No.11 London Olympics What Japan Left Behind

(Inagi Newsletter September 15, 2012 issue)

The Olympic Games, a summer sports festival held once every four years, concluded on August 12, 2012, leaving behind various dramas.
Due to the time difference, I think it was the most difficult region to watch live in Japan, but everyone must have been glued to the TV despite being sleep-deprived, right?
In Inagi City, we have been supporting Nippon TV Beleza and Tokyo Verdy, and to send off players Iwashimizu, Sakaguchi, and Iwabuchi from the women's national soccer team, as well as Sugimoto from the men's national soccer team, we held a Japan National Team Encouragement Meeting at the Central Cultural Center Hall on July 4, 2012.
Soccer competitions started before the opening ceremony, with both the women's and men's teams winning their first matches, continuing their impressive performances thereafter. The women lost to their arch-rivals, the United States, in the finals but achieved their first silver medal, while the men, although missing out on a medal, finished in 4th place, both achieving remarkable results.
The women's volleyball team won a medal for the first time in 28 years, and the men's wrestling team won a gold medal for the first time in 24 years, showing signs of recovery in sports that had been struggling for a while, which was a notable feature of this tournament. However, the men's gymnastics, women's wrestling, and swimming events brought about brilliant results.
While participation is important, the number of medals is still a concern. With 7 gold, 14 silver, and 17 bronze medals, totaling 38, Japan ranked 11th in the medal count by country, but 6th in total count.
Since Japan first participated in the modern Olympics 100 years ago, it has won the most medals in history, and not only the total number of medals but also the total number of 8th place finishes is 80, the highest ever. I believe we can expect further evolution in Japanese sports in the future.
To all the athletes who gave us courage and inspiration, thank you for your hard work!