Good and Bad Olympic Nationalism

Every two years, critics complain that the Olympic Games elicit chauvinistic attitudes, allowing superpowers to flex their muscles in zero-sum competition with one another.

But the Games also inspire healthier responses, particularly among smaller, newer, and poorer countries.

CHICAGO – In addition to being postponed by a year, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games have been steeped in controversy.

to one recent survey, 78% of Japanese citizens thought the Games should be canceled, owing to concerns about the pandemic.

Since then, Japanese media have been shining a spotlight on the fact that not all visiting athletes (including…