There is always plenty of excitement when an Olympic Games rolls around. The event brings together some of the greatest sportspeople across a range of disciplines, with all of them targeting those precious gold, silver and bronze medals.
However, while incredible sporting action is always guaranteed, there is more to the Olympics than just the events taking place across a range of venues. For many people, it has also become about the impact that it has on the host region and, with that in mind, all eyes will be on the legacy that this current games leaves in Tokyo and Japan.
What’s next?
The idea of ‘legacy’ has been associated with the Olympics for some time now, both in terms of the summer and winter events. For example, last year CBC examined the impact that the 2010 Olympics had on Vancouver and outlined how many of the facilities for the games are still used on a daily basis.
But, what could legacy look like when it comes to Tokyo? Well, at one point, it certainly seemed like tourism and the opening of major casino resorts was on the agenda. Casino gaming has been a popular pastime for many years and it is really thriving online at present. This is highlighted by sites like Genesis Casino in Canada, which features a wide range of different gaming experiences in one place. These include live casino games and Genesis details how roulette and blackjack have been adapted into the format. The titles use high-definition streaming and also feature real-life croupiers.
Back in 2017, Nikkei Asia reported that Japan was hoping to keep tourism figures healthy following the Olympics, with the government apparently targeting 60 million visitors a year by 2030. The site also explained how one approach under consideration was the creation of integrated resorts, which would include casino gaming, hotel facilities and shopping.
New power
Tourism is perhaps one of the more obvious ways that the Olympics could look to create a legacy, particularly when it is compared to one of the other things mentioned in relation to Tokyo.
In the middle of July, the International Olympic Committee explained how Japan is putting hydrogen in the spotlight at this current event. For the first time, the Olympic cauldron is being powered by hydrogen and the idea is that it highlights the potential for cleaner energy across the world.
In addition, the Olympic Village has been created to be Japan’s first full-scale hydrogen infrastructure, while Toyota has also supplied hydrogen-powered cars for use by staff and officials. The IOC adds that Japan wants to reach 800,000 fuel cell vehicles by 2030.
Interesting ideas
The Olympics has always been a crucial date in the sporting calendar, but its impact also now extends beyond the action taking place across the host city.
Some interesting ideas have been raised around this event, both in terms of hydrogen and tourism. It will be intriguing to see how things develop and whether the two issues raised above go on to have an impact across Tokyo and Japan.