Olympic volunteers strive to tell their 2011 disaster stories

A domino-effect of apocalyptic disasters for the region followed by a promise showcase to the world on an equally epic-scale Japan’s ‘unique‘ ability to rebuild and rehabilitated its own people . . .

… reduce to the size of a business card.

“handmade flyers are the size of a business card, “Welcome to Miyagi Stadium," one reads. "The gymnasium next door was the largest morgue for tsunami victims.” -

Patriotism of one’s country is respectable, Nationalism “At ANY Cost” is not.

I’m glad to hear from the unsung heroes. Thank you.

They were even billed as the “Recovery and Reconstruction Games,"

Well, that didn't last long.

Man... There is a guy who lives near me who likes to do this. First time I met him he walked up to me and said, "Hi! Where are you from?" I answered him, and then literally his next question was, "What do you think of the suffering of Japanese in the atomic bombings?" I was at a bit of a loss, you know, wanting to enjoy my day and all, and this being his "nice to meet you" question to welcome foreigners, but I had little time for it and after giving him a short answer I went on my way. He did invite me to his home to talk more about it, and has on another occasion asked me what I thought of the victims of the 2011 disasters (I reminded him I was here, which he looked stunned at and then laughed), and has invited me for dinner to talk about the suffering of them, too, but I declined that one as well.

Point being, don't welcome someone if you're going to make it not only all about you, but all about your suffering -- or the suffering of others so that you can glean some pity out of the visitor. I'm not at all sure how that is "returning the favor" as one victim above points out. If people seek out the stories and want to learn, excellent, and I hope everyone benefits from it, but I hope if people think this is okay they don't mind when China next year decides to send Nanking massacre survivors to the Olympics to tell their story at the entrance gates and maybe in return be volunteers (I realize due to age that would be extremely limited if at all possible, but you get my point). As it is, I have a feeling they are going to turn the closing ceremonies into a remembrance of the atomic bombings, since that was in their pitch before it became the "reconstruction Games" (before becoming the "victory over the virus Games").

Seems shameful for the IOCLDPJOC to have exploited and profited from the hope of their own people and it never came to fruition in the manner it was promised:

- “Over a decade after the massive earthquake and tsunami devastated northeastern Japan, the Tokyo Games were supposed to offer a chance to showcase how much has been rebuilt. They were even billed as the “Recovery and Reconstruction Games," and the Olympic torch relay started from Fukushima Prefecture, the heart of the nuclear disaster area.” -

Furthermore, it akes a certain bit of gall here to support such selfish and callous behaviors of so-called ‘leaders’.