedule intact for next year – Kyodo|publisher=Reuters|date=20 August 2020|access-date=20 August 2020|archive-date=20 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820183438/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-2020-torch/olympics-torch-relay-schedule-intact-for-next-year-kyodo-idUSKCN25G0LM|url-status=live}}</ref>

The final course of the relay was altered due to concerns regarding public health concerns about gatherings along the route (e.g., the Miyakojima leg was canceled), and the relay was held without spectators due to states of emergency in some regions (e.g., Matsuyama, Hiroshima, Hyōgo, and Okayama).<ref>{{cite journal |last=Niehaus |first=Andreas |date=2023-01-02 |title="I want to bring this light to those in despair" – the Tokyo 2020 torch relay and the creation of Olympic legacies |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/18692729.2023.2169856 |journal=Contemporary Japan |language=en |volume=35 |issue=1 |pages=75–93 |doi=10.1080/18692729.2023.2169856 |s2cid=258313138 |issn=1869-2729 |access-date=13 July 2023 |archive-date=13 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713002237/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/18692729.2023.2169856 |url-status=live |hdl=1854/LU-01GXV3V5AFYRR4JWXQVXNHY45N |hdl-access=free }}</ref> The relay ended at Tokyo's [[Japan National Stadium|National Stadium (Olympic Stadium)]] on July 23, with tennis player [[Naomi Osaka]] lighting the Olympic cauldron at the finale of the [[2020 Summer Olympics opening ceremony|opening ceremony]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Mather|first=Victor|date=23 July 2021|title=Naomi Osaka lights the cauldron.|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/23/sports/olympics/naomi-osaka-lights-cauldron.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/23/sports/olympics/naomi-osaka-lights-cauldron.html|archive-date=2021-12-28|url-access=limited|access-date=23 July 2021|issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The cauldron lit in the Olympic Stadium was only used during the opening and closing ceremonies: a separate cauldron was lit on the Tokyo waterfront for public view at the [[Dream Bridge|Yume No Ohashi Bridge]] in [[Odaiba]], making it only the second time in Olympic history where the cauldron was not displayed in the athletics stadium, the other time being in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|last=Steen|first=Emma|title=The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Cauldron is now on display in Ariake|url=https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/the-tokyo-2020-olympic-cauldron-is-now-on-display-in-ariake-072721|access-date=2021-09-05|website=Time Out Tokyo|date=27 July 2021 |language=en-GB|archive-date=5 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905004244/https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/the-tokyo-2020-olympic-cauldron-is-now-on-display-in-ariake-072721|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Biosecurity protocols ===

[[File:Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Ariake, tennis center court entrance 2.jpg|thumb|Temperature check and COVID-19 countermeasures at the tennis venue]] In February 2021, the IOC began releasing "playbooks" containing details on planned COVID-19 [[biosecurity]] protocols for athletes, officials, the press, and other staff, including standard protocols such as practicing [[social distancing]], hygiene, wearing face masks (outside of training and competition for athletes), and being restricted from visiting bars, restaurants, shops, and other tourist areas around [[Greater Tokyo Area]], or using public transport unless otherwise permitted. Participants would be asked to use Japan's COCOA [[Exposure Notification]] app and would be tested at least every four days. Athletes who tested positive would be unable to compete and could be quarantined at a government facility (although leeway would be given in the event of false positives). Close contacts would also need to test negative to be cleared for competition. Athletes would be discouraged from "excessive" celebrations because the actions could spread infected droplets.<ref>{{cite news|date=5 February 2021|title=Athletes warned against excessive celebrations at Tokyo 2020|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1103874/tokyo-2020-athletes-playbook-rules|access-date=23 March 2021|website=[[Inside the Games]]|archive-date=6 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306233647/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1103874/tokyo-2020-athletes-playbook-rules|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=3 February 2021|title=Tokyo 2020 organisers publish first set of rules to ensure Games can go ahead|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1103777/tokyo-2020-first-playbook-published|access-date=23 March 2021|website=[[Inside the Games]]|archive-date=13 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413140337/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1103777/tokyo-2020-first-playbook-published|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="WaPo-tickets">{{cite news|author=Simon Denyer|date=20 March 2021|title=Tokyo Olympics organizers ban spectators from outside Japan in pandemic-control measure|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/dtokyo-olympics-torch-begins-journey-through-japan-as-organizers-ban-outside-fans/2021/03/20/f8588344-8335-11eb-be22-32d331d87530_story.html|access-date=20 March 2021|archive-date=20 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320125930/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/dtokyo-olympics-torch-begins-journey-through-japan-as-organizers-ban-outside-fans/2021/03/20/f8588344-8335-11eb-be22-32d331d87530_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The playbooks were criticized in a paper published by ''[[The New England Journal of Medicine]]'' in May 2021, for lacking "scientifically rigorous risk assessment" and failing to "distinguish the various levels of risk faced by athletes". The playbook stated that athletes were required to arrive up to five days prior to the start of the competition and to leave within 48 hours of being eliminated from their sport or the conclusion of the competitions.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Sparrow|first1=Annie K.|last2=Brosseau|first2=Lisa M.|last3=Harrison|first3=Robert J.|last4=Osterholm|first4=Michael T.|date=25 May 2021|title=Protecting Olympic Participants from Covid-19 — The Urgent Need for a Risk-Management Approach|journal=New England Journal of Medicine|volume=385|issue=1|pages=e2|doi=10.1056/NEJMp2108567|issn=0028-4793|pmid=34033274|doi-access=free|s2cid=235201472}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://olympics.com/athlete365/faqs-tokyo-2020-playbooks/|title=Tokyo 2020 Playbooks Athlete365|publisher=International Olympic Committee|access-date=29 July 2021|archive-date=29 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729070910/https://olympics.com/athlete365/faqs-tokyo-2020-playbooks/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The IOC recommended the [[vaccination]] of athletes against COVID-19 if [[COVID-19 vaccine|vaccines]] were available to them, but this was not a prerequisite for participation and the IOC advised against athletes "jumping the queue" to obtain priority over essential populations.<ref>{{cite web|last=Edwards|first=Kate|title=COVID vaccines won't be compulsory for the Tokyo Olympics. But if offered, here's what athletes need to know|url=http://theconversation.com/covid-vaccines-wont-be-compulsory-for-the-tokyo-olympics-but-if-offered-heres-what-athletes-need-to-know-155470|access-date=23 March 2021|website=The Conversation|date=25 February 2021 |archive-date=22 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322200831/https://theconversation.com/covid-vaccines-wont-be-compulsory-for-the-tokyo-olympics-but-if-offered-heres-what-athletes-need-to-know-155470|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 12, 2021, Thomas Bach announced that in nations where they were approved for use, the [[Chinese Olympic Committee]] had offered to cover the costs of the Chinese [[CoronaVac]] and the [[Sinopharm BIBP COVID-19 vaccine|Sinopharm BIBP vaccine]] for athletes competing in the 2020 Summer Olympics and [[2022 Winter Olympics]], and would purchase two doses for their nation's general public for each vaccinated athlete.<ref>{{cite news|date=12 March 2021|title=IOC says vaccine offer open to countries who have approved Chinese vaccines|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1105338/ioc-tokyo-2020-china-vaccine-offer-nocs|access-date=23 March 2021|website=[[Inside the Games]]|archive-date=17 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317123812/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1105338/ioc-tokyo-2020-china-vaccine-offer-nocs|url-status=live}}</ref> On May 6, 2021, [[Pfizer]] announced it would donate doses of [[Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine|its vaccine]] to NOCs competing in Tokyo.<ref>{{cite web|date=6 May 2021|title=IOC welcomes Pfizer and BioNTech's donation of vaccines to teams heading for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 – Olympic News|url=https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-welcomes-pfizer-and-biontech-s-donation-of-vaccines-to-teams-heading-for-the-olympic-and-paralympic-games-tokyo-2020|access-date=26 May 2021|website=International Olympic Committee|archive-date=22 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522003507/https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-welcomes-pfizer-and-biontech-s-donation-of-vaccines-to-teams-heading-for-the-olympic-and-paralympic-games-tokyo-2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

Approximately 93,000 athletes and officials were exempt from the quarantine rules upon arriving in Japan, provided they remained in areas separated from the local population. With around 300,000 local staff and volunteers entering and exiting these bubbles, and 20,000 vaccine doses allocated for this group, this led to concerns of COVID-19 spreading both during the Games and when teams returned to their countries.<ref>{{cite web|title=五輪選手の「バブル」は効果なし？国内から30万人が出入り、ワクチン用意は2万人分：東京新聞 TOKYO Web|url=https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/108472|trans-title=Is the "bubble" of the Olympic athletes ineffective? 300,000 people come and go from Japan, vaccine preparation is for 20,000 people|date=4 June 2021|access-date=4 June 2021|website=東京新聞 TOKYO Web|language=ja|archive-date=3 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603231635/https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/108472|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Wade|first=Stephen|title=Tokyo Olympics rules: Daily testing for athletes, no 14-day quarantine but a 'bubble' in the Olympic Village|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/olympics/ct-tokyo-olympics-covid-19-20210426-74m5zubelze4pbiaf5eh5bkcjq-story.html|date=26 April 2021|access-date=4 June 2021|website=[[Chicago Tribune]]|agency=Associated Press|archive-date=4 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604064428/https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/olympics/ct-tokyo-olympics-covid-19-20210426-74m5zubelze4pbiaf5eh5bkcjq-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Due to international travel restrictions, the organizing committee announced in March 2021 that no international guests (including spectators, and friends and family members of the athletes) would be allowed to attend the Games. As per existing guidance for spectator sports in Japan, spectators would be asked to refrain from cheering or shouting.<ref name="WaPo-tickets" /> On June 19, 2021, Governor Koike announced that plans for public viewing events for the Games had been scrapped, in order to use the planned venues (such as [[Yoyogi Park]]) as mass vaccination sites instead.<ref>{{cite news|date=19 June 2021|title=Tokyo cancels public viewing sites, some to be vaccination centres|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/tokyo-cancels-public-viewing-sites-some-be-vaccination-centres-2021-06-19/|access-date=19 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626090731/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/organisers-set-decide-domestic-spectators-tokyo-2020-2021-06-21/|archive-date=26 June 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> On June 21, it was announced that all venues would be capped at a maximum of 10,000 ticketed spectators or 50% capacity, whichever was lower.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gallagher|first1=Chris|last2=Slodkowski|first2=Antoni|last3=Leussink|first3=Daniel|date=23 June 2021|title=Up to 10,000 fans allowed at Tokyo 2020 venues, despite warnings|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/organisers-set-decide-domestic-spectators-tokyo-2020-2021-06-21/|access-date=21 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626090731/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/organisers-set-decide-domestic-spectators-tokyo-2020-2021-06-21/|archive-date=26 June 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

On July 2, 2021, the new TOCOG president Seiko Hashimoto warned that there was still a possibility of the Games being held [[Behind closed doors (sport)|behind closed doors]] because of rising COVID-19 cases in the country.<ref>{{cite news|date=2 July 2021|title=Tokyo 2020 organisers warn of no-fan Olympics as COVID cases rise|website=[[Aljazeera.com]]|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2021/7/2/japan-still-undecidedon-having-spectators-in-tokyo-olympics|access-date=2 July 2021|archive-date=2 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702124607/https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2021/7/2/japan-still-undecidedon-having-spectators-in-tokyo-olympics|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=22 July 2021|title=Olympics: from June 1 to July 22, Jill Biden lands in Tokyo|work=Asia Nikkei|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Tokyo-2020-Olympics/Olympics-latest-Tokyo-considers-barring-fans-from-opening-ceremony|access-date=9 August 2021|archive-date=5 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705013434/https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Tokyo-2020-Olympics/Olympics-latest-Tokyo-considers-barring-fans-from-opening-ceremony|url-status=live}}</ref> Japan's slow vaccination rate was of particular concern.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|author=Houston, Michael|date=8 July 2021|title=Tokyo to be under state of emergency for duration of Olympics|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1109901/tokyo-2020-olympics-state-of-emergency|access-date=8 July 2021|work=Inside the Games|archive-date=8 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210708092010/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1109901/tokyo-2020-olympics-state-of-emergency|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite news|date=8 July 2021|title=Tokyo Olympics: Spectators largely barred as Covid emergency declared|work=BBC News Asia|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57760883|access-date=8 July 2021|archive-date=8 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210708092021/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57760883|url-status=live}}</ref> A simulation run by the [[University of Tokyo]] in May 2021 projected that a new wave of infections could peak in mid-October if the Games went on after the existing state of emergency in Tokyo had expired.<ref>{{cite news|title=Limiting people's movement key to holding 'safe' Olympics: study|url=http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14357743|date=25 May 2021|access-date=6 June 2021|website=The Asahi Shimbun|last=Hisatoshi|first=Kabata|archive-date=6 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606105918/http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14357743|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=五輪「人の流れ抑制が鍵」入国選手ら、影響限定的か—東大准教授ら試算：時事ドットコム|trans-title=Olympics "Suppressing the flow of people is the key" Immigration players, impact limited – Estimated by Associate Professor of the University of Tokyo|date=31 May 2021|url=https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2021053000182&g=soc|access-date=6 June 2021|website=時事ドットコム [[Jiji Press]]|language=ja|archive-date=6 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606105919/https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2021053000182&g=soc|url-status=live}}</ref>

On July 8, 2021, after Tokyo had recorded 920 new COVID-19 cases (its highest increase since May), Prime Minister Suga declared a new state of emergency in the Tokyo area from July 12 through August 22 (ending only two days before the Paralympics' opening ceremony), and announced that all events at venues in the area would therefore be held behind closed doors with no spectators permitted. Hashimoto stated that "it is extremely regrettable that the Games will be staged in a very limited manner in the face of the spread of novel coronavirus infections." IOC President Thomas Bach stated that "we will support any measure which is necessary to have a safe and secure Olympic and Paralympic Games for the Japanese people and all the participants."<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4">{{cite news|date=8 July 2021|title=Fans barred from all Olympic events in Tokyo as COVID-19 fears grow|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1109917/tokyo-2020-no-fans|access-date=8 July 2021|website=Inside the Games|archive-date=8 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210708141728/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1109917/tokyo-2020-no-fans|url-status=live}}</ref>

The announcement stated that spectators would still be allowed at events being held outside of Tokyo, subject to the approval by local health authorities and the aforementioned 50%/10,000-spectator limit. The [[Prefectures of Japan|prefectures]] of [[Fukushima Prefecture|Fukushima]], [[Hokkaido]], and [[Ibaraki Prefecture|Ibaraki]] announced they would prohibit spectators at events held in the areas.<ref>{{cite web|date=10 July 2021|title=Japan's Fukushima, in reversal, bars spectators from Olympic events|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/fukushima-reversal-bars-spectators-olympic-events-2021-07-10/|access-date=11 July 2021|website=Reuters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715001622/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/fukushima-reversal-bars-spectators-olympic-events-2021-07-10/|archive-date=15 July 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> The opening ceremony was expected to be limited to fewer than 1,000 VIP guests, including IOC representatives and dignitaries,<ref name=":3">{{cite web|last=NEWS|first=KYODO|title=IOC's Bach asked Japan PM to allow fans at Olympics if COVID state improves|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/07/04c1f6be2d04-breaking-news-under-1000-athletes-excepted-might-attend-olympics-opening-event.html|access-date=20 July 2021|website=Kyodo News+|date=16 July 2021 |archive-date=19 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719223823/https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/07/04c1f6be2d04-breaking-news-under-1000-athletes-excepted-might-attend-olympics-opening-event.html|url-status=live}}</ref> while some events did allow members of other competing delegations to occupy spectator seats as well.<ref>{{cite web|date=2021-07-27|title=Noisy delegations make up for absent spectators at Games|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/olympics-an-olympics-without-spectators-noisy-delegations-make-up-absent-fans-2021-07-27/|access-date=2021-08-10|website=Reuters|archive-date=10 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810012851/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/olympics-an-olympics-without-spectators-noisy-delegations-make-up-absent-fans-2021-07-27/|url-status=live}}</ref> School students were invited to watch football matches in Ibaraki.<ref>{{cite web|date=2021-08-12|title=Tokyo Paralympics likely to be held with no spectators|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/08/12/national/paralympics-no-spectators/|access-date=2021-08-15|website=The Japan Times|language=en-US|archive-date=13 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813212759/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/08/12/national/paralympics-no-spectators/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Shimizu, Ayano|date=9 July 2021|title=Tokyo Olympics to be held mostly without spectators due to pandemic|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/07/094df0533231-urgent-ioc-chief-bach-arrives-in-japan-for-tokyo-olympics.html|access-date=5 July 2021|publisher=Kyodo News|archive-date=8 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210708044655/https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/07/094df0533231-urgent-ioc-chief-bach-arrives-in-japan-for-tokyo-olympics.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On July 16, it was reported that Bach had asked Prime Minister Suga about the possibility of restrictions on spectators being eased later on if COVID-19 conditions were to improve in Tokyo.<ref name=":3" /> However, on August 2, Suga announced that all existing state of emergency declarations would be extended through August 31, and be extended to Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama, and parts of Osaka.<ref>{{cite web|last=NEWS|first=KYODO|title=Japan expands COVID state of emergency to Osaka, 3 areas near Tokyo|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/08/79b8fa967393-japan-expands-covid-state-of-emergency-to-3-areas-near-tokyo-osaka.html|access-date=2021-08-10|website=Kyodo News+|date=2 August 2021 |archive-date=9 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809123718/https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/08/79b8fa967393-japan-expands-covid-state-of-emergency-to-3-areas-near-tokyo-osaka.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Ticketing ===

