RIO DE JANEIRO — Jun Ando’s face lights up in a mischievous grin when asked if Japan’s goal is to outperform China at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Japan Olympic Committee is forthright about this game within the Games. Japan is hardly the first to try to use sport to score geopolitical points, gain international prestige and stoke national pride. Japan will have to improve a lot over the next four years if it is to overtake China in Tokyo. Fueled by lots of lottery money from UK Sport, Britannia pipped China for second place, taking 67 medals, including 27 golds.

Source: National Post August 23, 2016 20:21 UTC