Dixya Poudel

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to go ahead with the Olympic Games this year, despite the prevailing threat of the pandemic. Olympics 2020 is thus taking place in Japan.
Olympics originated in Athens and today it is played out amid global fanfare. The first modern Olympics took place in Athens in 1896 AD and as a multisport event, it was a triumph with participation from 12 nations. As many as 280 athletes competed in the event. Even then, it was considered an honour and outstanding achievement to win Olympic medals. Centuries later, Olympics is still the epitome of excellence and accomplishment in sports. Thousands of athletes compete in a myriad of sports during the Olympics while audiences attend the games in team spirit.

Sport is regarded as the culmination of training, discipline and rigorous dedication. Athletes become celebrities overnight due to their wins. Along with the gold medals come fame, reverence and cash prize. However, not everyone is cut out to be a winner. As athletes confess, they worked hard for their win, often at the cost of their personal lives. Usually athletes start to train and compete early on in their childhood.
The gold medals are thus results of years of steely discipline, resolve and grit. And people throughout the world take sports quite seriously. As seen in the Euro 2020, once the British team lost, its players had to face grave backlash and criticism. There was also online abuse in social media that really brought down England's team spirit and morale. Sports thus have a global clout which could be a culmination of entertainment, loyalty and national pride. They bring people together in a feeling of camaraderie and also turn into profits in millions of dollars. It is thus not surprising that the stakes are high, emotionally and even financially in the advents of games.
The Olympic Games attract not just audiences but also media frenzy. Eager fans root for their countries' athletes which becomes a matter of national esteem. It could explain why nations invest heavily in sports. Interestingly, Olympics has a unique logo that is an interlock of five rings. In a spirit of global solidarity, these five rings symbolise Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Oceania.
Founded in 1894 AD, the International Olympic Committee sought to bring nations together in a spirit of games. The world history is heavily entrenched with Olympic Games that brought nations together. Thus, there is diplomacy in Olympics which aims to smooth relations between countries through its sports.

Before the commencement of Olympics 2020, there were outcries over the risk of pandemic not just to players and organisers but also to the citizens of Tokyo. Several athletes tested positive for coronavirus and had to miss the games altogether. Nevertheless, Olympics is taking place in Japan and people worldwide are tuning in virtually through the internet and television.
Nepal competed in four sports during the ongoing Olympics. In its history of Olympics, Nepal has had no official wins although there have been promising athletes. With effective coaching, training and support, sportspersons can be honed in to their abilities. Thus, the nation must invest in athletes and teams while also encouraging competitive sports. As shown by Olympics 2020, competitions and rewards in sports are high even during global crises.