The Olympics That (Almost) Were

THE OLYMPICS THAT (Almost) WERE!

The Archdiocese of Tokyo had been preparing for the Olympics for several years. In fact, a Special Committee had been formed specifically for the event. The original plan was for each parish to be ready to respond to the spiritual needs of the many people who would come to Japan for this international gathering. Some 195,000 athletes were expected, not counting their support staff and the many local and foreign spectators.

As part of its preparation and in the spirit of omotenashi, the Japanese tradition of wholehearted hospitality, the Archdiocese even ordered several thousand specially made rosaries to be given as souvenirs to visitors.

Then came the pandemic.

The crisis stretched on for more than a year and a half. The Tokyo 2020 Olympics were postponed to 2021. During this period, the government declared three States of Emergency in Tokyo, and these restrictions inevitably affected the life of the Church. Strict health protocols were put in place. Mass attendance required online registration, and Sunday Masses were live-streamed.

Then, just two weeks before the scheduled Opening Ceremony, the number of COVID-19 cases began to rise sharply. The public was divided over whether the Olympics should proceed. Parishioners were understandably ambivalent about receiving foreign visitors and concerned about the possibility of infection, especially with new variants emerging.

A Fourth State of Emergency was imposed in Tokyo. In response, the Archdiocese of Tokyo cancelled all its plans related to the Olympics and Paralympics, firmly committed to the principle: “We will not be infected, nor will we allow others to be infected.”

Still, we wondered: What if, despite all the announcements and restrictions, someone from the Olympic Village or another foreign visitor happened to come to our doors? What would we do? How would we receive them?

Our office, the John de Britto English Center, was particularly concerned because it served as the parish’s “international service arm.”

An Ad Hoc Committee meeting was called to brainstorm possible scenarios. Where would we accommodate visitors? Who would receive them? How would we assist them?

“But Sister, they will be placed in a ‘bubble’ and will not be allowed to leave their designated area!” one of the youth Olympic volunteers explained. Another update followed: “Besides, there might not be any spectators at all.”

“It is better to have some contingencies than none at all!” we, the coordinators, responded. We felt responsible for being prepared, even if the preparations might never be needed.

In the few days remaining before the Opening Ceremony, the English website prominently posted the advisories of both the Archbishop of Tokyo and our Pastor. The Parish Council also placed enlarged printed copies in prominent locations, including the main gate and the entrance to the church.

Additional staff was assigned to man the telephone line in case of inquiries. Registration forms for walk-in visitors were prepared, and translators were put on call. Our large hall and two smaller chapels were readied, together with facilities for live-streaming, so that any visitors could participate in Mass without being mixed with the regular parishioners.

At every Mass, we also added an intercessory prayer “for an orderly, peaceful, and safe Summer Olympics.”

To make all these preparations possible, we had to call on additional volunteers.

But did the Olympic visitors actually come?

Two did.

They arrived in a special taxi bearing the name of their country and the Olympic logo. They stayed only a few minutes, stopping to pray and take photographs outside. They preferred not to give their names.

There were also reports of a few others who came on weekdays wearing Olympic jackets or shirts. But throughout the entire period, we received no telephone inquiries.

How many people watched the live-streamed Masses? We do not know. What we did notice, however, was a remarkable increase in visits to the English-language website.

Then came August 15, 2021, a Sunday.

Alarmed by the steadily rising number of infections, the daily reports of deaths, and hospitals overwhelmed by the lack of beds and personnel, the Archbishop issued another directive.

Everything was suspended—again.

Tokyo was already facing what was being described as the Fifth Wave.

And so, from July 23 to September 5, 2021, the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics took place under circumstances no one could have imagined when preparations first began.

The parish had prepared to welcome thousands.

In the end, almost none came.

There were plans, preparations, volunteers, advisories, translators, registration forms, prayer intentions, and ready spaces—all prepared for an event that would unfold very differently from what anyone had expected.

Perhaps that is why these weeks deserve to be remembered as:

THE OLYMPICS THAT (Almost) WERE!

By Sr. Flor Florece, F.I.