Tokyo Olympics 2020

The Summer Olympics of 2020, officially the Games of the XXXII Olympiad, were held in Tokyo, Japan from July 23 to August 8, 2021. It is known as Tokyo 2020 since it was rescheduled for 2021 (originally planned for July 24, 2020) because of the Covid19 epidemic.

Tokyo is Asia's first city to host the Summer Games twice. 

We arranged the series into three parts for simplicity and to cover all important points, and here is the final segment. All forthcoming PSC Degree level prelims, LGS, UPSC, SSC, and IBPS examinations will include at least one question from the Tokyo Olympics in the GK section. Make sure to study all three parts without skipping.

  • Edition – 32nd.
  • Host – Tokyo, Japan.
    • Hosting Olympics for the second time after 56 years(First in 1964).
    • First Olympic Games held in the Asian Continent – Tokyo Olympics 1964.
    • First Paralympics Museum is going to be set up in – Tokyo.
    • First City to host Paralympics for the second time – Tokyo.
  • Duration – July 23, 2021 - Aug 8, 2021.
    • Duration (Paralympics) – Aug 24, 2021 - Sept 5, 2021.
  • Shape of Olympic Torch – Sakura flower (Cherry blossom).
  • New Motto of Olympics – Faster, Higher, Stronger -Together.
  • Mascot of Tokyo Olympics 2020 – Miraitowa (Japanese words, Mirai - Future, Towa - Eternity).
    • Mascot of Paralympics – Someity (from the Japanese word Someiyoshino,  a popular type of cherry blossom).
  • Mascots Miraitowa & Someity are designed by – Ryo Taniguchi.
  • Inaugurated by – Naruhito (Emperor of Japan).
  • The Cauldron was lighted by – Naomi Osaka (Tennis player, Japan).
  • Theme/Motto of Tokyo Olympics 2020 – Moving Forward: United by Emotion.
  • Slogan – Discover Tomorrow. (Marketing)
  • Official Emblem was designed by – Asao Tokolo (based on ichimatsu moyo, a checkered pattern of the Edo period, Japan).
  • Theme Song of Olympics & Paralympic Games – Colourful (by J-pop artists).
    • Produced by – Team Coca-Cola.
  • No. of Countries participated – 206.
  • No. of Sportsperson participated – 11, 000+.
  • Country which has not participated in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics – North Korea.
  • County banned from participating in Olympics for 2 years (until December 16, 2022) – Russia.
    • due to state-sponsored doping scandals.
    • 335 Russian athletes are competing under the ROC (Russian Olympic Committee) banner.
  • The African country which decided to pull out from Tokyo Olympics citing Covid 19 prior to the Opening ceremony, but reversed its decision at the last moment – Guinea.
  • Sports held –  33 (339 Events, 50 disciplines).
  • Paralympics Sports – 22.
  • New Sports & games added to Olympics – 5.
    1. Karate
    2. Surfing
    3. Skateboarding
    4. Sports Climbing
    5. Baseball/Softball (re-introduced after 13 years).
  • Second recipient of Olympic Laurel at the Tokyo Olympics – Muhammad Yunus (Bangladesh).
    • First recipient of Olympic Laurel – Kip Keino (Kenya, Rio Olympics 2016).
  • Ambassador of 'Believe in Sports' by International Olympic Committee  – P.V. SIndhu & Michelle Li.
  • Countries banned for weightlifting events in Tokyo Olympics – Malaysia & Thailand.
  • Main Sponsor of Tokyo Olympics 2020 – MPL Sports Foundation.
  • First transgender athlete to participate in Olympic Games – Laurel Hubbard (New Zealand).
  •  Oldest athlete in the Tokyo Olympic 2020 – Mary Hanna (Equestrian, Australia, 66 years old).



Notable Medal Winners of Tokyo Olympics 2020


  • Topper in the Medal Tally in Tokyo Olympics 2020 – USA (133 medals - 39 G, 41 S, 33 B).
    • 2nd – China (88 medals - 38 G, 32 S, 18 B).
    • 3rd – Japan (58 medals - 27 G, 14 S, 17 B).
  • Countries that won medals for the first time in Olympic history – San Marino, Burkina Faso & Turkmenistan.
    • Smallest country ever to win a medal in Olympics – San Marino.
  • Countries which won Gold medals for the first time in Olympic history – Qatar,  Philippines & Bermuda.
  • Total no. of records broken in the Tokyo Olympics – 24.
  • Most of no. of Medals – Emma Mckeon (Swimming, 7 medals - 4 G, 3B).
    • First Woman Swimmer to win 7 medals in an Olympics.
  • Most of no. of Gold Medals – Caleb Dressel (5, USA).
  • Most of no. of Silver Medals – Duncan Scott (3, UK).
  • First Athlete to win Gold Medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 – Qian Yang (China, 10m Air Rifle).
  • Winner of first-ever skateboarding competition at the Tokyo Olympics – Yuto Horigome (Japan).
  • First Italian to ever qualify for and win the men's 100 metres Olympic Gold – Lamont Marcell Jacob.
    • Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Italy broke Usain Bolt’s 13-year record won a Gold medal in the men’s 100m (9.80 secs).
  • First German man to win a singles gold medal in Olympic tennis – Alexander Zverev.
  • Youngest gold medal winner in Tokyo Olympics – Momiji Nishiya (Japan, 13 years & 330 days).
    • Youngest gold medal winner in Olympics – Marjorie Gestring (USA, 1936, 13 years & 268 days).
  • Youngest medal winner in Tokyo Olympics – Kokona Hiraki (Japan, Silver Medal, 12 years & 343 days).
  • First female athlete & first Olympic athlete to get her own customized Twitter hashtag emoji – Simone Biles (USA, 'Yes, the greatest of all time!' aka the G.O.A.T).


Further Reading:
📝SideNotes:
      • International Olympic Day – June 23.
      • International Olympic Committee –
        • Headquarters – Lausanne, Switzerland.
        • Head – Thomas Bach.
      • Father of Olympics – Pierre de Coubertin.
      • The Land of Sakura – Japan.
      • Cherry Blossom Capital of the World – Macon, Georgia (USA).
      • India International Cherry Blossom Festival is held at – Shillong, Meghalaya.
      • Upcoming Summer Olympics – 
        • 2024 (33rd) - Paris (France).
        • 2028 (34th) - Los Angeles (USA).
        • 2032 (35th) - Brisbane (Australia).
      • New sports event that is going to be introduced in 2024 Paris Summer Olympics - Break Dancing.
      • Upcoming Winter Olympics – 
        • 2022 (24th) - Beijing (China).
        • 2026 (25th) - Italy.
      • Capital of North Korea - Pyongyang
        • Currency - Won.
      • Only city in which Olympics was held thrice – London (1908, 1948 & 2012).
      • The athlete won the maximum no. of individual gold medals at a single Olympics – Michael Phelps (8).
      • Live transmission of Tokyo Olympics across the pacific was done with the help of – Syncom-3 (NASA Satellite).