The opening ceremony tickets were expected to range from ¥12,000 to ¥300,000, with a maximum price of ¥130,000 for the finals of the athletics [[track and field]] events.<ref name=Tickets2020>{{cite web|url=https://tokyo2020.org/en/news/notice/20180720-03.html|title=Tokyo 2020 Announces Outline of Olympic Games Ticket Prices|date=20 July 2018|access-date=27 July 2018|publisher=[[Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games|TOCOG]]|website=Tokyo2020.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727145933/https://tokyo2020.org/en/news/notice/20180720-03.html|archive-date=27 July 2018}}</ref> The average ticket price was ¥7,700, with half the tickets being sold for up to ¥8,000. A symbolic ticket price of ¥2,020 was expected for families, groups resident in Japan, and in conjunction with a school program.<ref name=Tickets2020 /> Tickets would be sold through 40,000 shops in Japan and by mail order to Japanese addresses through the internet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tokyoolympicjapan.com/ticket-e.html|title=Tickets for Olympic Games / Tokyo Olympic Japan 2020|access-date=30 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160831163321/http://www.tokyoolympicjapan.com/ticket-e.html|archive-date=31 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> International guests, had they been allowed, would have needed to visit Japan during the sales period, or arrange to buy tickets through a third party such as a [[travel agent]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://trulytokyo.com/how-to-buy-tokyo-olympic-tickets/|title=How To Buy Tokyo Olympic Tickets|work=Truly Tokyo |publisher=TrulyTokyo|access-date=3 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503112023/https://trulytokyo.com/how-to-buy-tokyo-olympic-tickets/|archive-date=3 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Tickets went on general sale in Japan in the autumn of 2019 and were expected to be sold globally from June 2020; however, this plan was suspended when the Games were postponed on March 24, 2020. The Tokyo Organizing Committee confirmed that tickets already purchased would remain valid for the same sessions according to the new schedule and that refunds were also being offered.<ref name=Tickets2021>{{cite web|url=https://tokyo2020.org/en/tickets/|title=Tokyo 2020: Olympic Games tickets|website=Tokyo2020.org|publisher=TOCOG|access-date=31 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200330164856/https://tokyo2020.org/en/tickets/|archive-date=30 March 2020}}</ref>

On March 20, 2021, it was announced that due to COVID-19-related concerns, no international guests would be allowed to attend the 2020 Olympics or Paralympics. This included spectators, as well as the friends and family of athletes. All overseas ticketholders would be refunded.<ref name="WaPo-tickets" /> Hashimoto cited uncertainties surrounding international [[Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic|travel restrictions]], and goals to preserve the safety of all participants and spectators, and not place a burden on the [[Health care system in Japan|health care system]].<ref name="WaPo-tickets" /> It was ultimately announced in July that all local spectators were not allowed to attend any events held in Tokyo, Fukushima, and Hokkaido.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" />

=== Cultural festival ===

A cultural program known as Nippon Festival was scheduled to coincide with the Olympics and Paralympics, running from April to September 2021 as a series of streaming events held by the Tokyo Organizing Committee and other partners. The events reflected the themes of "Participation and Interaction", "Towards the Realization of an Inclusive Society", and "Reconstruction of the Tohoku Region". The program was either downsized or reformatted to [[Virtual event|virtual format]] due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the postponement of the Games.<ref>{{cite news|date=10 March 2021|title=Tokyo 2020 unveils events program for Nippon Festival in 2021|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1105237/tokyo-2020-nippon-festival-program|access-date=14 July 2021|website=[[Inside the Games]]|archive-date=24 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224072351/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1105237/tokyo-2020-nippon-festival-program|url-status=live}}</ref> One of these events was a concert held on July 18, which featured J-rock band [[Wanima]], choreography by dancers Aio Yamada and Tuki Takamura, and the presentation of animated "creatures" based on illustrations "embodying the thoughts and emotions of people from across the world".<ref>{{cite web|date=14 July 2021|title=Thousands of imaginary creatures to be released in virtual Olympic Stadium|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1110148/wassasi-festival-to-be-held-sunday|access-date=14 July 2021|website=[[Inside the Games]]|archive-date=22 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722173002/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1110148/wassasi-festival-to-be-held-sunday|url-status=live}}</ref>

The original plans for Nippon Festival included events such as ''[[Kabuki]] x [[Theatre of Japan|Opera]]'' (a concert that would have featured stage actor [[Ichikawa Ebizō XI]], opera singers Anna Pirozzi and [[Erwin Schrott]], and the [[Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra]]), an arts and culture festival focusing on disabilities,<ref>{{cite news|date=20 April 2020|title=Nippon Festival cancelled following Tokyo 2020 postponement|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1093393/nippon-festival-off|access-date=14 July 2021|website=[[Inside the Games]]|archive-date=22 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722172502/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1093393/nippon-festival-off|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=29 January 2020|title=Kabuki x Opera details for Tokyo 2020 Nippon Festival announced|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1089822/kabuki-x-opera-nippon-festival-details|access-date=14 July 2021|website=[[Inside the Games]]|archive-date=22 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722172721/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1089822/kabuki-x-opera-nippon-festival-details|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=10 December 2019|title=Details of Tokyo 2020 Nippon festival announced|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1088031/tokyo-2020-nippon-festival-details|access-date=14 July 2021|website=[[Inside the Games]]|archive-date=18 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718110349/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1088031/tokyo-2020-nippon-festival-details|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=10 February 2020|title=Tokyo 2020 release updated calendar for Nippon Festival|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1090368/tokyo-2020-nippon-festival-calendar|access-date=14 July 2021|website=[[Inside the Games]]|archive-date=15 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715095538/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1090368/tokyo-2020-nippon-festival-calendar|url-status=live}}</ref> and a special two-day exhibition [[sumo]] tournament at the [[Ryōgoku Kokugikan]] shortly after the Olympics—which would have differed significantly from the traditional bi-monthly ''[[Honbasho]]'' tournaments, and featured special commentary in English and Japanese to help explain to spectators the customs and traditions of professional sumo, which are deeply rooted in the [[Shinto]] religion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tokyo2020.org/en/news/sumo-tournament|title=Grand Sumo Tournament Rooting for the Tokyo 2020 Games|publisher=[[Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games|TOCOG]]|website=Tokyo2020.org|date=7 February 2020|access-date=1 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301125647/https://tokyo2020.org/en/news/sumo-tournament|archive-date=1 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/c1230cbbb6160371d6c96c4daef61688|title=Sumo wrestling coming – sort of – to the Tokyo Olympics|first=Stephen|last=Wade|date=4 February 2020|work=Associated Press|access-date=7 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207061333/https://apnews.com/c1230cbbb6160371d6c96c4daef61688|archive-date=7 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

== The Games ==

=== Opening ceremony === [[File:Drones durante a abertura das Olimpíadas de Tóquio.jpg|thumb|A scene from the Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, with [[Unmanned aerial vehicle|drones]] flying around and creating the official logo of the Games]] {{Main|2020 Summer Olympics opening ceremony}}

The opening ceremony was held on July 23, 2021, in the [[Japan National Stadium|Olympic Stadium]] in Tokyo. It included the traditional [[2020 Summer Olympics Parade of Nations|Parade of Nations]]. Emperor [[Naruhito]] formally opened the Games, and at the end of the [[2020 Summer Olympics torch relay|torch relay]], the Olympic cauldron was lit by Japanese tennis player [[Naomi Osaka]].<ref name="ingle">{{cite news|last1=Ingle|first1=Sean|title=Naomi Osaka provides spark at subdued opening of Tokyo Olympics|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/23/naomi-osaka-provides-spark-tentative-opening-ceremony-tokyo-2020-olympics|access-date=25 July 2021|work=The Guardian|date=23 July 2021|archive-date=24 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724220105/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/23/naomi-osaka-provides-spark-tentative-opening-ceremony-tokyo-2020-olympics|url-status=live}}</ref>

For the first time in the history of Olympic Games, it was decided that one male and one female from each country would take turns holding flags and serve as two of them.<ref>{{cite news|title=IOC sends extremely strong message that gender balance is a reality at the Olympic Games|work=Olympic News|url=https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-sends-extremely-strong-message-that-gender-balance-is-a-reality-at-the-olympic-games|date=4 March 2020|access-date=18 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725064613/https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-sends-extremely-strong-message-that-gender-balance-is-a-reality-at-the-olympic-games|archive-date=25 July 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> This was done by embodying the "Agenda 2020" set during President Bach's term.<ref>{{cite news|title=IOC Session approves Olympic Agenda 2020+5 as the strategic roadmap to 2025|work=Olympic News|url=https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-session-approves-olympic-agenda-2020-5-as-the-strategic-roadmap-to-2025|date=12 March 2021|access-date=18 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608175159/https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-session-approves-olympic-agenda-2020-5-as-the-strategic-roadmap-to-2025|archive-date=8 June 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=IOC session approves Olympic Agenda 2020+5|work=[[International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation|IBSF]]|url=https://www.ibsf.org/en/news/22147-ioc-presents-key-trends-and-recommendations-of-olympic-agenda-2020-5|date=12 March 2021|access-date=18 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628025830/https://www.ibsf.org/en/news/22147-ioc-presents-key-trends-and-recommendations-of-olympic-agenda-2020-5|archive-date=28 June 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

A moment of silence was observed in the opening ceremony for the victims of [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami|2011 earthquake and tsunami]], and the [[Munich massacre]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Spungin|first=Tal|date=2021-07-23|title=Olympics: Moment of silence for Munich massacre victims for first time|url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/tokyo-olympics-moment-of-silence-held-for-israeli-munich-massacre-victims-674722|access-date=2021-07-23|website=The Jerusalem Post|language=en-US|archive-date=7 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220507114409/https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/tokyo-olympics-moment-of-silence-held-for-israeli-munich-massacre-victims-674722|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Sports === {{See also|Olympic sports}} [[File:Nippon Budokan 2010.jpg|thumb|[[Nippon Budokan]]|188x188px]] [[File:Tokyo Ariake Arena.jpg|thumb|[[Ariake Arena]]|188x188px]] [[File:Ariake Gymnastics Centre.jpg|thumb|[[Ariake Gymnastics Centre]]|188x188px]] [[File:Tokyo Aquatics Centre.jpg|thumb|[[Tokyo Aquatics Centre]]|188x188px]] [[File:Kokuritsu Yoyogi Kyōgijō 1.jpg|thumb|[[Yoyogi National Gymnasium|Yoyogi Gymnasium]]|188x188px]] [[File:Saitama Super Arena 02.jpg|thumb|[[Saitama Super Arena]]|188x188px]] [[File:Ryogoku Kokugikan-1a.jpg|thumb|[[Ryogoku Kokugikan]]|188x188px]] [[File:Mt. Fuji from Osaki Park (Zushi).jpg|thumb|[[Enoshima]] Yacht Harbor, Kanagawa|188x188px]] [[File:釣ヶ崎海岸から望む東浪見の鳥居.jpg|thumb|Tsurigasaki Beach, Chiba|188x188px]]

The event program for the Games was approved by the IOC executive board on June 9, 2017. IOC president Thomas Bach stated that their goal was to give the Games "youthful" and "urban" appeal, and to increase the number of female participants.<ref name="cbc-3on32020">{{cite news|title=3-on-3 basketball officially added to Tokyo Olympics|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/3-on-3-basketball-to-be-part-of-tokyo-olympics-1.4153400|website=CBC Sports|access-date=9 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610171532/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/3-on-3-basketball-to-be-part-of-tokyo-olympics-1.4153400|archive-date=10 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="bbc-mixedgender2020">{{cite web|title=Tokyo 2020: Mixed-gender events added to Olympic Games|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/40226990|work=BBC Sport|date=9 June 2017|access-date=9 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610094726/http://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/40226990|archive-date=10 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Games featured 339 medal events in 33 different sports, encompassing a total of 51 disciplines. [[Karate]], [[sport climbing]], [[surfing]], and [[skateboarding]] made their Olympic debut, while baseball and softball also made a one-off return to the Summer Olympics for the first time since 2008. 15 new events within existing sports were also added, including [[3x3 basketball|3×3 basketball]], [[freestyle BMX]], and the return of [[Madison (cycling)|madison cycling]], as well as nine new mixed events in several sports (table tennis, archery, judo, shooting (3), triathlon, {{nowrap|4 × 400 m}} relay running, and {{nowrap|4 × 100 m}} medley swimming).<ref name=":7">{{cite web|title=Why Tokyo 2020 will be the biggest: The complete list of sports and medals on offer|url=https://olympics.com/en/featured-news/how-many-games-sports-tokyo-2020-olympics|access-date=2021-08-08|website=Olympics.com|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825071143/https://olympics.com/en/featured-news/how-many-games-sports-tokyo-2020-olympics|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the list below, the number of events in each discipline is noted in parentheses.<ref name=":7" />

{|class="wikitable" |- !2020 Summer Olympic Sports program |- | {{Col-begin}} {{Col-1-of-4}} * Aquatics ** {{GamesSport|Artistic swimming|Events=2|Format=d}} ** {{GamesSport|Diving|Events=8|Format=d}} ** {{GamesSport|Marathon swimming|Events=2|Format=d}} ** {{GamesSport|Swimming|Events=35|Format=d}} ** {{GamesSport|Water polo|Events=2|Format=d}} * {{GamesSport|Archery|Events=5|Format=d}} * {{GamesSport|Athletics|Events=48|Format=d}} * {{GamesSport|Badminton|Events=5|Format=d}} * Baseball ** {{GamesSport|Baseball|Events=1|Format=d}} ** {{GamesSport|Softball|Events=1|Format=d}} * {{GamesSport|Basketball|Format=d}} ** Basketball (2) ** 3×3 basketball (2) {{Col-2-of-4}} * {{GamesSport|Boxing|Events=13|Format=d}} * {{GamesSport|Canoeing|Format=d}} ** Slalom (4) ** Sprint (12) * {{GamesSport|Cycling|Format=d}} ** BMX freestyle (2) ** BMX racing (2) ** Mountain biking (2) ** Road cycling (4) ** Track cycling (12) * {{GamesSport|Equestrian|Format=d}} ** Dressage (2) ** Eventing (2) ** Jumping (2) * {{GamesSport|Fencing|Events=12|Format=d}} * {{GamesSport|Field hockey|Events=2|Format=d}} {{Col-3-of-4}} * {{GamesSport|Football|Events=2|Format=d}} * {{GamesSport|Golf|Events=2|Format=d}} * {{GamesSport|Gymnastics|Format=d}} ** Artistic (14) ** Rhythmic (2) ** Trampoline (2) * {{GamesSport|Handball|Events=2|Format=d}} * {{GamesSport|Judo|Events=15|Format=d}} * {{GamesSport|Karate|Format=d}} ** Kata (2) ** Kumite (6) * {{GamesSport|Modern pentathlon|Events=2|Format=d}} * {{GamesSport|Rowing|Events=14|Format=d}} * {{GamesSport|Rugby sevens|Events=2|Format=d}} * {{GamesSport|Sailing|Events=10|Format=d}} {{Col-4-of-4}} * {{GamesSport|Shooting|Events=15|Format=d}} * {{GamesSport|Skateboarding|Events=4|Format=d}} * {{GamesSport|Sport climbing|Events=2|Format=d}} * {{GamesSport|Surfing|Events=2|Format=d}} * {{GamesSport|Table tennis|Events=5|Format=d}} * {{GamesSport|Taekwondo|Events=8|Format=d}} * {{GamesSport|Tennis|Events=5|Format=d}} * {{GamesSport|Triathlon|Events=3|Format=d}} * {{GamesSport|Volleyball|Format=d}} ** Volleyball (2) ** Beach volleyball (2) * {{GamesSport|Weightlifting|Events=14|Format=d}} * {{GamesSport|Wrestling|Format=d}} ** Freestyle (12) ** Greco-Roman (6) {{col-end}} |}

