We are currently living in a “time of change” that humanity has never experienced before. The widespread use of portable digital devices, such as smartphones, has allowed us to receive various types of information and enabled many people to disseminate information through social media, which has only been a part of our lives for the past decade. Furthermore, under the strong influence and benefits of revolutionary new technologies such as AI (artificial intelligence) and 5G, the Olympics and Paralympics held in Japan can be considered a great event that is worthy of a page in human history.
Why do so many people have special feelings towards the Olympics and Paralympics? The true purpose of the modern Olympics, which was initiated by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, known as the father of the modern Olympics, can be found in the “Olympism” written in the Olympic Charter.
Olympism is an abstractly defined “philosophy of life that seeks to combine the qualities of body, will, and mind and that exalts and combines the human spirit with sport.” However, the Olympics and Paralympics, held every four years, are not just athletic competitions. They can be interpreted as a “sacred ceremony” that shares with all people on Earth how far humanity has evolved and declares it loudly to the gods. It is not just about the records athletes break. It is about the continuous evolution of the training methods that support their performance, the emergence of innovative wear and shoes, the vast technology that supports the entire event, and the spectators and volunteers. Furthermore, everything, including art and culture, has been evolving little by little but surely, and this is the pride and joy we share together by saying, “Look! We have grown this far.” This is what the Olympics and Paralympics are all about.
It is said that the wish of Baron de Coubertin, who was an educator by profession, was “human transformation” through sports. The aim was to create a way of life that values the courage to change and the joy of growing through sharing the efforts to change and grow as individuals. This can be said to be the aim of Olympism.
The 1964 Tokyo Olympics left behind many legacies, such as the well-known hard legacies of the Shinkansen bullet train and highways, but it is not widely known that it also made a significant contribution to the development of the Paralympics. Additionally, the Tokyo 1964 Games showcased Japan’s post-war recovery to the world, established its position as a technologically advanced nation during its period of high economic growth, and set the stage for the global popularity of Japanese content such as anime, games, and culture itself that came to dominate in the 1980s and beyond. What will be the legacy of the Tokyo 2020 Games?
Apart from a few venues, such as the new National Stadium, there was little hard legacy left behind by the Tokyo 2020 Games. The focus is now on the “soft legacy” that will be passed down to the future. Former Prime Minister Abe said in the final presentation for the Olympic bid, “Legacy is not just about hard aspects such as buildings or even national projects. Legacy is a global vision and an investment in people.”
The year 1995, when the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake struck, is known as Japan’s “Year of Volunteerism.” In Japan, volunteerism is strongly associated with altruistic, selfless service and can be a significant factor in people’s reluctance to take the first step toward volunteering. By promoting and raising awareness of sports volunteering, which can be seen as “selfish” as people enjoy themselves while volunteering, it could lower the barriers to entry for volunteering and greatly expand the base of volunteers in Japan, leading to a “mutual aid and coexistence society supported by volunteer culture” both in Japan and around the world. We firmly believe that this is the biggest legacy that will be passed down to future generations by the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Let us now share our growth as volunteers with the world.
This site is a record of the never-ending “volunteer journey” of volunteers who have come together through a Facebook group and continue to evolve through self-motivated skill-building training.
