Tokyo 2020 Differs From Past Olympics
Today is the fourth day of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Thus far, Japan is in first for the most gold medals with 10, followed by the United States and China, which have nine each. Currently, the USA has the highest medal count with nine gold medals, eight silver, and eight bronze. This Olympics has looked very different from past Olympics as it started a year late due to COVID-19, and for the first time in Olympic history, there are no spectators due to rising Coronavirus cases in Tokoyo. Another major change in the 2020 Olympics is the numerous new sports and events recently added.
The new sports at this Olympics include surfing, skateboarding, karate, and sport climbing. Baseball and softball have returned to the Olympic Games after being removed after the 2008 Bejing Olympics.
Also, existing sports will add new events such as 3v3 basketball, BMX freestyle cycling, and mixed team events.
In 3v3 basketball, the rosters only comprise of four players, and the games only last 10 minutes or until a team earns 21 points, whichever comes first. Another difference in 3v3 basketball is that scoring consists of 1-pointers and 2-pointers rather than the traditional of 2 and 3-pointers. Surfing and skateboarding will both be renewed in the 2024 Olympic games in Paris, albeit the surfing events will take place in Tahiti. On the other hand, karate will not resurface as an Olympic event in 2024, as its history and popularity in Japan resulted in its inclusion in the Tokyo Games.
The mixed team events will incorporate men and women from countries on the same team or relay. Examples include the swimming mixed 4x100m medley relay, the track mixed 4x400m relay, and a table tennis mixed doubles event. There will also be a triathlon mixed team relay with teams of four arranged in female-male-female-male order. In this event, each triathlete will complete a shorter version of a triathlon, which is known as a super sprint.
In archery, there will be a mixed team event with teams made up of one man and one woman going head-to-head in a match-play format. Similarly, in shooting, there will be three mixed team events, including trap, air pistol, and air rifle. Each team will comprise of one man and one woman. Finally, judo will host a mixed team event with athletes from six different weight classes, including three women and three men on each team.
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