==== New and Optional sports ====

On February 12, 2013, with a remit to control the cost of the Games and ensure they were "relevant to sports fans of all generations", the IOC Executive Board recommended the removal of one of the 26 sports contested at the [[2012 Summer Olympics]], leaving a vacancy the IOC would seek to fill at the [[125th IOC Session]]. The new entrant would join golf and rugby sevens (which would both debut in [[2016 Summer Olympics|2016]]) as part of the program of 28 "core" sports. Five sports were shortlisted for removal, including canoe, field hockey, modern pentathlon, taekwondo, and wrestling. In the final round of voting by the executive board, eight members voted to remove wrestling from the Olympic program. Field hockey and taekwondo tied in second with three votes each.<ref>{{cite news|last=Segal|first=David|date=31 August 2013|title=Olympic Wheel of Fortune|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/01/business/olympic-wheel-of-fortune.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904012318/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/01/business/olympic-wheel-of-fortune.html |archive-date=2013-09-04 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=18 July 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=13 July 2021|title=IOC Executive Board recommends 25 core sports for 2020 Games – Olympic News|url=https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-executive-board-recommends-25-core-sports-for-2020-games|access-date=18 July 2021|website=International Olympic Committee|archive-date=18 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718073645/https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-executive-board-recommends-25-core-sports-for-2020-games|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=12 February 2013|title=Wrestling fighting for Olympic future after dropped from core sports|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1012857/wrestling-fighting-for-olympic-future-after-dropped-from-core-sports|access-date=18 July 2021|website=[[Inside the Games]]|archive-date=22 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722172627/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1012857/wrestling-fighting-for-olympic-future-after-dropped-from-core-sports|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 2013 decision to drop wrestling after Rio 2016 surprised many media outlets, given that the sport's role in the Olympics dates back to the [[ancient Olympic Games]], and was included in the original program for the modern Games. ''[[The New York Times]]'' felt that the decision was based on the shortage of well-known talent and the absence of women's events in the sport.<ref name="wp-dropped">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/wrestling-ioc-make-right-moves-in-getting-sport-back-on-2020-olympics-program/2013/09/08/a2ed9cc4-18a2-11e3-8685-5021e0c41964_story.html|title=Wrestling, IOC make right moves in getting sport back on 2020 Olympics program|last=Hamilton|first=Tracee|date=8 September 2013|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=16 March 2018|issn=0190-8286|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621143725/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/wrestling-ioc-make-right-moves-in-getting-sport-back-on-2020-olympics-program/2013/09/08/a2ed9cc4-18a2-11e3-8685-5021e0c41964_story.html|archive-date=21 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/13/sports/olympics-may-drop-wrestling-in-2020.html|title=Olympics Moves to Drop Wrestling in 2020|last=Longman|first=Jeré|date=12 February 2013|work=The New York Times|access-date=16 March 2018|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621150844/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/13/sports/olympics-may-drop-wrestling-in-2020.html|archive-date=21 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=bbc-nowrestling>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/21427455|title=Wrestling to be dropped from 2020 Olympic Games|work=BBC Sport|date=12 February 2013|access-date=26 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701064236/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/21427455|archive-date=1 July 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Out of the shortlist from the IOC vote, wrestling was duly added to the shortlist of applicants for inclusion in the 2020 Games, alongside the seven new sports put forward for consideration.<ref name="wp-dropped" />

On May 29, 2013, it was announced that three of the eight sports under consideration had made the final shortlist: [[baseball]]/[[softball]], [[Squash (sport)|squash]], and wrestling.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympic.org/news/baseball-softball-squash-and-wrestling-make-cut-for-ioc-session-vote-in-buenos-aires/199833|title=Baseball/softball, squash and wrestling make cut for IOC Session vote in Buenos Aires|date=29 May 2013|website=Olympic.org|publisher=[[IOC]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607170846/https://www.olympic.org/news/baseball-softball-squash-and-wrestling-make-cut-for-ioc-session-vote-in-buenos-aires/199833|archive-date=7 June 2013}}</ref> The other five sports were rejected at this point: [[karate]], [[roller sport]]s, [[sport climbing]], [[wakeboarding]], and [[wushu (sport)|wushu]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/notes_and_insights/wrestling_baseball_softball_and_squash_shortlisted_by_ioc_for_2020_as_five|title=Wrestling, baseball/softball and squash shortlisted by IOC for 2020 as five fail to make cut|date=29 May 2013 |access-date=12 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924124611/http://www.sportspromedia.com/notes_and_insights/wrestling_baseball_softball_and_squash_shortlisted_by_ioc_for_2020_as_five|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> At the [[125th IOC Session]] on September 8, 2013, wrestling was chosen to be included in the Olympic program for 2020 and [[2024 Summer Olympics|2024]]. Wrestling secured 49 votes, while baseball/softball and squash received 24 votes and 22 votes, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ausleisure.com.au/news/wrestling-added-to-olympic-program-for-2020-and-2024-games/|title=Wrestling Added to Olympic Program for 2020 and 2024 Games|date=9 September 2013|work=Australian Leisure Management|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828094557/https://www.ausleisure.com.au/news/wrestling-added-to-olympic-program-for-2020-and-2024-games/|archive-date=28 August 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

With the adoption of the ''Olympic Agenda 2020'' in December 2014, the IOC shifted from a "sport-based" approach to the Olympic program to an "event-based" program—establishing that organizing committees may propose discretionary events to be included in the program to improve local interest.<ref>{{cite news|date=19 July 2014|title=Big changes to Olympic sports program on way after Agenda 2020 Summit|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1021390/big-changes-to-olympic-sports-program-on-way-after-agenda-2020-summit|access-date=18 July 2021|website=[[Inside the Games]]|archive-date=24 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224072349/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1021390/big-changes-to-olympic-sports-program-on-way-after-agenda-2020-summit|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Olympic Agenda 2020 Recommendations|url=http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Olympic_Agenda_2020/Olympic_Agenda_2020-20-20_Recommendations-ENG.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810121042/http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Olympic_Agenda_2020/Olympic_Agenda_2020-20-20_Recommendations-ENG.pdf|archive-date=10 August 2015|access-date=23 June 2015|publisher=IOC}}</ref> As a result of these changes, a shortlist of eight new proposed sports was unveiled on June 22, 2015, consisting of baseball/softball, [[bowling]], karate, roller sports, sport climbing, squash, [[surfing]], and wushu.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/13128825/baseball-softball-8-sports-proposed-2020-games|title=Baseball, softball among 8 sports proposed for 2020 Games|work=ESPN.com|date=22 June 2015|access-date=12 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907101935/http://espn.go.com/olympics/story/_/id/13128825/baseball-softball-8-sports-proposed-2020-games|archive-date=7 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 28, 2015, the Tokyo Organizing Committee submitted their shortlist of five proposed sports to the IOC: baseball/softball, karate, sport climbing, surfing, and [[skateboarding]].<ref name="bbc-fivenew">{{cite web|title=Olympics: Skateboarding & surfing among possible Tokyo 2020 sports|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/34337877|website=BBC Sport|date=28 September 2015|access-date=29 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422043415/http://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/34337877|archive-date=22 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> These five new sports were approved on August 3, 2016, by the IOC during the 129th IOC Session in [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil, and were included in the sports program for 2020 only, bringing the total number of sports at the 2020 Olympics to 33.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-approves-five-new-sports-for-olympic-games-tokyo-2020|title=IOC approves five new sports for Olympic Games Tokyo 2020|date=3 August 2016|website=Olympic.org|publisher=[[IOC]]|access-date=3 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007222054/https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-approves-five-new-sports-for-olympic-games-tokyo-2020|archive-date=7 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=You're in! Baseball/softball, 4 other sports make Tokyo cut|website=USA Today|date=3 August 2016|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2016/08/03/ioc-approves-addition-of-5-sports-for-2020-tokyo-olympics/88035700/|access-date=18 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016073736/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2016/08/03/ioc-approves-addition-of-5-sports-for-2020-tokyo-olympics/88035700/|archive-date=16 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Test events ===

A total of 56 test events were scheduled to take place in the run-up to the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics. Two of the events were held in late 2018, but the main test event schedule commenced in June 2019 and was originally due to be completed in May 2020 prior to the start of the Olympics. Several of the events were incorporated into pre-existing championships, but some had been newly created specifically to serve as Olympic test events for the 2020 Summer Games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tokyo2020.org/en/games/sport/testevents/|title=Tokyo 2020 Test Events|access-date=10 January 2019|publisher=[[Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games|TOCOG]]|website=Tokyo2020.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103210936/https://tokyo2020.org/en/games/sport/testevents/|archive-date=3 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/tokyo-2020-test-event-schedule-announced|title=Tokyo 2020: Test event schedule announced|date=2 October 2018|publisher=[[International Paralympic Committee|IPC]]|website=paralympic.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181202030957/https://www.paralympic.org/news/tokyo-2020-test-event-schedule-announced|archive-date=2 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2019, it was announced that the test events would be branded under the banner "Ready, Steady, Tokyo". The Tokyo Organizing Committee was responsible for 22 of the test events, with the remaining events being arranged by national and international sports federations. The first test event was World Sailing's [[Sailing World Cup|World Cup Series]], held at [[Enoshima]] in September 2018. The last scheduled event was the Tokyo Challenge Track Meet, which was originally due to take place at the [[Japan National Stadium|Olympic Stadium]] on May 6, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympic.org/news/tokyo-2020-unveils-its-olympic-test-event-schedule|title=Tokyo 2020 unveils its Olympic test event schedule|date=30 January 2019|publisher=[[International Olympic Committee|IOC]]|access-date=31 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131201432/https://www.olympic.org/news/tokyo-2020-unveils-its-olympic-test-event-schedule|archive-date=31 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

All test events originally scheduled to take place from March 12, 2020 onwards were postponed due to COVID-19, with the test event calendar to be reviewed during the preparations for the rescheduled Games.{{efn|The remainder of the Olympic test events resumed on 11 March 2021 and the last event took place on 5 May 2021.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}}}<ref name="Test Event Calendar">{{cite news|url=https://tokyo2020.org/en/games/testevents/|title=Tokyo 2020 Test Events|newspaper=Tokyo 2020|publisher=TOCOG|access-date=31 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228171026/https://tokyo2020.org/en/games/testevents/|archive-date=28 February 2020}}</ref>

== Participating National Olympic Committees == {{See also|2020 Summer Olympics Parade of Nations}}

The Republic of Macedonia has competed under the provisional name "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" in every Summer and Winter Games since its debut in [[1996 Summer Olympics|1996]] because of the [[Macedonia naming dispute|disputed status of its official name]]. The naming disputes with Greece ended in 2018 with the signing of the [[Prespa agreement]], and the country was officially renamed [[North Macedonia]] in February 2019. The new name was immediately recognized by the IOC, although the Olympic Committee of North Macedonia (NMOC) was not officially adopted until February 2020. The NMOC sent a delegation to the [[2020 Winter Youth Olympics]] in January 2020, but the Tokyo Games were North Macedonia's first appearance at the Summer Olympics under its new name.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1077274/ioc-approve-name-change-to-north-macedonia-national-olympic-committee|title=IOC approve name change to North Macedonia National Olympic Committee|last=Mackay|first=Duncan|date=27 March 2019|website=[[Inside the Games]]|access-date=4 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709163930/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1077274/ioc-approve-name-change-to-north-macedonia-national-olympic-committee|archive-date=9 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since competing as Swaziland ten times at the Summer and Winter Olympics, [[Eswatini]] made its debut under that name after the renaming of the country by the [[Ngwenyama|king]] in 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1070663/swaziland-olympic-and-commonwealth-games-association-confirm-rebrand-after-country-renamed-eswatini|title=Swaziland Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association confirm rebrand after country renamed Eswatini|last=Palmer|first=Dan|date=3 October 2019|website=[[Inside the Games]]|access-date=24 July 2021|archive-date=24 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724154607/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1070663/swaziland-olympic-and-commonwealth-games-association-confirm-rebrand-after-country-renamed-eswatini|url-status=live}}</ref>

On December 9, 2019, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned Russia from all international sport for a period of four years, after the Russian government was found to have tampered with laboratory data it had provided to WADA in January 2019 as a condition of the [[Russian Anti-Doping Agency]] being reinstated. As a result of the ban, WADA planned to allow individually cleared [[Russian Olympic Committee athletes at the 2020 Summer Olympics|Russian athletes]] to take part in the 2020 Summer Olympics under a neutral banner, as instigated at the 2018 Winter Olympics, but they would be excluded from team sports. The head of WADA's Compliance Review Committee, Jonathan Taylor, stated that the IOC would not be able to use the "Olympic Athletes from Russia" (OAR) designation [[Olympic Athletes from Russia at the 2018 Winter Olympics|as it did in 2018]], emphasizing that neutral athletes could not be portrayed as representing a specific country.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/dec/09/russia-banned-from-tokyo-olympics-and-football-world-cup|title=Russia banned from Tokyo Olympics and football World Cup|last=MacInnes|first=Paul|date=9 December 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=9 December 2019|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209155622/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/dec/09/russia-banned-from-tokyo-olympics-and-football-world-cup|archive-date=9 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/50710598|title=Russia banned for four years to include 2020 Olympics and 2022 World Cup|work=BBC Sport|date=9 December 2019|access-date=9 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211171354/https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/50710598|archive-date=11 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/13/olympics/wada-lawyer-defends-lack-blanket-ban-russia/|title=WADA lawyer defends lack of blanket ban on Russia|date=13 December 2019|access-date=17 December 2019|agency=[[Associated Press|AP]]|work=[[The Japan Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214162048/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/13/olympics/wada-lawyer-defends-lack-blanket-ban-russia/|archive-date=14 December 2019}}</ref> Russia later filed an appeal to the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]] (CAS) against WADA's decision.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5756077/russia-olympic-ban-appeal/|title=Russia Confirms It Will Appeal 4-Year Olympic Ban|date=27 December 2019|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227213853/https://time.com/5756077/russia-olympic-ban-appeal/|archive-date=27 December 2019}}</ref> After reviewing the case on appeal, CAS ruled on December 17, 2020 that the penalty placed on Russia be reduced. Instead of a total ban from all sporting events, the ruling allowed Russia to participate at the Olympics and other international events, but the team would not be permitted to use the Russian name, flag, or anthem for a period of two years and must present themselves as "Neutral Athlete" or "Neutral Team". The ruling does allow for "Russia" to be displayed on the team uniform—although it should be no more visible than the "Neutral Athlete/Team" designation—as well as the use of the Russian flag's colors within the uniform's design.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-banned-name-flag-olympic-games-a8bd342806883f66152859701d5ae5d4|title=Russia can't use its name and flag at the next 2 Olympics|first=Graham|last=Dunbar|date=17 December 2020|access-date=17 December 2020|website=[[APNews]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229192342/https://apnews.com/article/russia-banned-name-flag-olympic-games-a8bd342806883f66152859701d5ae5d4|archive-date=29 December 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

On February 19, 2021, it was announced that Russia would compete under the acronym "ROC" after the name of the [[Russian Olympic Committee]], although the name of the committee itself in full could not be used to refer to the delegation. The ROC team would be represented by the flag of the Russian Olympic Committee.<ref>{{cite news|title=Olympics: Russia to compete under ROC acronym in Tokyo as part of doping sanctions|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-2020-russia/olympics-russia-to-compete-under-roc-acronym-in-tokyo-as-part-of-doping-sanctions-idUSKBN2AJ1UZ|access-date=20 February 2021|work=Reuters|date=19 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220020504/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-2020-russia/olympics-russia-to-compete-under-roc-acronym-in-tokyo-as-part-of-doping-sanctions-idUSKBN2AJ1UZ|archive-date=20 February 2021}}</ref>

