With the starting line approaching, Japan is suited up for its Summer Games. 

Olympic rings are stenciled on skyscrapers, draped on lampposts and defiantly planted in the middle of Tokyo Bay — seemingly declaring no pandemic will stand in the way: Tokyo 2020 will happen in ’21, one year after its delay due to the coronavirus crisis.

Last week, medals, mascots and podiums were unveiled in Tokyo with rousing fanfare — the soundtrack of a certain spectacle set to soon envelop the Japanese capital.

The president of the Tokyo organizing committee, Seiko Hashimoto, insisted these Olympics must be held “so we can