Tokyo 2020 Olympics: The first three days

* Photos: Anadolu Agency (AA)

While the Muslims around the world, including in Turkey, were celebrating the Sacrifice Feast last week, the Olympic games in Tokyo began.

In the two-week event, competitions in 33 sports will be held in the Greater Tokyo area. Turkey is competing in 18 of the 33 disciplines carried out this year, represented by 50 women and 50 men athletes.

The Olympics during the pandemic

Due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the 2020 Summer Olympic games were postponed one year and now eventually take place from July 23 to August 8, when the closing ceremony will be held.

According to the organizers, the number of infected people at the Olympics has risen to more than 150 on Monday (July 27). Dutch tennis player Jean-Julien Rojer had to withdraw after being tested positive.

A contract between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Tokyo left the decision of whether the event would be held or not to the IOC.

According to the BBC, the IOC's major income stems from broadcast rights, which is why the games are now taking place without any spectators.

Also, without any spectators in the ranks, thousands of athletes from more than 200 countries around the world took part at the opening ceremony in Tokyo's Olympic stadium on Friday evening (July 23).

Many referred to the lighting of the Olympic flame by tennis star Naomi Osaka from Japan as the most emotional moment. It was the 23-year-old's first appearance in public since her withdrawal for mental health reasons.

2 medals for Turkey in taekwondo

As anticipated beforehand, as of July 26, Japan leads the chart with 13 medals in total, counting 8 gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronzes.

The USA follows with 7 gold medals and 14 in total. The People's Republic of China leads the rank by total with 18 medals of which 6 are gold.

Turkey remains, after day 3, with medals in taekwondo, Hakan Reçber has won a bronze medal in the men's weight category -68kg and Hatice İlgün has won bronze in the women's weight category -57kg.

On the other side, wrestling is historically the most successful category on the part of Turkey. In fact, wrestling records the first Olympic medal and gold medal for Turkey during the 5ths Olympic games in Berlin in 1936. Until now, wrestlers have won 63 of the 91 medals for Turkey.

On Sunday (July 25), Turkey's women volleyball team won its first game against China, which won a gold medal in the 2016 Olympics, in a 3-0 victory. Today, on Tuesday, the team will compete against Italy.

Israel boycott in the games

In a move defined as unathletic by many, Judoka Fethi Nourine from Algeria announced that he had withdrawn from the games, in order to avoid a fight against Tohar Butbul from Israel. Although Nourine would have needed a further win to face Butbul in a fight, he used the stage to proclaim his anti-Israel ideology. The Israelian, who is far ahead of Nourine in the world rank list, will automatically win this fight and proceed in Olympia.

Success of the Refugee team

The Refugee team in Tokyo consists of 25 competing athlete scholarship holders from 11 different countries of origin living in 13 host countries.

NOTE: Although being the leading receiver of refugees, Turkey is not among these host countries.

After their success in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, the inclusive team now occupies the 4th rank after the third day with 4 gold, 5 silver and 3 bronze medals.

The diverse team depicts a welcomed diffusion in the usually national sentiment of the Olympic games by representing millions of displaced people in the world.

History of the Olympic games

* The first modern games (Pierre de Coubertin - 1896)

Like almost all Greek games, the Olympics were part of a religious festival, devoted to honor the highest god Zeus.

According to the myth, the ancient hero Herakles invented it. It can be factually stated that the Olympic games used to be held in Greece already 3000 years ago. The first Olympic champion happened to be a cook who won the sprint race in 776 BCE.

Already back then, it took place every four years - An interval that became a time measurement: An Olympiade.

When the modern Olympic games were introduced, the control and organization was confided to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). (BB/SD)