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Six Things We Want To See At The 2020 Olympics In Tokyo

by Sarah Hulyer Follow @Sarah Hulyer

So, the 2016 Summer Olympic Games have come to an end, and a lot of people have found themselves missing the sporting event - despite not realising they were actually that into it in the first place.

There was just something about being able to turn the TV on at any point during the evening or night and have some kind of random sport to watch, and then discuss with other people the next day. Because you can’t help but feel quite smug when you can ask ‘did anyone else watch the fencing last night?’

During the closing ceremony, we were treated to an interesting appearance from Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. People across the world thought they were dreaming when the man actually came out of a green pipe dressed like Mario.

Image: David Ramos/Getty Images

They’re definitely willing to embrace their biggest selling points, that’s for sure. But, we’ve gathered the top 8 things we’d like to see at the next summer games.

 

1. A ‘just for fun’ day at the end

Picture this: for one day after all of the official sports end, the athletes all get to have a go at other things. Just imagine Usain Bolt vs. Jessica Ennis-Hill at Table Tennis. Michael Phelps and Mo Farah have a go at fencing. You get the picture.

In case you don’t get the picture, we have mocked up a picture for you (disclaimer: definitely not real.)

Image: Getty / Our terrible photoshopping

2. Robots. Robots everywhere.

Not only is it being held in 2020, which just sounds futuristic, it’s being held in Japan so let’s just say we have high hopes when it comes to robots.

For a tennis tournament in Brazil, they took abandoned dogs off of the streets and trained them to be used as ball boys. In Japan, we want ball-robots. Like a roomba, for tennis balls.

The Japanese government is apparently already working to create self-driving taxis, as well as robots to help visitors carry their luggage, and find their seats in the stadium.

3. Pokemon

I’m not saying that Pokemon GO has to be a part of the Olympics in 2020 (because most of us will probably have deleted it by then), but what I will say is that the legendary Pokemon still haven’t been found. Because you (probably) have to go to the Olympics to catch them. This theory feels so right.

Even if it’s wrong, I’m willing to bet Pokemon will still play quite a big part in the games. They could dedicate a Pokemon to each country, and get them to wear the team tshirts. Or, they could have people dressed as Pokemon giving out the medals… too far?

4. A sport more ridiculous than the pentathlon

So, one evening during this year’s Olympics I happened to be up at 2am when someone was explaining the ‘modern pentathlon’. I couldn’t quite believe I had never been told about the sport before, because if I had - I definitely would have dedicated my life to it. Is it too late now?

The modern pentathlon starts out with a fencing tournament, with all of the countries facing off against each other - before dropping their swords to race a 200m freestyle swim.

Then, they’re paired with a random horse and expected to do a full show jump course, before hopping off for the final leg, a 3200m cross country run. But, at regular intervals during that run, they stop to shoot laser guns at a target.

Yes. It’s a real sport. Russia took the gold in the men’s event this year, and Australia won the women’s. Here’s a hilariously over dramatic promotional video for the sport:

Come on, Japan. We want you to one up this crazy sporting event. You are the home of Takeshi’s Castle after all.

5. Olympic level hungry hippos

Following on from the above, we would like to put forward ‘Hungry Hungry Hippos’ as a new sport to be added to the lineup.

6. Basically, everything from Akira

Back in 1988 the iconic Japanese anime ‘Akira’ basically predicted that Tokyo would win their bid for the 2020 games - so it only seems fair that the biker gangs of the show make an appearance at some point.

What do you want to see at the 2020 games? Let us know in the comments

Lead image: Getty

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