Shinzo Abe -- aka 'Super Mario' -- loses out on Olympics
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. It turns out that Abe won't be around, at least not in an official capacity, when the postponed Olympics are set to open on July 23, 2021. (Franck Robichon/Pool Photo via AP)TOKYO Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was a star at the closing ceremony of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, parading before a sellout crowd at the Maracana Stadium as Nintendo game character Super Mario. It turns out that Abe won't be around at least not in an official capacity when the postponed Olympics are set to open on July 23, 2021. Yoshiro Mori, a former Japanese prime minister and the president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee, also credited Abe.
Bird's Nest and Water Cube: Beijing venues were stars, too
That was true in Beijing in 2008, and the stars were Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt. But Beijing is also storied for its signature venues like the Bird's Nest stadium, and the Water Cube swimming venue. Here are some of the highlights of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. That was true in Beijing in 2008, when the stars were Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt. But Beijing is also storied for its signature venues like the the 91,000-seat Bird's Nest stadium, and the nearby swimming venue called the Water Cube.No games before or since have impacted a city the way the Olympics did Beijing.