Olympic Postponement and the Future of Japan's Image

Abstract

For the first time in Olympic history, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were postponed for one year, taking place in July and August 2021 due to the COVID-19 emergency. This paper explores the effect hosting the Olympics during a pandemic has had on Japan's image using the frameworks of soft power and sports diplomacy. In this thesis, I code interview responses for themes to explore shifts in Japan’s country image as a result of Tokyo 2020. The trends that emerge in the findings of this paper are Japan’s handling of the pandemic and mental health advocacy. These findings indicate significant opportunities for Japan to improve its image using the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as a catalyst. As such, these historic Games establish Tokyo 2020 as the benchmark for future Olympics to take place in a pandemic-affected world.