Everything you need to know about the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Where and when are the 2020 Olympics?

The 32nd edition of the Summer Olympic Games (which are still being officially referred to as Tokyo 2020) are taking place in Tokyo, Japan from July 23 to August 8, 2021. Tokyo was announced as the host city by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in September 2013, beating Istanbul and Madrid in the final round of the selection process. Tokyo also hosted the 1964 Games, meaning it is the first Asian city to do so twice.

Approximately 11,100 athletes will compete at the 2020 Olympics, contesting 339 events at over 40 venues.

This year’s Olympics were initially scheduled for July 24 to August 9, 2020, but were postponed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the first time ever that the Olympic Games have been postponed, and the first occasion that an edition has not been held as originally intended since the 1944 Games slated to be hosted in London were cancelled due to World War II.

Tokyo 2020 is set to be the most expensive edition of the Olympics ever. Japan have reportedly spent 1.35 trillion yen (equivalent to $12.6 billion and €10.4 billion) to stage it, as well as a further 640.8 billion yen ($5.8 billion and €4.78 billion) in costs related to postponing it for a year.

Over 40 venues will stage the Games, which have been divided into the Heritage Zone, Tokyo Bay Zone, outlying venues, and soccer stadiums. The purpose-built, 68,000-capacity Japan National Stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the track and field athletics events and women’s soccer final.

Other notable venues include: the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, which will stage the majority of the swimming, diving, and artistic swimming events; the Nippon Budokan, venue for judo and karate events; and the Tokyo Stadium, where spectators will enjoy soccer and rugby sevens matches and the modern pentathlon.

Who is competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics?

It is estimated that approximately 11,100 athletes from 206 nations will compete at Tokyo across the 19 days of events. As host nation, Japan is automatically granted at least one entrant into every event and will therefore presumably be among the countries with the most athletes participating.

For context, 11,238 athletes from 207 nations competed at Rio 2016. The United States had the most with 554, followed by the host nation Brazil (465), Germany (425), Australia (421), and China (413). A total of 34 countries had at least 100 athletes participating, while 114 had at least 10.

Russia was initially banned from all international sport as a result of a four-year ban imposed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in December 2019. However, in December 2020 this penalty was changed so that they could not compete at international events under the Russian name, flag, or anthem for the following two years. As a consequence, Russia will compete under the name of ROC (Russian Olympic Committee).

A team of refugee athletes will also compete as the Refugee Olympic Team. North Korea will not participate after withdrawing due to COVID-19 concerns.

Participation at recent Olympics

Olympics	Total athletes	Total nations
Tokyo 2020	11,100 (estimated)	206 (estimated)
Rio 2016	11,238	207
London 2012	10,768	204
Beijing 2008	10,942	204
Athens 2004	10,625	201
Syndey 2000	10,651	199

What sports and events will be at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics?

A record 339 events across 37 sports will be contested in Tokyo, the most ever at an edition of the Olympic Games and a notable increase from Rio 2016, which staged 306. The IOC has stated that the intention is for the Tokyo Games to feature a more youthful and urban sporting programme, as well as increased opportunities for female athletes.

Karate, skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing are all set to make their Olympics debuts, while there will be new events in the form of 3x3 basketball, freestyle BMX, and Madison cycling. Baseball and softball will also be contested for the first time since Beijing 2008. To learn more about the new and returning events, you can read our guide to the new events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Sports at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

The events actually begin two days before the opening ceremony on July 21, with the opening matches of the soccer and softball tournaments. There will be at least 11 gold medals available each day from Saturday, July 24 (the day after the opening ceremony), peaking with 34 on Saturday, August 7.

The major sports to keep an eye out for during the first week are archery, judo, rowing, swimming, and tennis, while during the second week attention switches to the athletics, boxing, cycling, karate, and wrestling.

Events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Date	Gold medals	Date	Gold medals
Saturday, July 24	11	Sunday, August 1	25
Sunday, July 25	18	Monday, August 2	22
Monday, July 26	21	Tuesday, August 3	24
Tuesday, July 27	22	Wednesday, August 4	17
Wednesday, July 28	23	Thursday, August 5	27
Thursday, July 29	17	Friday, August 6	23
Friday, July 30	21	Saturday, August 7	34
Saturday, July 31	21	Sunday, August 8	13

*As according to Japan Standard Time (UTC+9).

Who will win medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics?

Athletes and teams competing in the Olympics receive a gold medal for winning an event, a silver medal for finishing second, and a bronze medal for placing third.

While an official ‘winner’ of the Olympics is not declared, nations are classified by their performance in the medal table, which ranks them by the number of gold medals they have won during the Games, followed by their total number of silver medals and then bronze medals.

With a total haul of 46 gold, 37 silver, and 38 bronze medals, the United States led the medal table at Rio 2016 and have done so at 17 of the 31 Games to date. Great Britain, China, Russia, and Germany completed the top five, and along with the US, all five countries have finished in at least the top 10 at each of the last five Olympics.

Japan placed sixth in the medal table at Rio 2016, winning 12 gold, eight silver, and 21 bronze medals. They will be expected to benefit from host nation advantage and record a better medal return than normal, and they are reportedly aiming for a top-five finish in Tokyo. Conversely, Brazil may struggle to replicate their best-ever return of seven golds, which proved enough to secure 13th in the medal table when they hosted five years ago.

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