Tokyo 2020: Faster, higher, stronger - and costlier than ever

AS Olympics go, Tokyo 2020 will be regarded as sui generis, or "in a class by itself". Because of the pandemic it was held a year late, athletes and coaches were locked down, and there were no spectators. In fact, it was the triumph of will; the International Olympics Committee (IOC) and their Japanese hosts ensured the Games were staged despite medical, political and even financial advice. In the event, Japan has had a surge in coronavirus cases, reaching the one million milestone last Friday - an increase of 144,000 since the Games began on July 23.

Fortunately, more than 80 per cent of those in the Olympic Village, including most athletes, had been fully vaccinated. Daily testing was mandatory and interaction among different national teams severely curtailed. Of the 430 positive Covid-19 cases (since July 1) that were linked to the Olympics, "only" 32 came from among the more than 10,000 in the Games Village. Fears of a new Olympics variant of the virus to come would hopefully be allayed.

Traditional sports powerhouses such as US, China and Japan did not disappoint in their medal tallies. The US took top spot, surpassing China and Japan. World records were smashed. Viewers around the world rejoiced and moaned. One of the highlights was when high-jumpers Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy and Mutaz Barshim of Qatar had the option to settle their tie with a jump-off, but persuaded officials to give them both gold medals.