Next week, many of the world’s greatest athletes will gather in Tokyo, prepared to share their journeys with a global audience. The Games will be contested against the backdrop of unprecedented skepticism about the existential purpose of the Olympic movement. Tokyo is under a state of emergency because of a fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. “What will these Olympics be for and for whom?” Japanese Olympic Committee board member Kaori Yamaguchi asked in an editorial published last month by Kyodo News. Subscribers get early access to this part of our Tokyo Olympics coverage We’re offering L.A. Times subscribers first access to our preview of the 2021 games.

Source: Los Angeles Times July 18, 2021 11:02 UTC