{{anchor|North Korea|Guinea}} On April 6, 2021, [[North Korea]] announced it would not participate in the 2020 Summer Olympics because of COVID-19 concerns.<ref>{{cite news|last=Choe|first=Sang-hun|date=5 April 2021|title=North Korea, citing the pandemic, will skip the Tokyo Olympics.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/05/world/asia/covid-north-korea-olympics.html|access-date=5 April 2021|work=[[The New York Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415211357/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/05/world/asia/covid-north-korea-olympics.html|archive-date=15 April 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> This marked North Korea's first absence from the Summer Olympics since [[1988 Summer Olympics|1988]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Roscher|first=Liz|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/north-korea-skipping-tokyo-olympics-over-covid-19-concerns-143329850.html|title=North Korea skipping Tokyo Olympics over COVID-19 concerns|date=6 April 2021|website=[[Yahoo Sports]]|access-date=14 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719162003/https://sports.yahoo.com/north-korea-skipping-tokyo-olympics-over-covid-19-concerns-143329850.html|archive-date=19 July 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> In September, a month after the games concluded, the [[Olympic Committee of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea]] was banned from participation in the 2022 Winter Olympics, after they failed to participate in the Tokyo Olympics. On July 21, 2021, [[Guinea]] announced it would not be sending a delegation to the Tokyo Olympics, allegedly due to COVID-19 concerns, though media outlets suggested financial considerations may have been the real motivating factor.<ref>{{cite news|date=21 July 2021|url=https://www.eurosport.fr/jeux-olympiques/tokyo-2020/2020/jo-tokyo-2020-la-guinee-renonce-a-participer-en-raison-du-covid-19_sto8429008/story.shtml|title=JO Tokyo 2020: La Guinée renonce à participer en raison du Covid-19|trans-title=Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Guinea cancels its participation due to COVID-19|agency=AFP|access-date=21 July 2021|work=[[Eurosport]]|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722172411/https://www.eurosport.fr/jeux-olympiques/tokyo-2020/2020/jo-tokyo-2020-la-guinee-renonce-a-participer-en-raison-du-covid-19_sto8429008/story.shtml|archive-date=22 July 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> Guinea later reversed the decision and confirmed it would be participating.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Tous-sports/Actualites/La-guinee-va-finalement-participer-aux-jo-de-tokyo/1272116|title=La Guinée va finalement participer aux JO de Tokyo|trans-title=Guinea will finally participate in the Tokyo Olympics|language=fr|date=22 July 2021|website=[[L'Équipe]]|agency=AFP|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724041332/https://www.lequipe.fr/Tous-sports/Actualites/La-guinee-va-finalement-participer-aux-jo-de-tokyo/1272116|archive-date=24 July 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

The following 206 teams qualified (including the 104 [[Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Qualification|universality places guaranteed in athletics]], under which all 206 NOCs may send competitors regardless of qualification).<ref>{{cite web|date=2021-08-07|title=IOC Refugee Olympic Team Tokyo2020|url=https://olympics.com/ioc/refugee-olympic-team-tokyo-2020|access-date=2021-08-08|website=International Olympic Committee|language=en|archive-date=16 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516203213/https://olympics.com/ioc/refugee-olympic-team-tokyo-2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable mw-collapsible" style="width:100%;" |- ! [[:Category:Nations at the 2020 Summer Olympics|Participating National Olympic Committees]] |- |{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

* {{flagIOC|AFG|2020 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|ALB|2020 Summer|9}} * {{flagIOC|ALG|2020 Summer|38}} * {{flagIOC|ASA|2020 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|AND|2020 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|ANG|2020 Summer|20}} * {{flagIOC|ANT|2020 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|ARG|2020 Summer|185}} * {{flagIOC|ARM|2020 Summer|17}} * {{flagIOC|ARU|2020 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|AUS|2020 Summer|479}} * {{flagIOC|AUT|2020 Summer|73}} * {{flagIOC|AZE|2020 Summer|44}} * {{flagIOC|BAH|2020 Summer|15}} * {{flagIOC|BRN|2020 Summer|32}} * {{flagIOC|BAN|2020 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|BAR|2020 Summer|8}} * {{flagIOC|BLR|2020 Summer|103}} * {{flagIOC|BEL|2020 Summer|123}} * {{flagIOC|BIZ|2020 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|BEN|2020 Summer|7}} * {{flagIOC|BER|2020 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|BHU|2020 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|BOL|2020 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|BIH|2020 Summer|7}} * {{flagIOC|BOT|2020 Summer|13}} * {{flagIOC|BRA|2020 Summer|310}} * {{flagIOC|IVB|2020 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|BRU|2020 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|BUL|2020 Summer|42}} * {{flagIOC|BUR|2020 Summer|7}} * {{flagIOC|BDI|2020 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|CAM|2020 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|CMR|2020 Summer|12}} * {{flagIOC|CAN|2020 Summer|378}} * {{flagIOC|CPV|2020 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|CAY|2020 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|CAF|2020 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|CHA|2020 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|CHI|2020 Summer|51}} * {{flagIOC|CHN|2020 Summer|410}} * {{flagIOC|COL|2020 Summer|70}} * {{flagIOC|COM|2020 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|COK|2020 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|CRC|2020 Summer|13}} * {{flagIOC|CRO|2020 Summer|60}} * {{flagIOC|CUB|2020 Summer|70}} * {{flagIOC|CYP|2020 Summer|15}} * {{flagIOC|CZE|2020 Summer|109}} * {{nowrap|{{flagIOC|COD|2020 Summer|6}}}} * {{flagIOC|DEN|2020 Summer|104}} * {{flagIOC|DJI|2020 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|DMA|2020 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|DOM|2020 Summer|65}} * {{flagIOC|TLS|2020 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|ECU|2020 Summer|46}} * {{flagIOC|EGY|2020 Summer|137}} * {{flagIOC|ESA|2020 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|GEQ|2020 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|ERI|2020 Summer|13}} * {{flagIOC|EST|2020 Summer|33}} * {{flagIOC|SWZ|2020 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|ETH|2020 Summer|36}} * {{nowrap|{{flagIOC|FSM|2020 Summer|3}}}} * {{flagIOC|FIJ|2020 Summer|32}} * {{flagIOC|FIN|2020 Summer|45}} * {{flagIOC|FRA|2020 Summer|380}} * {{flagIOC|GAB|2020 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|GAM|2020 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|GEO|2020 Summer|33}} * {{flagIOC|GER|2020 Summer|392}} * {{flagIOC|GHA|2020 Summer|12}} * {{flagIOC|GBR|2020 Summer|375}} * {{flagIOC|GRE|2020 Summer|83}} * {{flagIOC|GRN|2020 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|GUM|2020 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|GUA|2020 Summer|24}} * {{flagIOC|GUI|2020 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|GBS|2020 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|GUY|2020 Summer|7}} * {{flagIOC|HAI|2020 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|HON|2020 Summer|23}} * {{flagIOC|HKG|2020 Summer|43}} * {{flagIOC|HUN|2020 Summer|172}} * {{flagIOC|ISL|2020 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|IND|2020 Summer|120}} * {{flagIOC|INA|2020 Summer|28}} * {{flagIOC|IRI|2020 Summer|65}} * {{flagIOC|IRQ|2020 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|IRL|2020 Summer|120}} * {{flagIOC|ISR|2020 Summer|89}} * {{flagIOC|ITA|2020 Summer|384}} * {{flagIOC|CIV|2020 Summer|26}} * {{flagIOC|JAM|2020 Summer|54}} * {{flagIOC|JPN|2020 Summer|556}} '''(host)''' * {{flagIOC|JOR|2020 Summer|14}} * {{flagIOC|KAZ|2020 Summer|97}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://astanatimes.com/2021/07/kazakh-national-olympic-team-possesses-advantage-in-combat-sports-cycling-and-swimming-thanks-to-cultural-legacy/|title=Kazakh National Olympic Team Possesses Advantage in Combat Sports, Cycling and Swimming, Thanks to Cultural Legacy|first=Astana|last=Times|date=11 July 2021|website=The Astana Times|access-date=11 July 2021|archive-date=12 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712072331/https://astanatimes.com/2021/07/kazakh-national-olympic-team-possesses-advantage-in-combat-sports-cycling-and-swimming-thanks-to-cultural-legacy/|url-status=live}}</ref> * {{flagIOC|KEN|2020 Summer|85}} * {{flagIOC|KIR|2020 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|KOS|2020 Summer|11}} * {{flagIOC|KUW|2020 Summer|10}} * {{flagIOC|KGZ|2020 Summer|16}} * {{flagIOC|LAO|2020 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|LAT|2020 Summer|32}} * {{flagIOC|LBN|2020 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|LES|2020 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|LBR|2020 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|LBA|2020 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|LIE|2020 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|LTU|2020 Summer|42}} * {{flagIOC|LUX|2020 Summer|12}} * {{flagIOC|MAD|2020 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|MAW|2020 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|MAS|2020 Summer|30}} * {{flagIOC|MDV|2020 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|MLI|2020 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|MLT|2020 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|MHL|2020 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|MTN|2020 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|MRI|2020 Summer|8}} * {{flagIOC|MEX|2020 Summer|160}} * {{flagIOC|MDA|2020 Summer|20}} * {{flagIOC|MON|2020 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|MGL|2020 Summer|43}} * {{flagIOC|MNE|2020 Summer|34}} * {{flagIOC|MAR|2020 Summer|44}} * {{flagIOC|MOZ|2020 Summer|10}} * {{flagIOC|MYA|2020 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|NAM|2020 Summer|11}} * {{flagIOC|NRU|2020 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|NEP|2020 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|NED|2020 Summer|267}} * {{flagIOC|NZL|2020 Summer|215}} * {{flagIOC|NCA|2020 Summer|8}} * {{flagIOC|NIG|2020 Summer|7}} * {{flagIOC|NGR|2020 Summer|53}} * {{flagIOC|MKD|2020 Summer|8}} * {{flagIOC|NOR|2020 Summer|93}} * {{flagIOC|OMA|2020 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|PAK|2020 Summer|10}} * {{flagIOC|PLW|2020 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|PLE|2020 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|PAN|2020 Summer|10}} * {{flagIOC|PNG|2020 Summer|8}} * {{flagIOC|PAR|2020 Summer|8}} * {{flagIOC|PER|2020 Summer|35}} * {{flagIOC|PHI|2020 Summer|19}} * {{flagIOC|POL|2020 Summer|206}} * {{flagIOC|POR|2020 Summer|92}} * {{flagIOC|PUR|2020 Summer|37}} * {{flagIOC|QAT|2020 Summer|15}} * {{flagIOC|EOR|2020 Summer|29}} * {{flagIOC|CGO|2020 Summer|3}} * {{Flagicon image|Russian Olympic Committee flag.png}} [[Russian Olympic Committee athletes at the 2020 Summer Olympics|ROC]] (334){{px2}}{{efn|Neutral athletes from Russia competed under the flag of the [[Russian Olympic Committee]].}} * {{flagIOC|ROU|2020 Summer|102}} * {{flagIOC|RWA|2020 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|SKN|2020 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|LCA|2020 Summer|5}} * {{nowrap|{{flagIOC|VIN|2020 Summer|3}}}} * {{flagIOC|SAM|2020 Summer|8}} * {{flagIOC|SMR|2020 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|STP|2020 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|KSA|2020 Summer|31}} * {{flagIOC|SEN|2020 Summer|9}} * {{flagIOC|SRB|2020 Summer|87}} * {{flagIOC|SEY|2020 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|SLE|2020 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|SGP|2020 Summer|23}} * {{flagIOC|SVK|2020 Summer|41}} * {{flagIOC|SLO|2020 Summer|53}} * {{flagIOC|SOL|2020 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|SOM|2020 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|RSA|2020 Summer|177}} * {{flagIOC|KOR|2020 Summer|235}} * {{flagIOC|SSD|2020 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|ESP|2020 Summer|328}} * {{flagIOC|SRI|2020 Summer|9}} * {{flagIOC|SUD|2020 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|SUR|2020 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|SWE|2020 Summer|133}} * {{flagIOC|SUI|2020 Summer|113}} * {{flagIOC|SYR|2020 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|TPE|2020 Summer|68}} * {{flagIOC|TJK|2020 Summer|10}} * {{flagIOC|TAN|2020 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|THA|2020 Summer|41}} * {{flagIOC|TOG|2020 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|TGA|2020 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|TTO|2020 Summer|25}} * {{flagIOC|TUN|2020 Summer|63}} * {{flagIOC|TUR|2020 Summer|105}} * {{flagIOC|TKM|2020 Summer|9}} * {{flagIOC|TUV|2020 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|UGA|2020 Summer|25}} * {{flagIOC|UKR|2020 Summer|149}} * {{flagIOC|UAE|2020 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|USA|2020 Summer|615}} * {{flagIOC|URU|2020 Summer|11}} * {{flagIOC|UZB|2020 Summer|67}} * {{flagIOC|VAN|2020 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|VEN|2020 Summer|44}} * {{flagIOC|VIE|2020 Summer|18}} * {{flagIOC|ISV|2020 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|YEM|2020 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|ZAM|2020 Summer|27}} * {{flagIOC|ZIM|2020 Summer|5}} {{div col end}} |}

