The Olympics Are Deeply Flawed. But the Games Still Matter – The Wall Street Journal

A high jump gold medal, shared. A sequel to the wrestling match of the century. The most decorated U.S. track and field athlete ever. A seven-medal swimmer. Historic gold in women’s volleyball. Double U.S. gold in golf. And a sudden dialogue about mental health that might outlast all of it. 

And that’s just the start of what happened.

The Olympics…still mattered.

Despite everything. Despite a full year’s delay. Despite deep financial losses. Despite a persistent health crisis that made a host nation rightfully wary, provoked calls for its cancellation, eliminated fans and deprived the event much of its crowded, human joy. 

The Olympics again proved to be a durable feast. Tokyo 2020—technically Tokyo 2021, the grandchildren of the future will be corrected—managed to become something both recognizable and memorable.