Once in a Lifetime

My Tokyo 2020 Olympic experience

Four years ago, when I decided to move back to Japan, one of the deciding factors was the opportunity to volunteer for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. When I started my new job in Yokohama, one of Tokyo’s neighboring cities, I plotted how to accumulate vacation time to have the largest number of vacation days available for volunteer activities. This would make it possible to be immersed in the biggest show on earth. Well, COVID lockdowns and getting laid off seemed to put a crimp in that plan.

Then serendipity happened, and I was able to work an extended number of days at The Games. Here is the story of my journey.

I also met many interesting people along the way, some like me were just interested in the experience and giving back to Japan for providing us a wonderful place to live.

There were a rare few that had a passion for volunteering. This passion went well beyond being part of the world’s greatest sporting spectacle. In fact, volunteering is in their blood, and they are dedicated to making an impact through these activities.

My Olympic journey was an amazing experience. I try to avoid calling it once in a lifetime because I would like to do it again, maybe in Los Angeles 2028. Regardless, the opportunity allowed me to meet people from all walks of life. I interact with folks from around the world and was able to be a part of something we all dream of being connected with. This is an experience I will never forget and one of the best of my entire life.

ILLUMINATION-Curated, ILLUMINATION, Dr Mehmet Yildiz, Tree Langdon, Brian E. Wish, PhD, Dr Ron Pol, Dr Michael Heng, Paul Myers MBA, Karen Madej, Joe Luca, Dipti Pande, Kevin Buddaeus, Kate Maxwell, Arthur G. Hernandez, Bill Abbate, Michael Patanella, Aurora Eliam, CMP, René Junge, Geetika Sethi, Ahmed Jamal, Britni Pepper, Selma, Earnest Painter, Dew Langrial, B. A. Cumberlidge. Lanu Pitan, Agnes Laurens, EP McKnight, MEd, CR Mandler MAT, Sumera Rizwan, Liam Ireland, Tony Young, Jr., Neha Sandhir S, Desiree Driesenaar, Stuart Englander, Ntathu Allen, Thewriteyard, Haimish Mead, Maria Rattray, Cristo Lopez, PhD, Dr Preeti Singh, Holly Kellums, Kristina Segarra, Yohanan Gregorius, Audrey Malone,janny’s heart, Sabana Grande, Jennifer Friebely, Zen Chan, Aamir Kamal 🚀🚀🚀,[arlie] PEYTON, Georgia Dimitrious, Kim Petersen, Josh Balerite Acol, Noorain Hassan, BMS, Mallika Vasak, Ikram Al Mouaswas, George Blue Kelly, Scott Hughey (TheWriteScott), Claire Kelly, Pranjal Saxena, Aldric Chen, Bryan Dijkhuizen