Abstract
This paper reports the results of the Public Opinion Survey on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games—a survey series the NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute has conducted seven times since 2016.
The survey immediately after the events shows that more than 70% of the respondents “enjoyed” the events, but in terms of holding the events during the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 50% were unhappy about the fact the Games took place while the public was asked to exercise self‐restraint.
Before the Games, many people expected their economic effects and were eager to demonstrate Japan’s traditional culture to visitors from overseas, but the pandemic made it impossible. Those who regarded the 2020 Tokyo Games as the “Recovery Olympics” from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake were a little under 50% before the events. In the survey after the Games, those who felt the events served well for the recovery were less than 30%. Meanwhile, the majority of people enjoyed watching the Games on television, and many people, especially the youths, said their interest in sports had increased—these results indicate that holding the Games was highly meaningful purely as sporting events.
The Games also triggered a greater public awareness that “initiatives to making more diverse society should be promoted” and a better understanding of people with disabilities. On the other hand, many respondents feel that their own understanding of diversity is not progressing enough and the current situation in Japan is insufficient. Moreover, the percentage of those feeling that barrier-free is not progressing in terms of environment and people’s attitudes is higher among respondents who frequently contact with persons with disabilities. To overcome these problems, persistent awareness-building efforts shall be further needed even after the Games, and more than 60% of respondents hope to see the media cover more sports played by athletes with impairments.
