Last summer, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics came to an end. The Tokyo Olympics is the 32nd Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan, and was postponed by a year due to the global spread of COVID-19, starting in 2021. It was the first time in 124 years of Olympic history that the Summer Olympics were postponed due to an infectious disease. As a result, the Olympic athletes had to prepare for the Olympics for five years, not four. In addition, the Tokyo Olympics were held without audiences for the first time ever. Considering the situation of COVID-19, the awards ceremony also allowed athletes who receive medals to wear medals on their own. As the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were held despite the many difficulties caused by the COVID-19 situation, the Tokyo Olympics delivered a message of hope to the world that humanity can overcome the crisis together and move forward into the future. Also, the passion and effort of the players gave comfort to people around the world who were tired of the long-lasting epidemic. In addition, in this Olympic Games, various media reported the appearance of athletes who value fair play more and encouragement (respect) of winners and losers even though the game was at stake. We would like to learn about ‘the Olympic spirit', which was becoming a hot topic again, and the new meanings and implications of this Olympics.

 First of all, this Olympics had another special meaning for people. Watching and cheering for the Olympic Games, people could feel the excitement, trembling, and emotion. In Korea, women's volleyball players' advance to the semifinals gave another meaning of hope to those who were exhausted from COVID-19. Many people expressed their support and gratitude for the women's national volleyball team players on SNS. People thanked the players by posting comments in videos of the quarterfinals of volleyball, saying, "The reason I'm happy that the national team made it to the quarterfinals, regardless of winning or losing, is because it's nice to be able to see such a wonderful performance twice more", and "Thank you so much for holding out and doing your part." In addition, the Tokyo Olympics gave personal enlightenment not only to the athletes but also to people who watched the games. Hwang Seon-woo, the national swimmer of Korea, said in an interview that he wanted to give him 130 points out of 100 after sprinting for the lead in the freestyle swimming. Although he didn’t get a medal, he described himself as cool. Through him, he made people (people/public) who have been obsessed with results feel that individual performance, passion, and potential are important regardless of results such as gold medals, and that they should be able to acknowledge and praise themselves for what they have achieved.

 There was something different in this Olympics from the past in terms of the atmosphere and appearance of the Olympics themselves. In the past, players and people who had watched the game had had excessive obsession with medals and nationality and did not enjoy the game itself. The players couldn't laugh and even cried because they couldn't win a gold medal after winning a silver medal. On the other hand, in this Olympics, athletes and people watching the game enjoyed the game itself. The achievements, passion, and potential of each athlete impressed people. The impression didn't matter if it wasn't a gold medal, and it didn't matter if it wasn't a Korean player. In the men's high jump final, Woo Sang-hyuk, who set a new Korean record by overing 2m and 35cm, finished fourth in the overall, but he enjoyed the game with a bright expression throughout the game. After failing in the last attempt, he politely saluted the whole nation. People acknowledged and supported Woo Sang-hyeok, who set a new Korean record, rather than swearing at him for his disappointing performance. Ansan, a 20-year-old who won three archery titles, shouted in her mind, "Don't be scared and shoot roughly," whenever she shoots an arrow. This shocked the previous generation, who had to always be nervous to do well. Unlike before, the players were seen trying to be more relaxed and comfortable in the game. In addition, Simone Biles, 'an American gymnast empress', withdrew from four events where gold medals were expected. As she won four gold medals at the Rio Olympics, the attention and expectations that were focused on her were enormous. Excessive tension and pressure made her even afraid to stand on the balance beam that she climbed every day. Fans from all over the world, including South Korea, respected, supported, and generously applauded her courageous abstention, regardless of nationality.

 In this Olympics, they showed sharing more than just competing. Even when the game’s outcome was decided, fair play was emphasized, and the winners and losers showed congratulations, respect, and consideration for each other. Lee Da-bin, a member of the national Taekwondo team, lost the match, but she hugged her opponent, Mandic, and turned around to congratulate Mandic with her thumb up. In an interview after the game, Dabin Lee said, "I found out when our feet first hit each other. This player came all the way here with great effort. I thought just hugging was not enough to celebrate." She expressed her respect for a veteran  who was not satisfied with her former glory, returned to the beginning and after 9 years of sweat and tears, succeeded in recovering. Jo Gu-ham, the national judo player of Korea, also raised the arm of the winner who defeated him and shed hot tears as he hugged his opponent. In an interview after the match, he said, "I wanted to recognize the winner." He acknowledged his own defeat and expressed respect for his opponent.

 In this Olympics, the athletes showed their true sportsmanship. In particular, the two athletes who collapsed in the men's 800m semifinals raised each other and passed the final together, causing profound emotion. While raising the last spurt of the game, which runs twice in the 400m track,  Isaiah Juwitt (USA) lost balance and collapsed while speeding up. Then he got tangled up with Nigel Amos(Botsnawa) who was following him. Meanwhile, the other players quickly hit them off. The two, who had not been able to get up for a while, stood up together and exchanged words of apology. And they crossed the finish line together, standing side by side. Juvit was 2:38.12, Amos was 2:38.49. Although the record was nearly one minute later than the first place, the magnitude of the emotion was not small. The players who had played together came and encouraged them, and the officials who watched the game also applauded. They showed true sports spirit by doing their best.

It is said that the Olympic spirit lies in "the completion of human beings by sports and the promotion of international peace through games. "England's Katarina Johnson-Thompson, who was sprinting fast during the women's heptathlon 200m event, suffered a muscle tear during the race, but finished it to the end. It impressed people. The record for the first place was 23 seconds, but Johnson-Thompson fought for a whopping 93 seconds and raced alone.  She lay down for a long time and complained of pain, and the competition committee brought her wheelchair. However, Johnson-Thomson refused and resumed the race with one leg limping. She even accelerated and started running little by little and passed the remaining 80m. She showed her best effort. She fell off the track and got out of her lane and was eventually disqualified, but it was a thrilling race that showed the beauty of challenging. She showed a true sportsmanship. As such, “the significance of the Olympics is not to win, but to participate, and the most important thing for humans is to strive more  than to succeed.” This is what Baron Coubertin, the initiator of the modern Olympics, said.

 In addition, in the recent Olympics, an even bigger new meaning of the Olympics has emerged. A new Olympic significance was created by combining the significance of the past with the significance of the recent.  Unlike in the past, in today's Olympics, personal happiness and enjoyment are also important. Another change has occurred as players and spectators have enjoyed the game. Players can respect their opponents by enjoying their own games. Even the spectators of the game can cheer for all the players by enjoying the game. Wouldn't it be the true meaning of the Olympics to respect and consider each other even though there are differences in their country of origin and performance within the game?