Thank You, Tokyo 2020

A Remarkable Summer Olympic Games Close

I'll take a few days to process the last two weeks+ and the Tokyo 2020 Games. Broadly, my mind is filled with images of quality competition and emotional finishes - along with empty stadiums, and intense heat. What will the legacy of Tokyo 2020 be? Time will tell, but I do feel strongly that the Olympic movement would have been damaged had the Games not taken place.

So many individual stories are striking - Simone Biles' gymnastics withdrawal, Caeleb Dressel's golden performance in the pool, first gold for Philippines, three medals for Ecuador, first medals for San Marino, Team USA squeaking past Team China for the medal table win, a shared high jump gold, double world records in hurdling, and one in the triple jump, and more, more, more...

But the fact that the Games happened at all gave us proof that it could happen, that life is moving forward, that we can be #StrongerTogether. While the global pandemic still goes on, #UnitedbyEmotion we can accomplish big things.

Team Ireland's Natalya Cole puts it succinctly well, on behalf of the athletes.

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Carrying the Irish flag into the closing ceremony was an incredible honour.

Thank you @tokyo2020 for hosting these games. Even though many said it couldn’t happen. They gave Olympians purpose throughout the past year, endless pride & entertainment for people at home. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/DOc9xEECRS

— Natalya Coyle (@Natalyacoyle) August 8, 2021

Thank you to Tokyo, to Japan, to Tokyo 2020, to the Olympics, and to the athletes.

The Closing Ceremony offers thanks