Tokyo 1964 Summer Olympics

Due to the turmoil of World War II, the Olympic games had not been held in Asia until the summer games in 1964. The carrier of the Olympic flame for the opening ceremonies was Yoshinori Sakai. He was chosen because he was born on August 6, 1945, the day the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Yoshinori symbolized a call for world peace as well as a homage to the victims of World War II.

The location was a first, but there were a few other firsts for the  1964 games as well. This was the first time a fiberglass pole was used in pole vaulting, and the sports of judo for men and volleyball for both men and women were introduced to the program.

The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle.

Fun Fact: Abebe Bikila, the barefoot Ethiopian marathon runner from the 1960 Games in Rome, became the first person to win the marathon twice. He wore shoes in Tokyo.