After a one-year postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the wait is over. The Olympic Games are finally underway and for the second time in its history, the games will take place in Tokyo, Japan, with select events (cycling, marathons, soccer, baseball, softball, and surfing) taking place in outlying cities and regions. 

As a global company, the Mods are rooting for athletes from all nations, cheering them on through a large number of events. How many? Here’s a look at the athletic happenings, by the numbers:

• 339 different events will take place
• 33 sports are represented
• More than 11,000 athletes will be competing
• 206 countries will be represented
• The competition spans 17 days, from July 23 through August 8
• In the U.S., NBC expects to air 250 hours of wall to wall coverage on its flagship network

Of course, there are many ways in which this competition differs from years past. For one, this is the first time in history that everyone can only view the events from their homes. To keep both spectators and athletes safe, the Tokyo committee is not allowing in-person spectators.

Fans in the U.S. will be able to view the games on NBC and its related cable networks and can stream coverage on NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app, (and if you think the chat in the streams is friendly and fun, we know!). For viewing in countries outside of the US, check your local listings.

What are some of the biggest events to look forward to this year? We’re all excited for familiar sports like swimming, gymnastics, and boxing, of course. But there will also be some fun new events, including sport climbing, surfing, skateboarding, and even karate! Baseball and softball are back on the roster, after having been removed more than a decade ago.

Going to any watch parties? If so, impress your friends with these bits of trivia:

• With predictions that this will be one of the hottest installment ever, athletes have been heat-training in anticipation of soaring temperatures.
• The medals worn proudly by this year’s winners will be completely made of recycled cell phones and other small electronic devices.
• Foreign spectators will not be allowed, including athletes’ friends and family.

We’re all excited that the competitions are back, with new and exciting changes and fresh faces to root for. We’re even getting in on the act here at ModSquad, with a fun company challenge themed after the Games. Yet another reason to root for these amazing athletes!

Looking for more fun facts? Here are a few of our favorites!

• Did you know? Winners are memorialized on the stadium walls where they competed.
• The mascots were chosen by Japanese schoolchildren. The first mascot is called Miraitowa, which is a combination of the Japanese words for future and infinity. The second mascot, for the Paralympic Games, is called Someity, a type of cherry blossom common in Japan.
• While this is the second Olympics Games held in Tokyo, it’s actually the fourth time the games will be held in the country, with two Winter editions having also taken place in Japan.
• The events may be held in a rare odd-numbered year, but they’re still being referred to as “Tokyo 2020.” Hey, they already printed up the signs and banners…

Which sports are you most excited to see next? What have been your favorite moments so far? Which countries or athletes are you pulling for? Give them a cheer in the comments section below.

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