It's only one year to go to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Despite bribery scandals, skyrocketing costs and doubts about the economic payoff, the Tokyo Olympics have seen unprecedented popularity as the demand for tickets far exceeds supply both inside and outside Japan.
So how is the world's largest metropolitan city getting ready for the major international multi-sport event?
It was reported earlier that the Games' budget was in danger of ballooning and questioned whether citizens' tax money was being put to practical use. Yoichi Shimatsu, a Former Editor of Japan Times, stated that the stadiums are brand new, and it's well-known that Tokyo got the highest land price in the world, so that adds costs to construction prices, as well as materials.
He added that the controversy of who's going to pay for it hasn't been resolved yet. Tokyo says they bid for a national event, but other cities do not agree with Tokyo and avoid paying the bill. "So there is financial crisis underlying", said Shimatsu.
Besides the high budget costs to construct the stadium, the design of the mascots of the Tokyo Olympic Games has also drawn attention from the sport-lovers.
Paul Dong, the Co-Founder & CEO of EI China Limited, who is also a commentator of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, added that the Olympic games would be an excellent platform for Japan to display their varied kinds of IP products.
He further explained that the designers of pictographs for every single sport for the Olympic had actually come up with more samples or candidate options for one single game. They have more than 33 sports to be competed for in Japan.
It demonstrated the vast resources that Japan now possesses. In terms of creative-designing that has attracted many people to be part of this, it should allow more options than the offered quota to them, including these robotic mascots.
Based on the imagery of the mascots, Miraitowa and Someity, Yan Qiang, the Founder of Score Sports, considered that provides a hint for the upcoming Olympic games, the theme will be modern, showcasing the 5G era of a better internet. "That would be the future of what sport will be," said Yan.
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