The Disruption of the 1940 and 2020 Tokyo Olympics: Sports Diplomacy During War and Pandemic

Sports diplomacy possesses the power to bring best of human spirit by affirming shared aspirations. Olympic Games share a similar propensity people together across boundaries regardless race, nationality, religion, income and country, reinforcing true basis sportsmanship solidarity between all nations spectators. The Tokyo Olympics, which were originally scheduled take place in Japan 1940, was cancelled due outbreak World War Two. Likewise, 2020 postponed 2021 COVID-19 pandemic. While 80 years ago, amidst war, faced backlash before it Games, effect re-scheduled Olympics pandemic demonstrates that such confrontational attitude has been replaced understanding from global community consequences hosting games. Using qualitative method, this article explores differences perceptions towards during 1940s overshadowed war year continues be blanketed