=== Number of athletes by National Olympic Committee === There were 11,420 [[athlete]]s from 206 [[National Olympic Committee|NOCs]]:<ref name="Kyodo 20220621" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/tokyo-2020|title=Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 – Overview|date=May 2022|publisher=[[International Olympic Committee]]|access-date=23 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623061718/https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/tokyo-2020|archive-date=23 June 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> {{sticky table start}} {| class="wikitable sortable sticky-table-head" style="border:0;" |- ! width=50|[[Ranking]] ! width=250|[[List of IOC country codes|NOC]] ! width=25|[[Athletes]] |- |align=center|1||{{flagIOC|USA|2020 Summer}}||align=center|615 |- style="background:#9acdff;" |align=center|2||{{flagIOC|JPN|2020 Summer}} '''(Host)'''||align=center|556 |- |align=center|3||{{flagIOC|AUS|2020 Summer}}||align=center|478 |- |align=center|4||{{flagIOC|GER|2020 Summer}}||align=center|425 |- |align=center|5||{{flagIOC|CHN|2020 Summer}}||align=center|406 |- |align=center|6||{{flagIOC|FRA|2020 Summer}}||align=center|398 |- |align=center|7||{{flagIOC|ITA|2020 Summer}}||align=center|384 |- |align=center|8||{{flagIOC|CAN|2020 Summer}}||align=center|381 |- |align=center|9||{{flagIOC|GBR|2020 Summer}}||align=center|376 |- |align=center|10||{{flagIOC|ROC|2020 Summer}}||align=center|335 |- |align=center|11||{{flagIOC|ESP|2020 Summer}}||align=center|321 |- |align=center|12||{{flagIOC|BRA|2020 Summer}}||align=center|302 |- |align=center|13||{{flagIOC|NED|2020 Summer}}||align=center|278 |- |align=center|14||{{flagIOC|KOR|2020 Summer}}||align=center|237 |- |align=center|15||{{flagIOC|NZL|2020 Summer}}||align=center|211 |- |align=center|16||{{flagIOC|POL|2020 Summer}}||align=center|210 |- |align=center|17||{{flagIOC|ARG|2020 Summer}}||align=center|189 |- |align=center|18||{{flagIOC|RSA|2020 Summer}}||align=center|177 |- |align=center|19||{{flagIOC|HUN|2020 Summer}}||align=center|166 |- |align=center|20||{{flagIOC|MEX|2020 Summer}}||align=center|162 |- |align=center|21||{{flagIOC|UKR|2020 Summer}}||align=center|155 |- |align=center|22||{{flagIOC|SWE|2020 Summer}}||align=center|134 |- |align=center|23||{{flagIOC|EGY|2020 Summer}}||align=center|133 |- |align=center|24||{{flagIOC|IND|2020 Summer}}||align=center|122 |- |align=center|25||{{flagIOC|BEL|2020 Summer}}||align=center|121 |- |align=center|26||{{flagIOC|IRL|2020 Summer}}||align=center|116 |- |align=center|27||{{flagIOC|CZE|2020 Summer}}||align=center|115 |- |align=center|28||{{flagIOC|TUR|2020 Summer}}||align=center|108 |- |align=center|29||{{flagIOC|SUI|2020 Summer}}||align=center|107 |- |align=center|30||{{flagIOC|DEN|2020 Summer}}||align=center|107 |- |align=center|31||{{flagIOC|BLR|2020 Summer}}||align=center|103 |- |align=center|32||{{flagIOC|ROU|2020 Summer}}||align=center|101 |- |align=center|33||{{flagIOC|KAZ|2020 Summer}}||align=center|93 |- |align=center|34||{{flagIOC|POR|2020 Summer}}||align=center|92 |- |align=center|35||{{flagIOC|ISR|2020 Summer}}||align=center|90 |- |align=center|36||{{flagIOC|SRB|2020 Summer}}||align=center|86 |- |align=center|37||{{flagIOC|KEN|2020 Summer}}||align=center|85 |- |align=center|38||{{flagIOC|GRE|2020 Summer}}||align=center|83 |- |align=center|39||{{flagIOC|NOR|2020 Summer}}||align=center|75 |- |align=center|40||{{flagIOC|COL|2020 Summer}}||align=center|70 |- |align=center|41||{{flagIOC|CUB|2020 Summer}}||align=center|70 |- |align=center|42||{{flagIOC|TPE|2020 Summer}}||align=center|68 |- |align=center|43||{{flagIOC|IRI|2020 Summer}}||align=center|66 |- |align=center|44||{{flagIOC|UZB|2020 Summer}}||align=center|65 |- |align=center|45||{{flagIOC|DOM|2020 Summer}}||align=center|62 |- |align=center|46||{{flagIOC|TUN|2020 Summer}}||align=center|62 |- |align=center|47||{{flagIOC|AUT|2020 Summer}}||align=center|60 |- |align=center|48||{{flagIOC|NGR|2020 Summer}}||align=center|60 |- |align=center|49||{{flagIOC|CRO|2020 Summer}}||align=center|59 |- |align=center|50||{{flagIOC|CHI|2020 Summer}}||align=center|58 |- |align=center|51||{{flagIOC|SLO|2020 Summer}}||align=center|53 |- |align=center|52||{{flagIOC|JAM|2020 Summer}}||align=center|50 |- |align=center|53||{{flagIOC|MAR|2020 Summer}}||align=center|50 |- |align=center|54||{{flagIOC|ECU|2020 Summer}}||align=center|48 |- |align=center|55||{{flagIOC|HKG|2020 Summer}}||align=center|46 |- |align=center|56||{{flagIOC|FIN|2020 Summer}}||align=center|45 |- |align=center|57||{{flagIOC|ALG|2020 Summer}}||align=center|44 |- |align=center|58||{{flagIOC|VEN|2020 Summer}}||align=center|44 |- |align=center|59||{{flagIOC|AZE|2020 Summer}}||align=center|44 |- |align=center|60||{{flagIOC|MGL|2020 Summer}}||align=center|43 |- |align=center|61||{{flagIOC|THA|2020 Summer}}||align=center|42 |- |align=center|62||{{flagIOC|BUL|2020 Summer}}||align=center|42 |- |align=center|63||{{flagIOC|LTU|2020 Summer}}||align=center|42 |- |align=center|64||{{flagIOC|SVK|2020 Summer}}||align=center|41 |- |align=center|65||{{flagIOC|ETH|2020 Summer}}||align=center|38 |- |align=center|66||{{flagIOC|PUR|2020 Summer}}||align=center|37 |- |align=center|67||{{flagIOC|GEO|2020 Summer}}||align=center|35 |- |align=center|68||{{flagIOC|PER|2020 Summer}}||align=center|35 |- |align=center|69||{{flagIOC|MNE|2020 Summer}}||align=center|34 |- |align=center|70||{{flagIOC|LAT|2020 Summer}}||align=center|33 |- |align=center|71||{{flagIOC|EST|2020 Summer}}||align=center|33 |- |align=center|72||{{flagIOC|BRN|2020 Summer}}||align=center|32 |- |align=center|73||{{flagIOC|FIJ|2020 Summer}}||align=center|30 |- |align=center|74||{{flagIOC|MAS|2020 Summer}}||align=center|30 |- |align=center|75||{{flagIOC|EOR|2020 Summer}}||align=center|29 |- |align=center|76||{{flagIOC|KSA|2020 Summer}}||align=center|29 |- |align=center|77||{{flagIOC|INA|2020 Summer}}||align=center|28 |- |align=center|78||{{flagIOC|CIV|2020 Summer}}||align=center|28 |- |align=center|79||{{flagIOC|ZAM|2020 Summer}}||align=center|26 |- |align=center|80||{{flagIOC|UGA|2020 Summer}}||align=center|25 |- |align=center|81||{{flagIOC|GUA|2020 Summer}}||align=center|24 |- |align=center|82||{{flagIOC|SGP|2020 Summer}}||align=center|23 |- |align=center|83||{{flagIOC|HON|2020 Summer}}||align=center|22 |- |align=center|84||{{flagIOC|TTO|2020 Summer}}||align=center|22 |- |align=center|85||{{flagIOC|ANG|2020 Summer}}||align=center|20 |- |align=center|86||{{flagIOC|MDA|2020 Summer}}||align=center|20 |- |align=center|87||{{flagIOC|PHI|2020 Summer}}||align=center|19 |- |align=center|88||{{flagIOC|VIE|2020 Summer}}||align=center|18 |- |align=center|89||{{flagIOC|ARM|2020 Summer}}||align=center|17 |- |align=center|90||{{flagIOC|BAH|2020 Summer}}||align=center|16 |- |align=center|91||{{flagIOC|KGZ|2020 Summer}}||align=center|16 |- |align=center|92||{{flagIOC|QAT|2020 Summer}}||align=center|16 |- |align=center|93||{{flagIOC|CYP|2020 Summer}}||align=center|15 |- |align=center|94||{{flagIOC|CRC|2020 Summer}}||align=center|14 |- |align=center|95||{{flagIOC|GHA|2020 Summer}}||align=center|14 |- |align=center|96||{{flagIOC|JOR|2020 Summer}}||align=center|14 |- |align=center|97||{{flagIOC|BOT|2020 Summer}}||align=center|13 |- |align=center|98||{{flagIOC|ERI|2020 Summer}}||align=center|13 |- |align=center|99||{{flagIOC|CMR|2020 Summer}}||align=center|12 |- |align=center|100||{{flagIOC|LUX|2020 Summer}}||align=center|12 |- |align=center|101||{{flagIOC|KOS|2020 Summer}}||align=center|11 |- |align=center|102||{{flagIOC|KUW|2020 Summer}}||align=center|11 |- |align=center|103||{{flagIOC|NAM|2020 Summer}}||align=center|11 |- |align=center|104||{{flagIOC|TJK|2020 Summer}}||align=center|11 |- |align=center|105||{{flagIOC|URU|2020 Summer}}||align=center|11 |- |align=center|106||{{flagIOC|MOZ|2020 Summer}}||align=center|10 |- |align=center|107||{{flagIOC|PAK|2020 Summer}}||align=center|10 |- |align=center|108||{{flagIOC|PAN|2020 Summer}}||align=center|10 |- |align=center|109||{{flagIOC|ALB|2020 Summer}}||align=center|9 |- |align=center|110||{{flagIOC|SEN|2020 Summer}}||align=center|9 |- |align=center|111||{{flagIOC|SRI|2020 Summer}}||align=center|9 |- |align=center|112||{{flagIOC|TKM|2020 Summer}}||align=center|9 |- |align=center|113||{{flagIOC|BAR|2020 Summer}}||align=center|8 |- |align=center|114||{{flagIOC|MRI|2020 Summer}}||align=center|8 |- |align=center|115||{{flagIOC|NCA|2020 Summer}}||align=center|8 |- |align=center|116||{{flagIOC|MKD|2020 Summer}}||align=center|8 |- |align=center|117||{{flagIOC|PNG|2020 Summer}}||align=center|8 |- |align=center|118||{{flagIOC|PAR|2020 Summer}}||align=center|8 |- |align=center|119||{{flagIOC|SAM|2020 Summer}}||align=center|8 |- |align=center|120||{{flagIOC|BEN|2020 Summer}}||align=center|7 |- |align=center|121||{{flagIOC|BIH|2020 Summer}}||align=center|7 |- |align=center|122||{{flagIOC|BUR|2020 Summer}}||align=center|7 |- |align=center|123||{{flagIOC|COD|2020 Summer}}||align=center|7 |- |align=center|124||{{flagIOC|GUY|2020 Summer}}||align=center|7 |- |align=center|125||{{flagIOC|NIG|2020 Summer}}||align=center|7 |- |align=center|126||{{flagIOC|ASA|2020 Summer}}||align=center|6 |- |align=center|127||{{flagIOC|ANT|2020 Summer}}||align=center|6 |- |align=center|128||{{flagIOC|BAN|2020 Summer}}||align=center|6 |- |align=center|129||{{flagIOC|BDI|2020 Summer}}||align=center|6 |- |align=center|130||{{flagIOC|CPV|2020 Summer}}||align=center|6 |- |align=center|131||{{flagIOC|COK|2020 Summer}}||align=center|6 |- |align=center|132||{{flagIOC|GRN|2020 Summer}}||align=center|6 |- |align=center|133||{{flagIOC|HAI|2020 Summer}}||align=center|6 |- |align=center|134||{{flagIOC|LBN|2020 Summer}}||align=center|6 |- |align=center|135||{{flagIOC|MAD|2020 Summer}}||align=center|6 |- |align=center|136||{{flagIOC|MLT|2020 Summer}}||align=center|6 |- |align=center|137||{{flagIOC|MON|2020 Summer}}||align=center|6 |- |align=center|138||{{flagIOC|RWA|2020 Summer}}||align=center|6 |- |align=center|139||{{flagIOC|SYR|2020 Summer}}||align=center|6 |- |align=center|140||{{flagIOC|TGA|2020 Summer}}||align=center|6 |- |align=center|141||{{flagIOC|AFG|2020 Summer}}||align=center|5 |- |align=center|142||{{flagIOC|BOL|2020 Summer}}||align=center|5 |- |align=center|143||{{flagIOC|CAY|2020 Summer}}||align=center|5 |- |align=center|144||{{flagIOC|ESA|2020 Summer}}||align=center|5 |- |align=center|145||{{flagIOC|GAB|2020 Summer}}||align=center|5 |- |align=center|146||{{flagIOC|GUM|2020 Summer}}||align=center|5 |- |align=center|147||{{flagIOC|GUI|2020 Summer}}||align=center|5 |- |align=center|148||{{flagIOC|LIE|2020 Summer}}||align=center|5 |- |align=center|149||{{flagIOC|MAW|2020 Summer}}||align=center|5 |- |align=center|150||{{flagIOC|NEP|2020 Summer}}||align=center|5 |- |align=center|151||{{flagIOC|OMA|2020 Summer}}||align=center|5 |- |align=center|152||{{flagIOC|PLE|2020 Summer}}||align=center|5 |- |align=center|153||{{flagIOC|LCA|2020 Summer}}||align=center|5 |- |align=center|154||{{flagIOC|SMR|2020 Summer}}||align=center|5 |- |align=center|155||{{flagIOC|SEY|2020 Summer}}||align=center|5 |- |align=center|156||{{flagIOC|SUD|2020 Summer}}||align=center|5 |- |align=center|157||{{flagIOC|UAE|2020 Summer}}||align=center|5 |- |align=center|158||{{flagIOC|YEM|2020 Summer}}||align=center|5 |- |align=center|159||{{flagIOC|ZIM|2020 Summer}}||align=center|5 |- |align=center|160||{{flagIOC|BHU|2020 Summer}}||align=center|4 |- |align=center|161||{{flagIOC|DJI|2020 Summer}}||align=center|4 |- |align=center|162||{{flagIOC|SWZ|2020 Summer}}||align=center|4 |- |align=center|163||{{flagIOC|GAM|2020 Summer}}||align=center|4 |- |align=center|164||{{flagIOC|GBS|2020 Summer}}||align=center|4 |- |align=center|165||{{flagIOC|ISL|2020 Summer}}||align=center|4 |- |align=center|166||{{flagIOC|IRQ|2020 Summer}}||align=center|4 |- |align=center|167||{{flagIOC|LAO|2020 Summer}}||align=center|4 |- |align=center|168||{{flagIOC|LBA|2020 Summer}}||align=center|4 |- |align=center|169||{{flagIOC|MDV|2020 Summer}}||align=center|4 |- |align=center|170||{{flagIOC|MLI|2020 Summer}}||align=center|4 |- |align=center|171||{{flagIOC|SLE|2020 Summer}}||align=center|4 |- |align=center|172||{{flagIOC|TOG|2020 Summer}}||align=center|4 |- |align=center|173||{{flagIOC|ISV|2020 Summer}}||align=center|4 |- |align=center|174||{{flagIOC|ARU|2020 Summer}}||align=center|3 |- |align=center|175||{{flagIOC|BIZ|2020 Summer}}||align=center|3 |- |align=center|176||{{flagIOC|IVB|2020 Summer}}||align=center|3 |- |align=center|177||{{flagIOC|CAM|2020 Summer}}||align=center|3 |- |align=center|178||{{flagIOC|CHA|2020 Summer}}||align=center|3 |- |align=center|179||{{flagIOC|COM|2020 Summer}}||align=center|3 |- |align=center|180||{{flagIOC|TLS|2020 Summer}}||align=center|3 |- |align=center|181||{{flagIOC|GEQ|2020 Summer}}||align=center|3 |- |align=center|182||{{flagIOC|FSM|2020 Summer}}||align=center|3 |- |align=center|183||{{flagIOC|KIR|2020 Summer}}||align=center|3 |- |align=center|184||{{flagIOC|LBR|2020 Summer}}||align=center|3 |- |align=center|185||{{flagIOC|MYA|2020 Summer}}||align=center|3 |- |align=center|186||{{flagIOC|PLW|2020 Summer}}||align=center|3 |- |align=center|187||{{flagIOC|CGO|2020 Summer}}||align=center|3 |- |align=center|188||{{flagIOC|VIN|2020 Summer}}||align=center|3 |- |align=center|189||{{flagIOC|STP|2020 Summer}}||align=center|3 |- |align=center|190||{{flagIOC|SOL|2020 Summer}}||align=center|3 |- |align=center|191||{{flagIOC|SUR|2020 Summer}}||align=center|3 |- |align=center|192||{{flagIOC|TAN|2020 Summer}}||align=center|3 |- |align=center|193||{{flagIOC|VAN|2020 Summer}}||align=center|3 |- |align=center|194||{{flagIOC|AND|2020 Summer}}||align=center|2 |- |align=center|195||{{flagIOC|BER|2020 Summer}}||align=center|2 |- |align=center|196||{{flagIOC|BRU|2020 Summer}}||align=center|2 |- |align=center|197||{{flagIOC|CAF|2020 Summer}}||align=center|2 |- |align=center|198||{{flagIOC|DMA|2020 Summer}}||align=center|2 |- |align=center|199||{{flagIOC|LES|2020 Summer}}||align=center|2 |- |align=center|200||{{flagIOC|MHL|2020 Summer}}||align=center|2 |- |align=center|201||{{flagIOC|MTN|2020 Summer}}||align=center|2 |- |align=center|202||{{flagIOC|NRU|2020 Summer}}||align=center|2 |- |align=center|203||{{flagIOC|SOM|2020 Summer}}||align=center|2 |- |align=center|204||{{flagIOC|SKN|2020 Summer}}||align=center|2 |- |align=center|205||{{flagIOC|SSD|2020 Summer}}||align=center|2 |- |align=center|206||{{flagIOC|TUV|2020 Summer}}||align=center|2 |- !colspan=2|Total !! 11,483 |} {{sticky table end}}

== Calendar == {{See also|Chronological summary of the 2020 Summer Olympics}} {{#section:Chronological summary of the 2020 Summer Olympics|Calendar}}

== Medal table == {{See also|2020 Summer Olympics medal table|List of 2020 Summer Olympics medal winners}}

