EDITORIAL | Merci! Paris Gave Us the Olympics As They Were Meant to Be

The Paris Olympics ended with a rousing closing ceremony and gala show centered on song. Still fresh in our memory is how, at every venue, spectators sang the French national anthem "La Marseillaise" in unison.

Tony Estanguet is president of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. In his closing remarks, he announced with pride, "The Paris Olympics broke many world records." Among the categories he enumerated were the number of spectators and the volume of cheering. 

Above all, we are happy about the return of the Olympics as they were meant to be. The Paris Olympics were filled with cheering after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Tokyo Games to be held without spectators. 

Daily, the atmosphere of celebration bubbled up at the competition venues. Moreover, the celebratory atmosphere continued at Champions Park where medalists interacted with local citizens at the base of the Eiffel Tower the day after each Olympic event's medal ceremony.

Fans Support Their Own Teams

Estanguet had already alluded to how the Olympics ideally should be conducted. First, he readily admitted: "The Olympics will not solve all problems. Also, discrimination and conflict in the world will not disappear." Nonetheless, he added, while the Games are in progress we can all seek these ideals in their "beautiful form."  

His remarks amounted to a refutation of the short-sighted argument that the Olympics are useless.

One of his references to the French Olympic team was a bit unusual. He said: "When they win a medal, the whole nation feels proud. When they cry on the podium, the whole nation sheds tears of joy. Every victory brings the nation together."

He left the impression that no matter what a person's position, he or she need not be shy about supporting their own country.

A Competition With Honor

One sentence in the Olympic Charter states, "The Olympic Games are competitions between athletes in individual or team events and not between countries." 

Some people point to this principle and say that mentions of countries should be avoided and that raising the winners' national flags should be omitted from award ceremonies. However, the charter does not oppose athletes having feelings for their own countries. Flag raisings are a way of honoring the winners and showing respect for other nations. 

Aggressor nations and countries involved in doping and other improper activities are not to share in this honor. The Paris Olympics made that amply clear. 

Host Country's Sportsman-like Enthusiasm

For any Olympics, the success or failure depends largely on the performance of the host country.

France won the gold medal in men's volleyball. Moreover, both its men's and women's basketball teams as well as its men's soccer team also reached the gold-medal matches. The Paris crowd was enthusiastic in support of their home team and also generous in cheering for the opposing teams.

Nonetheless, the Japanese team won 20 gold medals, surpassing France's 16. We were especially thrilled by the outcomes of our Olympic wrestling and men's gymnastics contingents, who brought home a bumper crop of medals. Moreover, Japan's male and female fencing teams put on great performances in France, the birthplace of the sport. In addition, Japanese athletes set a high standard in tackling new Olympic specialties of skateboarding, sport climbing, and breaking.

If we had to single out one athlete for special mention, it would be the track and field competitor Haruka Kitaguchi. She won the gold medal in the women's javelin throw event. After hoisting the Japanese flag on the center pole of the main stadium, Kitaguchi looked out over the stands and commented on her joy at sharing the excitement and tension with so many people.

Playing Games to be Proud Of

Our high hopes for medal success in team sports failed down the stretch. Nevertheless, with a four-point lead and 10 seconds left, the Japan men's basketball team pushed the silver medal-winning French team into a difficult situation. Also, the men's volleyball team had multiple match points against Italy, which advanced to the bronze-medal match. 

Japan's women's soccer team fiercely battled the eventual gold medalist US team in a game that went into extra time. That was after coming from behind to beat eventual silver medalist Brazil in the first round. We certainly cannot find anything about Nadeshiko Japan's performances to be gloomy about. 

The Summer Olympics produced tears of joy, gratitude, regret, ecstasy, and many other kinds of emotions. Judoka Uta Abe was aiming for her second consecutive gold medal in the women's 52-kilogram class. Who can forget how she completely broke down after losing in the second round? Her wailing reverberated throughout the venue. The French are crazy about judo and the Paris crowd's chanting of "Uta, Uta" spurred her comeback during the mixed team event. She won her bout there with a spectacular seoi-nage (over-the-back throw).

A Moving Awards Ceremony

We should also touch on the tears shed by the winners. The men's golf competition was won by Scottie Scheffler (USA), who is currently ranked number one in the world. Scheffler was smiling throughout the event. However, he looked up at the Stars and Stripes raised from the center of the podium and was moved to tears as he listened to the national anthem. 

Bronze medalist Hideki Matsuyama was dazedly standing next to Scheffler observing him as he cried. Matsuyama said he would definitely like to return for the Los Angeles Summer Olympics in 2028. He vowed, "I'll be doing my best for the next four years." That scene encapsulated the allure of the Olympics. 

In the past and present, the medal ceremony, filled with the pageantry of national flags and national anthems after each event, has been a big highlight of the Olympics. And it will continue to be the highlight of the Olympics in the future. 

"The Games are not over yet. We're just moving on to the next stage," Estanguet said.

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(Read the editorial in Japanese.)

Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun