Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Sport and health
In 1964, Tokyo became the first Asian city to host the Olympic Games; in
2020, it will become the first to do so twice. Together with the World Cup
that Japan co-hosted in 2002, these events hint at a surprisingly sporty scene
in a country that most outsiders might associate more closely with academic
performance than with athletic endeavour. It's not uncommon for parts of
Tokyo to come to a complete standstill during crucial baseball games as fans
gather around television screens in homes, o
ces, bars and even on the
street. Baseball is the city's premier sporting obsession, but hot on its heels is
football, with the Japanese national team improving every decade.