=== Podium sweeps === There were two [[podium sweep]]s, as follows: {|class="wikitable sortable" |+ !Date !Sport !Event !Team !Gold !Silver !Bronze !Ref |- |27 July |[[Cycling at the 2020 Summer Olympics|Cycling]] |[[Cycling at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's cross-country|Women's cross-country mountain biking]] |{{flagIOC|SUI|2020 Summer}} |[[Jolanda Neff]] |[[Sina Frei]] |[[Linda Indergand]] |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/neff-leads-olympic-first-swiss-sweep-mountain-bike-podium|title=Neff leads Olympic-first Swiss sweep of mountain bike podium|date=28 July 2021|last=Nee|first=Liam|work=[[NBC Olympic broadcasts]]|access-date=4 August 2021|archive-date=31 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731061855/https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/neff-leads-olympic-first-swiss-sweep-mountain-bike-podium|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |31 July |[[Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics|Athletics]] |[[Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's 100 metres|Women's 100 metres]] |{{flagIOC|JAM|2020 Summer}} |[[Elaine Thompson-Herah]] |[[Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce]] |[[Shericka Jackson]] |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/biles-withdraws-two-finals-ledecky-dressel-light-up-pool-2021-07-31/|title=Jamaica sweep 100 m podium, Djokovic leaves with nothing|date=31 July 2021|last1=Phillips|first1=Mitch|last2=Evans|first2=Simon|last3=Keating|first3=Steve|work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=4 August 2021|archive-date=4 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804092950/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/biles-withdraws-two-finals-ledecky-dressel-light-up-pool-2021-07-31/|url-status=live}}</ref> |}

=== Medal ceremonies ===  [[Naoki Satō]] composed the music for the medal ceremonies. Satō chose not to employ any musical elements distinctive to Japan "because victory ceremonies are for athletes from around the world" and he wanted all medalists to "feel at ease" when taking their places on the podium, regardless of their nationality.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/news/sato-naoki-meet-the-composer-of-the-tokyo-2020-victory-ceremony-music|title=SATO Naoki: Meet the composer of the Tokyo 2020 Games victory ceremony music|publisher=Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games|website=Tokyo2020.org|date=3 June 2021|archive-date=4 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604180003/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/news/sato-naoki-meet-the-composer-of-the-tokyo-2020-victory-ceremony-music|url-status=live}}</ref>

The bouquets presented to the athletes came from regions affected by the [[2011 earthquake and tsunami]]. The individual flowers were selected to represent the prefectures of Miyagi, Fukushima, Iwate, and Tokyo. The [[sunflowers]] were grown in Miyagi, planted by families whose children had died during the disaster; the white and purple [[eustoma]]s and [[Polygonatum|Solomon's seals]] were provided by a non-profit initiative to boost the local economy in Fukushima; the small bright blue [[gentian]]s were grown in Iwate; and [[aspidistra]]s, grown in Tokyo, were chosen to complete the bouquets.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/58038026|title=Tokyo Olympics: The medal winners' flowers that pay tribute to 2011 disaster|date=31 July 2021|website=BBC Sport|access-date=9 January 2022|archive-date=9 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109160512/https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/58038026|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Event scheduling === Per the historical precedent of [[swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics]] in Beijing and [[figure skating at the 2018 Winter Olympics]] in Pyeongchang, swimming finals were held in the morning to allow live [[primetime]] broadcasts in the Americas. [[NBC]] paid substantial fees for rights to the Olympics, so the IOC has allowed NBC to influence event scheduling to maximize US television ratings when possible. On May 7, 2014, NBC agreed to a US$7.75 billion contract extension to air the Olympics through the 2032 Games,<ref>{{cite news|title=Olympics on NBC through 2032|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2014/05/07/nbc-olympics-broadcast-rights-2032/8805989/|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]|date=7 May 2014|access-date=18 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501023722/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2014/05/07/nbc-olympics-broadcast-rights-2032/8805989/|archive-date=1 May 2019|url-status=live|first1=Nancy|last1=Armour}}</ref> with the company being one of the IOC's major sources of revenue.<ref name="The New York Times">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/07/sports/olympics/russia-olympics-us-business.html|title=Fewer Russians Could Be a Windfall for U.S. Olympic Business|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=7 December 2017|access-date=5 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205184807/https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/12/07/sports/olympics/russia-olympics-us-business.html|archive-date=5 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Japanese broadcasters were said to have criticized the decision, as swimming is one of the most popular Olympic events in the country.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1067674/fina-back-holding-swimming-finals-in-morning-at-tokyo-2020-olympics|title=FINA back holding swimming finals in morning at Tokyo 2020 Olympics|website=[[insidethegames.biz]]|access-date=25 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725033403/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1067674/fina-back-holding-swimming-finals-in-morning-at-tokyo-2020-olympics|archive-date=25 July 2018|url-status=live|first1=Liam|last1=Morgan|date=19 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1069861/tokyo-2020-swimming-finals-set-for-prime-time-in-united-states-as-agreement-reached-to-hold-morning-medal-races|title=Tokyo 2020 swimming finals set for prime-time in United States as agreement reached to hold morning medal races|website=[[insidethegames.biz]]|access-date=24 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924070647/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1069861/tokyo-2020-swimming-finals-set-for-prime-time-in-united-states-as-agreement-reached-to-hold-morning-medal-races|archive-date=24 September 2018|url-status=live|first1=Michael|last1=Pavitt|date=12 September 2018}}</ref>

== Marketing == {{Main|2020 Summer Olympics marketing}}

[[File:Tokyo 2020 mascots.svg|thumb|[[Miraitowa and Someity|Miraitowa]] (left), the official mascot of the 2020 Summer Olympics, and [[Miraitowa and Someity|Someity]] (right), the official mascot of the [[2020 Summer Paralympics]]]]

The official emblems for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics were unveiled on April 25, 2016; designed by Asao Tokolo, who won a nationwide design contest, it takes the form of a ring in an indigo-colored checkerboard pattern. The design was meant to "express a refined elegance and sophistication that exemplifies Japan".<ref>{{cite web|title=Checkered pattern by artist Tokolo chosen as logo for 2020 Tokyo Olympics|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/04/25/national/checkered-pattern-chosen-as-official-logo-for-2020-tokyo-olympic-games/|work=[[The Japan Times]]|first=Andrew|last=McKirdy|date=25 April 2016|access-date=25 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425123829/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/04/25/national/checkered-pattern-chosen-as-official-logo-for-2020-tokyo-olympic-games/|archive-date=25 April 2016|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref> The checkered design resembles a pattern called ''ichimatsu moyo'' that was popular during the [[Edo period]] in Japan from 1603 to 1867.<ref name="tokyo2020-emblem">{{cite web|title=Tokyo 2020 Logos|url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/games/emblem/|publisher=Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games|website=Tokyo2020.org|access-date=27 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724073007/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/games/emblem/|archive-date=24 July 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> The designs replaced a previous emblem that had been scrapped after allegations it [[Concerns and controversies at the 2020 Summer Olympics#Logo plagiarism|plagiarized the logo]] of the [[Théâtre de Liège]] in Belgium. The Games' bid slogan was ''Discover Tomorrow'' ({{langx|ja|{{ruby-ja|未来|あした}}をつかもう|Ashita o tsukamō}}). While ''ashita'' literally means "tomorrow", it is [[Furigana#Other effects|intentionally spelled]] as ''mirai'', "future".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tokyo2020.org/en/news/bid/20120719-01.html|title=Tokyo Extends an Invitation to "Discover Tomorrow" through 2020 Bid Campaign|publisher=[[Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games|TOCOG]]|website=Tokyo2020.org|date=19 July 2012|access-date=16 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216222608/https://tokyo2020.org/en/news/bid/20120719-01.html|archive-date=16 December 2019}}</ref> The official slogan ''United by Emotion'' was unveiled on February 17, 2020. The slogan was used solely in English.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tokyo2020.org/en/news/united-by-emotion-to-be-the-tokyo-2020-games-motto|title="United by Emotion" to be the Tokyo 2020 Games Motto|date=17 February 2020|publisher=[[Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games|TOCOG]]|website=Tokyo2020.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304153406/https://tokyo2020.org/en/news/united-by-emotion-to-be-the-tokyo-2020-games-motto|archive-date=4 March 2020}}</ref>

The official mascot of the 2020 Summer Olympics was [[Miraitowa and Someity|Miraitowa]], a figure with blue-checkered ''ichimatsu moyo'' patterns inspired by the Games' official emblem. Its fictional characteristics include the ability to [[Teleportation|teleport]].<ref name="Tokyo2020 Miraitowa profile">{{cite web|title=Tokyo 2020 Olympic mascot|url=https://tokyo2020.org/en/games/olympics-mascot/|publisher=[[Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games|TOCOG]]|website=Tokyo2020.org|access-date=1 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228171037/https://tokyo2020.org/en/games/olympics-mascot/|archive-date=28 February 2020}}</ref> Created by Japanese artist Ryo Taniguchi, the mascots were selected from a competition process which took place in late 2017 and early 2018. A total of 2,042 candidate designs were submitted to the Tokyo Organizing Committee, which selected three pairs of unnamed mascot designs to present to Japanese elementary school students for the final decision.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/08/01/national/2020-tokyo-olympic-organizers-begin-soliciting-mascot-ideas/|title=2020 Tokyo Olympic organizers begin soliciting mascot ideas|newspaper=[[The Japan Times]]|agency=[[Jiji Press|Jiji]]|date=1 August 2017|access-date=7 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908022406/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/08/01/national/2020-tokyo-olympic-organizers-begin-soliciting-mascot-ideas/|archive-date=8 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2017/12/07/tokyo-olympic-mascot-photos-2020/|title=Tokyo 2020 lets children choose mascots from 3 finalists|work=NBCSports.com|agency=[[Associated Press|AP]]|date=7 December 2017|access-date=17 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219031122/http://olympics.nbcsports.com/2017/12/07/tokyo-olympic-mascot-photos-2020/|archive-date=19 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The results of the selection were announced on February 28, 2018, and the mascots were named on July 22, 2018. Miraitowa is named after the Japanese words for "future" and "eternity".<ref name="Tokyo2020 Miraitowa profile" /> The mascots were expected to help finance the Tokyo Games through merchandizing and licensing deals.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/01/23/business/cuddly-cute-will-japans-olympic-mascots-cash-cows/|title=Cuddly and cute, but will Japan's Olympic mascots be cash cows?|date=23 January 2018|work=[[The Japan Times]]|agency=[[Agence France-Presse|AFP]]-[[Jiji Press|Jiji]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123123831/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/01/23/business/cuddly-cute-will-japans-olympic-mascots-cash-cows/|archive-date=23 January 2018|access-date=8 July 2018}}</ref>

Alongside the main ''Emblem blue'', five other colors were used in the branding of the 2020 Games: {{nowrap|{{color box|#922B21||}} ''[[Crimson|Kurenai]] red''}}, {{nowrap|{{color box|#135AB9||}} ''Ai blue''}}, {{nowrap|{{color box|#F3668D||}} ''[[Sakura]] pink''}}, {{nowrap|{{color box|#9029A3||}} ''[[Japanese wisteria|Fuji]] purple''}}, and {{nowrap|{{color box|#088550||}} ''Matsuba green''}}. These five [[traditional colors of Japan]] were used as sub-colors to create points of difference in the color variations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tokyo2020.org/en/news/tokyo-2020-unveils-olympic-games-sport-pictograms|title=Tokyo 2020 unveils Olympic Games sport pictograms|date=12 March 2019|website=Tokyo2020.org|publisher=[[Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games|TOCOG]]|archive-date=22 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322200802/https://tokyo2020.org/en/news/tokyo-2020-unveils-olympic-games-sport-pictograms}}</ref>

== Concerns and controversies == {{Main|Concerns and controversies at the 2020 Summer Olympics}}

{{See also|Belarus 2020 Summer Olympics scandal}}

Several controversial issues occurred during preparations for the Tokyo Games. There were allegations of bribery in the Japanese Olympic Committee's (JOC) bid and of plagiarism in the initial design for the Games' logo. On December 10, 2018, the French financial crimes office began an investigation of [[Tsunekazu Takeda]], the president of the [[Japanese Olympic Committee]], concerning a 2013 scheme to obtain votes from African IOC members in support of Tokyo as host for the 2020 Olympics over Istanbul or Madrid.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.apnews.com/87b12ec4cd384efd83fb326ccdb4bd8f|title=IOC marketing chair from Japan investigated for corruption|date=11 January 2019|work=Associated Press|last=Leicester|first=John|access-date=13 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702180321/https://www.apnews.com/87b12ec4cd384efd83fb326ccdb4bd8f|archive-date=2 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tokyo 2020: Japanese Olympic Committee chief Tsunekazu Takeda to step down amid corruption claims|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/tokyo-2020-japanese-olympic-committee-chief-executive-tsunekazu-takeda-steps-down-resign-corruption-a8829461.html|first1=Kiyoshi|last1=Takenaka|first2=Jack|last2=Tarrant|work=The Independent|date=19 March 2019|access-date=13 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627043453/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/tokyo-2020-japanese-olympic-committee-chief-executive-tsunekazu-takeda-steps-down-resign-corruption-a8829461.html|archive-date=27 June 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2020, a Japanese businessman admitted to giving gifts, including cameras and watches, to IOC officials to lobby for their support of Tokyo's bid to host the Olympic Games.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ingle|first=Sean|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/mar/31/japan-businessman-admits-giving-gifts-for-successful-tokyo-olympic-bid|title=Japan businessman admits giving gifts for successful Tokyo Olympic bid|date=31 March 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 April 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405114443/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/mar/31/japan-businessman-admits-giving-gifts-for-successful-tokyo-olympic-bid|archive-date=5 April 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The official emblems of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, designed by {{ill|Kenjirō Sano|ja|佐野研二郎}}, were unveiled in July 2015 but were withdrawn and replaced following plagiarism accusations.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=2020 Tokyo Olympic Logo Scrapped After Plagiarism Allegation|url=https://time.com/4019664/tokyo-olympic-2020-plagiarism-design-logo/|access-date=16 May 2021|first1=Mark|last1=Rivett-Carnac|magazine=Time|date=25 September 2015|archive-date=22 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722172645/https://time.com/4019664/tokyo-olympic-2020-plagiarism-design-logo/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Tokyo 2020 Olympic Logo Unveiled After Plagiarism Scandal|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/tokyo-2020-official-olympic-logo-unveiled-after-plagiarism-scandal-n561561|access-date=16 May 2021|first1=Alastair|last1=Jamieson|website=NBC News|date=25 April 2016|archive-date=16 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516073249/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/tokyo-2020-official-olympic-logo-unveiled-after-plagiarism-scandal-n561561|url-status=live}}</ref> The lawsuit by Olivier Debie, who claimed his logo design was copied, was later dropped, with the designer citing escalating legal costs.<ref>{{cite web|date=29 January 2016|title=Belgian designer abandons Tokyo 2020 Olympic logo lawsuit|url=https://www.dezeen.com/2016/01/29/designer-olivier-debie-abandons-plagiarism-lawsuit-tokyo-2020-olympic-logo-theatre-de-liege/|access-date=16 May 2021|author=Ross Bryant|website=Dezeen|archive-date=16 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516073247/https://www.dezeen.com/2016/01/29/designer-olivier-debie-abandons-plagiarism-lawsuit-tokyo-2020-olympic-logo-theatre-de-liege/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Mass logging for construction of the Olympic venues received international criticism. Petitions, containing more than 140,000 signatures in total, were delivered to the Japanese embassies in Switzerland and Germany, expressing concerns over claims of using tropical wood sourced from [[Shin Yang]], a Malaysian company with a record of human rights abuses, illegal logging, and rainforest destruction.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://informedinfrastructure.com/31234/tokyo-olympic-stadium-scandal-update-over-140000-signatures-delivered-to-japanese-embassies-around-the-world-demanding-no-rainforest-destruction-or-human-rights-abuses/|title=Tokyo Olympic Stadium Scandal Update: Over 140,000 Signatures Delivered to Japanese Embassies Around the World Demanding No Rainforest Destruction or Human Rights Abuses|date=11 May 2017|last=Dubey|first=Parul|website=Informed Infrastructure magazine|publisher=Vector1 media|access-date=13 May 2021|archive-date=14 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514042737/https://informedinfrastructure.com/31234/tokyo-olympic-stadium-scandal-update-over-140000-signatures-delivered-to-japanese-embassies-around-the-world-demanding-no-rainforest-destruction-or-human-rights-abuses/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.climatechangenews.com/2018/02/23/tokyo-olympics-confirms-use-rainforest-timber-stadium-build/|title=Tokyo 2020 Olympics confirms use of rainforest timber in stadium build|date=23 February 2018|website=Climate Home News|access-date=13 May 2021|archive-date=14 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514213747/https://www.climatechangenews.com/2018/02/23/tokyo-olympics-confirms-use-rainforest-timber-stadium-build/|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2018, the Olympics Organizing Committee admitted that 87% of [[plywood]] panels used to build the new national stadium was sourced from endangered rainforests.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/29/tokyo-olympics-venues-built-with-wood-from-threatened-rainforests|title=Tokyo Olympics venues 'built with wood from threatened rainforests'|last=Neslen|first=Arthur|date=29 November 2018|website=The Guardian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222123600/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/29/tokyo-olympics-venues-built-with-wood-from-threatened-rainforests|archive-date=22 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Portions of the Games were scheduled for locations impacted by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, and the subsequent [[Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster]]. The hosting of events in these locations was promoted as a means of furthering recovery in the regions, with the Games sometimes being promoted as the {{Nihongo foot|"Recovery Olympics".|復興五輪|Fukkō Gorin}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/12/18/national/tokyo-recovery-olympics-fukushima-displaced/|title=Tokyo 'Recovery Olympics' offer scant solace to displaced victims of Fukushima nuclear disaster|date=18 December 2019|first1=Mari|last1=Yamaguchi|first2=Stephen|last2=Wade|newspaper=[[The Japan Times]]|access-date=15 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229094517/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/12/18/national/tokyo-recovery-olympics-fukushima-displaced/|archive-date=29 December 2019}}</ref>

However, the organization of events in these regions faced criticism; Fukushima is considered safe by the [[World Health Organization]] and the [[United Nations]], although scientific studies on the safety of the area are still disputed.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Zirin|first1=Dave|last2=Boykoff|first2=Jules|title=Is Fukushima Safe for the Olympics?|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/is-fukushima-safe-for-the-olympic-games/|work=[[The Nation]]|date=25 July 2019|access-date=15 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110161708/https://www.thenation.com/article/is-fukushima-safe-for-the-olympic-games/|archive-date=10 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Some Tōhoku residents questioned the decision to use the region as a host site, arguing that preparations for the Games slowed down recovery efforts, and that the region lost workers to projects associated with the Games.<ref>{{cite news|last=Osumi|first=Magdalena|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/03/10/national/recovery-olympics-moniker-2020-games-rubs-3-11-evacuees-wrong-way/|title='Recovery Olympics' moniker for 2020 Games rubs 3/11 evacuees the wrong way|date=10 March 2019|work=The Japan Times Online|access-date=24 March 2020|issn=0447-5763|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324184242/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/03/10/national/recovery-olympics-moniker-2020-games-rubs-3-11-evacuees-wrong-way/|archive-date=24 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

It was widely reported by international media that [[South Korea]] had asked the IOC to ban the Japanese [[Rising Sun Flag]] from the 2020 Summer Olympics,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-50285383|title=Tokyo 2020: Why some people want the rising sun flag banned|date=3 January 2020|first=Andreas|last=Illmer|work=BBC News|access-date=3 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103004202/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-50285383|archive-date=3 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> claiming it to be a symbol of [[Empire of Japan|Japan's imperialist past]], recalling "historic scars and pain" for people of Korea just as the [[swastika]] "reminds Europeans of the nightmare of World War II".<ref>{{cite news|title=South Korea formally requests Japan's 'rising sun' flag be banned at 2020 Olympics|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/2020-olympics-tokyo-south-korea-japan-rising-sun-flag-ban-a9101086.html|first=Adam|last=Withnall|work=The Independent|date=11 September 2019|access-date=13 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190912014210/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/2020-olympics-tokyo-south-korea-japan-rising-sun-flag-ban-a9101086.html|archive-date=12 September 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=South Korea asks IOC to ban Japan's use of 'Rising Sun' flag at Olympics|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southkorea-japan-olympics/south-korea-asks-ioc-to-ban-japans-use-of-rising-sun-flag-at-olympics-idUSKCN1VW1LG|first=Hyonhee|last=Shin|work=Reuters|date=11 September 2019|access-date=13 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913095332/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southkorea-japan-olympics/south-korea-asks-ioc-to-ban-japans-use-of-rising-sun-flag-at-olympics-idUSKCN1VW1LG|archive-date=13 September 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Use of the flag in international sporting events such as the Olympic Games is controversial because it was used for waging [[War of aggression|aggressive war]] against many countries in Pacific regions, including the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Audrey McAvoy|agency=Associated Press|date=8 August 2017|title=Japanese battleship flag donated at Pearl Harbor|url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2016/10/14/japanese-battleship-flag-donated-at-pearl-harbor/|access-date=31 January 2021|website=Military Times|archive-date=22 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722172528/https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2016/10/14/japanese-battleship-flag-donated-at-pearl-harbor/|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the [[Associated Press]], the IOC issued a statement in response to South Korea's request, saying, "sports stadiums should be free of any political demonstration. When concerns arise at Games time we look at them on a case-by-case basis."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2019/09/5097f6b5dca3-s-korea-urges-ioc-to-ban-rising-sun-flag-from-2020-olympics.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417211822/https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2019/09/5097f6b5dca3-s-korea-urges-ioc-to-ban-rising-sun-flag-from-2020-olympics.html?phrase=Onaga,%20okinawa&words=|date=12 September 2019|archive-date=17 April 2021|title=S. Korea urges IOC to ban Japanese imperial flag from 2020 Olympics|work=[[Kyodo News]]|access-date=30 July 2021}}</ref> Russian and South Korean officials took issue with a map of the torch relay on the Games' official website, which depicted the disputed [[Liancourt Rocks]] (governed by South Korea) and [[Kuril Islands]] (governed by Russia since 1945) as part of Japan.<ref>{{cite news|title=Russia accuses Tokyo of politicizing games|url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/08/13/russia-accuses-tokyo-of-politicizing-games/|newspaper=[[BusinessMirror]]|date=13 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229200245/https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/08/13/russia-accuses-tokyo-of-politicizing-games/|archive-date=29 February 2020}}</ref>

In February 2021, the TOCOG president Yoshirō Mori resigned, after facing both domestic and international criticisms over his [[sexist]] remarks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tokyo Olympics chief resigns after sexist remarks|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/tokyo-olympics-chief-yoshiro-mori-resigns-after-sexist-remarks-n1257453|access-date=16 May 2021|first1=Arata|last1=Yamamoto|first2=Yuliya|last2=Talmazan|website=NBC News|date=11 February 2021|archive-date=24 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724081918/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/tokyo-olympics-chief-yoshiro-mori-resigns-after-sexist-remarks-n1257453|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=About 1,000 Olympics volunteers quit in wake of furor over president|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/about-1-000-olympics-volunteers-quit-in-wake-of-furor-over-14277686|access-date=16 May 2021|website=CNA|date=25 February 2021|archive-date=16 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516103158/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/about-1-000-olympics-volunteers-quit-in-wake-of-furor-over-14277686|url-status=live}}</ref> The previous conduct of the new president, Seiko Hashimoto, had also drawn criticisms,<ref>{{cite web|title=橋本聖子氏が「浅田真央選手に安倍首相とのハグ強要」と報道されたシーン、政府の動画に残っていた|trans-title=The scene where Seiko Hashimoto was reported to have "forced Mao Asada to hug Prime Minister Abe" was left in the government video|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.jp/entry/hashimoto_jp_6037145cc5b6ec4b56276346|date=25 February 2021|access-date=16 May 2021|website=ハフポスト HuffPost|language=ja|author1=安藤健二|archive-date=13 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613184339/https://www.huffingtonpost.jp/entry/hashimoto_jp_6037145cc5b6ec4b56276346|url-status=live}}</ref> leading her to comment "I regret it and think I should be careful" on one of the accusations.<ref>{{cite web|date=18 February 2021|title=New Tokyo Olympics chief acknowledges 'great public concern' over Covid|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/feb/18/tokyo-2020-japan-to-appoint-olympic-seiko-hashimoto-sexism-row|access-date=16 May 2021|first=Justin|last=McCurry|website=The Guardian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301052332/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/feb/18/tokyo-2020-japan-to-appoint-olympic-seiko-hashimoto-sexism-row|archive-date=1 March 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> The head creative director for the opening and closing ceremonies, {{Interlanguage link|Hiroshi Sasaki|ja|佐々木宏 (クリエイティブディレクター)}}, resigned in March 2021, after making demeaning comments about [[Naomi Watanabe]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Inoue|first1=Makiko|last2=Rich|first2=Motoko|last3=May|first3=Tiffany|date=18 March 2021|title=Tokyo Olympics Official Resigns After Calling Plus-Size Celebrity 'Olympig'|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/18/world/asia/tokyo-olympics-hiroshi-sasaki.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/18/world/asia/tokyo-olympics-hiroshi-sasaki.html|archive-date=2021-12-28|url-access=limited|access-date=16 May 2021|issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kageyama|first=Yuri|date=17 March 2021|title=Tokyo Olympics hit by another scandal over sexist comment|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/tokyo-olympics-sexist-comment-creative-director-resigns-1.5954307|access-date=16 May 2021|archive-date=19 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319045300/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/tokyo-olympics-sexist-comment-creative-director-resigns-1.5954307|url-status=live}}</ref> Sasaki's replacement, [[Kentarō Kobayashi]], was dismissed by the Organizing Committee the day before the opening ceremony,<ref name="Mainichi-210722b">{{cite news|url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210722/p2a/00m/0na/004000c|title=Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony director dismissed after Holocaust joke criticism|first=Kazuhiro|last=Tahara|website=[[The Mainichi]]|publisher=Mainichi Newspapers Co., Ltd.|date=22 July 2021|access-date=22 July 2021|archive-date=22 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722031451/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210722/p2a/00m/0na/004000c|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="AP-210722">{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/2020-tokyo-olympics-entertainment-sports-health-coronavirus-pandemic-fd94ec7f2fd17723d38f8bcfdb663c7e|title=Olympic opening ceremony director fired for Holocaust joke|first=Mari|last=Yamaguchi|website=[[APNews]]|date=22 July 2021|access-date=22 July 2021|archive-date=22 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722034048/https://apnews.com/article/2020-tokyo-olympics-entertainment-sports-health-coronavirus-pandemic-fd94ec7f2fd17723d38f8bcfdb663c7e|url-status=live}}</ref> after it was reported by Japanese media that he had made a joke about [[the Holocaust]] in a script for his comedy in 1998, saying "Let's play Holocaust."<ref name="SWC-210721">{{cite web|url=https://www.wiesenthal.com/about/news/swc-condemns-anti-semitic-1.html|title=SWC Condemns Anti-Semitic Remarks by Director of Opening Ceremony of Tokyo Olympics|work=[[Simon Wiesenthal Center]]|date=21 July 2021|access-date=22 July 2021|archive-date=22 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722000032/https://www.wiesenthal.com/about/news/swc-condemns-anti-semitic-1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On the eve of the opening ceremony, Yoshihide Suga, the [[Prime Minister of Japan]] and the Supreme Advisor of the Organizing Committee,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/organising-committee/advisory-meeting/|title=Advisory Meeting Members|website=olympics.com|publisher=The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games|date=16 July 2021|access-date=22 July 2021|archive-date=22 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722020226/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/organising-committee/advisory-meeting/}}</ref> described Kobayashi's jokes as "outrageous and unacceptable", but also said that the opening ceremony, which was directed by Kobayashi, should proceed as planned.<ref name="BBC-210722">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57924885|title=Olympics opening ceremony director sacked for Holocaust joke|work=BBC News Asia|date=22 July 2021|access-date=22 July 2021|archive-date=22 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722050857/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57924885|url-status=live}}</ref>

The composer for the opening ceremony, [[Cornelius (musician)|Keigo Oyamada]], resigned days before the ceremony after growing criticism of his past bullying of people with apparent [[Disability|disabilities]], such as [[Down syndrome]].<ref name="Mainichi-210716">{{cite news|url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210716/p2a/00m/0na/008000c|title=Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony music leader under fire for past bullying|first=Chie|last=Yamashita|website=[[The Mainichi]]|publisher=Mainichi Newspapers Co., Ltd.|date=16 July 2021|access-date=17 July 2021|archive-date=16 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716185818/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210716/p2a/00m/0na/008000c|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NBC-210721">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/olympics/tokyo-2020-olympics-composer-apologizes-bullying-disabled-classmates-n1274307|title=Tokyo 2020 Olympics composer apologizes for bullying disabled classmates|author=Corky Siemaszko|website=[[NBCNews.com]]|date=18 July 2021|access-date=5 August 2021|archive-date=4 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804232806/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/olympics/tokyo-2020-olympics-composer-apologizes-bullying-disabled-classmates-n1274307|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 16, a week before the opening ceremony, TOCOG announced their support of Oyamada as a composer and vowed not to change his selection for the ceremonies,<ref name="AsahiShimbun-210717">{{cite news|url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14397427|title=Olympic composer apologizes for historic actions|first1=Hidemasa|last1=Yoshizawa|first2=Yusuke|last2=Saito|work=[[The Asahi Shimbun]]|date=17 July 2021|access-date=17 July 2021|archive-date=17 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717090929/https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14397427|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Jiji-210716">{{cite news|url=https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2021071601210|title=小山田氏の起用、変更なし組織委「不適切な発言」〔五輪〕|trans-title=No change to the appointment of Mr. Oyamada by Organizing Committee despite "inappropriate remarks"|website=[[Jiji Press]]|language=Japanese|date=16 July 2021|access-date=17 July 2021|archive-date=11 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111091716/https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2021071601210|url-status=live}}</ref> but growing criticism forced him to announce his resignation on July 19.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rich|first=Motoko|date=19 July 2021|title=The Olympics composer resigns after acknowledging that he had bullied classmates with disabilities.|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/19/sports/olympics/olympics-composer-resigns.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/19/sports/olympics/olympics-composer-resigns.html|archive-date=2021-12-28|url-access=limited|access-date=20 July 2021|issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first1=Chie|last1=Kobayashi|first2=Heather|last2=Law|title=Tokyo Olympics composer resigns over historical bullying remarks|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/07/20/sport/keigo-oyamada-resigns-bullying-remarks-intl/index.html|access-date=20 July 2021|website=CNN|date=20 July 2021|archive-date=23 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723023839/https://edition.cnn.com/2021/07/20/sport/keigo-oyamada-resigns-bullying-remarks-intl/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The opening ceremony music included arrangements of video game soundtracks originating in Japan; however, this included music from the ''[[Dragon Quest]]'' series, composed by [[Koichi Sugiyama]] whom ''[[The Daily Beast]]'' described as "notoriously homophobic and ultranationalist", leading to further criticism of the Organizing Committee.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/music-of-koichi-sugiyama-the-notoriously-hateful-japanese-composer-opens-tokyo-olympics-in-latest-gaffe|title=A Notoriously Hateful Japanese Composer's Music Just Opened the Tokyo Olympics|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=23 July 2021|last1=Adelstein|first1=Jake|last2=Kai|first2=Chihiro|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728171308/https://www.thedailybeast.com/music-of-koichi-sugiyama-the-notoriously-hateful-japanese-composer-opens-tokyo-olympics-in-latest-gaffe|archive-date=28 July 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

Officials reported that by early June 2021, about 10,000 of the 80,000 registered volunteers had quit.<ref name="Chie Kobayashi, Selina Wang and Joshua Berlinger">{{cite web|author=Chie Kobayashi, Selina Wang and Joshua Berlinger|title=About 10,000 Tokyo Olympic volunteers have quit with Games closing in|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/06/03/sport/tokyo-olympics-volunteers-covid-intl-hnk/index.html|access-date=3 June 2021|website=CNN|date=3 June 2021 |archive-date=3 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603051410/https://edition.cnn.com/2021/06/03/sport/tokyo-olympics-volunteers-covid-intl-hnk/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> "There's no doubt that one of the reasons is concern over coronavirus infections," the chief executive of the Organizing Committee said,<ref>{{cite web|date=2 June 2021|title=10,000 volunteers have quit Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, say organizers|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/06/02/national/olympics-volunteers-quit/|access-date=3 June 2021|website=The Japan Times|archive-date=2 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602235118/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/06/02/national/olympics-volunteers-quit/|url-status=live}}</ref> also stating he did not believe this would impact the operation of the Games.<ref name="Chie Kobayashi, Selina Wang and Joshua Berlinger" /> On July 23, hundreds of anti-Olympic protestors gathered outside the Japan National Stadium before the opening ceremony. Security guards blocked reporters from leaving the stadium to interview protestors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/protesters-stage-demonstration-against-tokyo-olympics-outside-opening-ceremony-122139203.html|title=Protesters stage demonstration against Tokyo Olympics outside Opening Ceremony|last=Bushnell|first=Henry|date=23 July 2021|website=[[Yahoo Sports]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724193536/https://sports.yahoo.com/protesters-stage-demonstration-against-tokyo-olympics-outside-opening-ceremony-122139203.html|archive-date=24 July 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> In total, more than 60,000 police were mobilized for security during the Games, and police were regularly deployed to break up public displays of protest, including tackling protestors on their way to join the anti-Olympic protest in Sendagaya during the closing ceremony on September 5, 2021. This overwhelming police presence, including plainclothes police officers who encircled the protest area, "served as an effective tool to criminalize a peaceful rally and to maintain a frightening image of open protest."<ref>{{cite journal |last=Ganseforth |first=Sonja |date=2023-01-02 |title=Protesting legacies: Anti-Olympic movements in Japan before and after Tokyo 2020/1 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/18692729.2023.2171953 |journal=Contemporary Japan |language=en |volume=35 |issue=1 |pages=94–116 |doi=10.1080/18692729.2023.2171953 |s2cid=258313154 |issn=1869-2729 |access-date=13 July 2023 |archive-date=13 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713002239/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/18692729.2023.2171953 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Writing for ''[[The Conversation (website)|The Conversation]]'', Olympic scholar [[MacIntosh Ross]] raised concerns about the relationship between the [[IOC]] and [[WHO]], suggesting the organizations showed a lack of concern for the health of Japanese citizens and Olympians. As Ross explained, "when the IOC and WHO support a global mega-event held during a pandemic, it's difficult to believe that the well-being of the host nation remains a priority."<ref>{{cite web |last=Ross |first=MacIntosh |title=The WHO and the IOC are playing with lives at state-of-emergency Tokyo Olympics |url=http://theconversation.com/the-who-and-the-ioc-are-playing-with-lives-at-state-of-emergency-tokyo-olympics-164291 |access-date=2022-04-29 |website=The Conversation |date=21 July 2021 |language=en |archive-date=29 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429152405/https://theconversation.com/the-who-and-the-ioc-are-playing-with-lives-at-state-of-emergency-tokyo-olympics-164291 |url-status=live }}</ref> Similarly, Japan scholars O'Shea and Maslow remarked, "International media coverage and commentary runs the gamut from sometimes scathing critique for attempting to pull off a 'pandemic Games', to praise and plaudits for successfully pulling off a 'pandemic Games'. Still, the story that Japan—or at least the LDP—wanted to tell, of a newly reborn and 'normal' Japan (re-)entering the world stage remained untold. Instead, the story of the 2020/2021 Tokyo Olympics was more mundane, that of a state doing a decent job of managing Covid and hosting a mega-event against the wishes of many of its inhabitants."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=O'Shea |first1=Paul |last2=Maslow |first2=Sebastian |date=2023-01-02 |title=The 2020/2021 Tokyo Olympics: Does Japan get the gold medal or the wooden spoon? |journal=Contemporary Japan |language=en |volume=35 |issue=1 |pages=16–34 |doi=10.1080/18692729.2023.2169819 |s2cid=258313135 |issn=1869-2729|doi-access=free }}</ref>

A number of controversies arose during the Games, most notably the attempted repatriation on August 1 of Belarusian sprinter [[Krystsina Tsimanouskaya]], allegedly for her criticism of the national sports authorities and team management.<ref>{{cite news|date=30 July 2021|title="Они накосячили с девчонками" — белорусская легкоатлетка Тимановская заявила, что "очень крутое начальство" поставило ее на эстафету на Олимпиаде без ее ведома|trans-title="They messed up with the girls" – Belarusian athlete Timanovskaya said that "very cool bosses" put her on the baton at the Olympics without her knowledge|url=https://telegraf.by/sport-news/oni-nakosyachili-s-devchonkami-belorusskuju-legkoatletku-timanovskuju-postavili-na-estafetu-na-olimpiade-bez-ee-vedoma/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801111133/https://telegraf.by/sport-news/oni-nakosyachili-s-devchonkami-belorusskuju-legkoatletku-timanovskuju-postavili-na-estafetu-na-olimpiade-bez-ee-vedoma/|archive-date=1 August 2021|access-date=5 August 2021|website=Telegraf.by|language=Belarusian}}</ref> Refusing to return to [[Belarus]], over fears for her safety,<ref>{{cite web|date=1 August 2021|title=Belarusian sprinter who criticised coaches refuses to be sent home|url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/aug/01/belarus-sprinter-krystsina-tsimanouskaya-criticised-coaches-says-she-will-not-return-to-country|url-status=live|access-date=5 August 2021|website=The Guardian|archive-date=1 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801151059/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/aug/01/belarus-sprinter-krystsina-tsimanouskaya-criticised-coaches-says-she-will-not-return-to-country}}</ref> Tsimanouskaya sought assistance from the IOC and traveled to [[Warsaw]], Poland, on August 4 after being granted a [[humanitarian visa]] by [[Embassy of Poland, Tokyo|Tokyo's Polish Embassy]].<ref>{{cite web|date=3 August 2021|title=Belarusian sprinter reaches Poland after defying order home|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/belarus-sprinter-tsimanouskaya-leaves-polish-embassy-tokyo-police-2021-08-03/|access-date=5 August 2021|work=Reuters|first1=Alicja|last1=Ptak|first2=Gabrielle|last2=Tétrault-Farber|archive-date=18 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818204154/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/belarus-sprinter-tsimanouskaya-leaves-polish-embassy-tokyo-police-2021-08-03/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Near the end of the Olympics, it was reported that Australian athletes had damaged the village rooms before departure, leaving a pool of vomit on the floor, damaged beds, and a hole in the wall. Australian rugby Olympians also reportedly became drunk on the flight to Sydney, leaving vomit in the plane bathroom and receiving complaints from other passengers. Team Australia chief Ian Chesterman played down the incidents, and said the Olympians would not be punished.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3143703/tokyo-olympics-australian-athletes-left-vomit-room-caused-chaos|title=Australian Olympians left vomit in room, caused chaos on flight home|date=3 August 2021|work=South China Morning Post|agency=Reuters|access-date=13 August 2021|archive-date=13 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813024222/https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3143703/tokyo-olympics-australian-athletes-left-vomit-room-caused-chaos|url-status=live}}</ref>

Algerian judoka [[Fethi Nourine]] and his coach [[Amar Benikhlef]] were suspended for 10 years by the [[International Judo Federation]] after Nourine refused to fight an Israeli athlete at the Olympics.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/58556940| title=Tokyo Olympics: Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine and coach suspended for 10 years| work=[[BBC Sport]]| date=14 September 2021| access-date=7 January 2024| archive-date=13 April 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413153508/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/58556940| url-status=live}}</ref> Nourine said his political support for the Palestinians in the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]] made it impossible for him to compete against Israeli athletes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/24/algerian-judoka-sent-home-from-olympics-after-refusing-to-compete-against-israeli|title=Algerian judoka sent home from Olympics after refusing to compete against Israeli|date=24 July 2021|website=The Guardian|access-date=7 January 2024|archive-date=24 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724103127/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/24/algerian-judoka-sent-home-from-olympics-after-refusing-to-compete-against-israeli|url-status=live}}</ref> Sudan's [[Mohamed Abdalarasool]] also withdrew from the competition to avoid the Israeli athlete.<ref>{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|date=2021-07-26|title=Second judoka drops out of Tokyo Olympics before facing Israeli|url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/26/judo-athlete-sudan-withdraws-before-israel|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-date=29 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729212827/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/26/judo-athlete-sudan-withdraws-before-israel|url-status=live}}</ref>

After the Olympics concluded, New Zealand diving judge Lisa Wright revealed that during the diving events, [[Zhou Jihong]], Vice President of [[World Aquatics|FINA]] from China, allegedly launched a verbal tirade at Wright at the conclusion of the men's 10 m platform final. Wright alleged that Zhou verbally abused her for underscoring Chinese divers.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ramsay |first=George |date=2022-05-12 |title=She apologized for verbally abusing an Olympic judge, but questions over the conduct of China's 'Iron Lady' of diving remain |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/11/sport/zhou-jihong-diving-fina-spt-intl/index.html |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=CNN |archive-date=16 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516102422/https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/11/sport/zhou-jihong-diving-fina-spt-intl/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Diving New Zealand subsequently complained about the incident to FINA's Ethics Panel. As a result, Zhou was ordered by a FINA Ethics Panel decision<ref name="paneldecision">{{cite web |url=https://resources.fina.org/fina/document/2022/04/06/151cc7a0-5b84-45d2-820e-72943af4cce6/2021-FINA-Ethics-Panel-Ms-jihong-Zhou-.pdf |title=Formal Hearing of Ethics Panel of the Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA) in Terms of Article C.24 of its Constitution |publisher=Federation Internationale de Natation |access-date=8 June 2023 |archive-date=7 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507082233/https://resources.fina.org/fina/document/2022/04/06/151cc7a0-5b84-45d2-820e-72943af4cce6/2021-FINA-Ethics-Panel-Ms-jihong-Zhou-.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> to write a letter of apology to Wright. A recommendation was also made by the Ethics Panel to disestablish Zhou's position as Diving Bureau Liaison for FINA. The FINA Ethics Panel stated that the incident during the men's platform final was "unfortunate" and led to a "misunderstanding mixed with misjudgement" between Wright and Zhou.<ref name="paneldecision" /> In May 2022, former international diver, Olympic judge, and previous member of FINA's Technical Diving Committee from New Zealand [[Simon Latimer]] revealed he had sent a whistleblower complaint<ref>{{cite web |title=Simon Latimer letter to Brent Nowicki.docx – AnonFiles |url=https://anonfiles.com/h3q9Lfp5za/Simon_Latimer_letter_to_Brent_Nowicki_docx |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=anonfiles.com |archive-date=12 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512042128/https://anonfiles.com/h3q9Lfp5za/Simon_Latimer_letter_to_Brent_Nowicki_docx |url-status=dead }}</ref> to FINA's Executive Director Brent Nowicki in December 2021 detailing Zhou's alleged "unethical behavior" which also contained allegations that Zhou coached Chinese divers during major events during the 2020 Summer Olympics and she had manipulated judging panels to benefit Chinese athletes. Latimer claimed that Zhou's behavior was tarnishing the reputation of international diving and that she was acting in the interests of China rather than international diving as a whole. Subsequent to Latimer's complaint, video evidence emerged online showing Zhou coaching Chinese divers during competition sessions at the Olympics,<ref>{{cite web |last=Sutherland |first=James |date=2022-04-18 |title=Video Shows FINA VP Zhou Jihong Coaching Chinese Diver At Tokyo Olympic Games |url=https://swimswam.com/video-shows-fina-vp-zhou-jihong-coaching-chinese-diver-at-tokyo-olympic-games/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=SwimSwam |language=en-US |archive-date=8 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508050716/https://swimswam.com/video-shows-fina-vp-zhou-jihong-coaching-chinese-diver-at-tokyo-olympic-games/ |url-status=live }}</ref> a behavior considered unethical given her supposedly neutral role as a FINA Vice President and Diving Bureau Liaison.

== Broadcasting == {{Main|List of 2020 Summer Olympics broadcasters}}

The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 reached a global broadcast audience of 3.05 billion people, according to independent research conducted on behalf of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Official coverage on Olympic broadcast partners' digital platforms alone generated 28 billion video views in total – representing a 139% increase compared with the Olympic Games Rio 2016 and underlining the changing media landscape and Tokyo 2020's designation as the first streaming Games and the most watched Olympic Games ever on digital platforms.<ref>{{cite web|date=2021-12-20|title=Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 watched by more than 3 billion people – Olympic News|url=https://olympics.com/ioc/news/olympic-games-tokyo-2020-watched-by-more-than-3-billion-people|access-date=2021-12-28|website=International Olympic Committee|language=en|archive-date=28 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228071131/https://olympics.com/ioc/news/olympic-games-tokyo-2020-watched-by-more-than-3-billion-people|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Sony Corporation|Sony]] and [[Panasonic]] partnered with [[NHK]] to develop broadcasting standards for [[8K resolution]] television, with a goal to release 8K television sets in time for the 2020 Summer Olympics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/8/26/12656286/8k-tv-broadcasts-2020-olympics-sony-panasonic|title=Sony and Panasonic target 8K TVs for 2020 Olympics|last=Vincent|first=James|date=26 August 2016|website=The Verge|access-date=21 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915062727/https://www.theverge.com/2016/8/26/12656286/8k-tv-broadcasts-2020-olympics-sony-panasonic|archive-date=15 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Lost-market-share-prompts-Sony-Panasonic-TV-tech-alliance|title=Exclusive: Lost market share prompts Sony-Panasonic TV tech alliance|work=Nikkei Asian Review|access-date=21 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429084721/http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Lost-market-share-prompts-Sony-Panasonic-TV-tech-alliance|archive-date=29 April 2017|date=26 August 2016}}</ref> In early 2019, Italian broadcaster [[RAI]] announced its intention to deploy 8K broadcasting for the Games.<ref>{{cite web|last=Strauss|first=Will|date=21 February 2019|title=Italy's Rai to start 8K broadcasts in time for 2020 Tokyo Olympics|url=https://www.svgeurope.org/blog/headlines/italys-rai-to-start-8k-broadcasts-in-time-for-2020-tokyo-olympics/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828112516/https://www.svgeurope.org/blog/headlines/italys-rai-to-start-8k-broadcasts-in-time-for-2020-tokyo-olympics/|archive-date=28 August 2019|access-date=8 March 2019|website=SVG Europe}}</ref> NHK broadcast the opening and closing ceremonies, and coverage of selected events in 8K.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jenny|last=Priestley|date=2 August 2021|title=Tokyo 2020 Opening Ceremony 'first mainstream 8K rip on pirate sites'|url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/tokyo-2020-opening-ceremony-first-mainstream-8k-rip-on-pirate-sites|access-date=16 August 2021|website=TVTechnology|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825055702/https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/tokyo-2020-opening-ceremony-first-mainstream-8k-rip-on-pirate-sites|archive-date=25 August 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Phil|last=Kurz|date=21 July 2021|title=NHK To Broadcast 200 Hours Of Tokyo Olympics In 8K|url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/nhk-to-broadcast-200-hours-of-tokyo-olympics-in-8k|access-date=16 August 2021|website=TVTechnology|language=en|location=Tokyo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725170930/https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/nhk-to-broadcast-200-hours-of-tokyo-olympics-in-8k|archive-date=25 July 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> Telecom company [[NTT Docomo]] signed a deal with Finland's [[Nokia]] to provide [[5G]]-ready baseband networks in Japan in time for the Games.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-telecoms-mwc-ntt-docomo/nokia-ntt-docomo-prepare-for-5g-ahead-of-tokyo-olympics-launch-idUSKBN0LY0FD20150302|title=Nokia, NTT DoCoMo prepare for 5G ahead of Tokyo Olympics launch|date=2 March 2015|newspaper=Reuters|access-date=20 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121071454/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-telecoms-mwc-ntt-docomo/nokia-ntt-docomo-prepare-for-5g-ahead-of-tokyo-olympics-launch-idUSKBN0LY0FD20150302|archive-date=21 January 2018|url-status=live|last1=Auchard|first1=Eric}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/nokia-wins-5g-business-japan-s-ntt-docomo|title=Nokia wins 5G business with Japan's NTT DoCoMo|date=19 January 2018|last=Alleven|first=Monica|newspaper=Fierce Wireless|access-date=20 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121071351/https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/nokia-wins-5g-business-japan-s-ntt-docomo|archive-date=21 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Japanese audio manufacture [[Audio-Technica]] was selected by NBC Olympics, a division of the [[NBC Sports Group]], to provide microphone and headphone equipment for production of the Games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=P. S. W. |date=2021-06-07 |title=NBC Olympics Selects Audio-Technica As Microphone & Headphone Supplier For The Tokyo Games |url=https://www.prosoundweb.com/nbc-olympics-selects-audio-technica-as-microphone-headphone-supplier-for-the-tokyo-games/ |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=ProSoundWeb |language=en-US}}</ref>

== See also == {{IOC seealso|games=2020 Summer}} * [[1940 Summer Olympics]] – planned in Tokyo

== Notes == {{notelist}}

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category}} {{Wikivoyage|Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games 2020}} * {{IOC games|games=2020 Summer Olympics}} * [https://www.joc.or.jp/english/ Japanese Olympic Committee]

{{s-start}} {{s-sports|soly}} {{s-bef|before=[[2016 Summer Olympics|Rio de Janeiro]]}} {{s-ttl|title=XXXII Olympiad [[Tokyo]]|years=2021}} {{s-aft|after=[[2024 Summer Olympics|Paris]]}} {{s-end}}

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