A Reflection on the Connections between Art, Sport, Community and Tokyo 2020

Abstract

The connections between sport and art have long been evident. In the ancient Olympics art and education played an important role within the holistic development of the mind and body and in the pursuit of physical, social, and educa-tional excellence. Art provided a connection between sport and the community. These connections are present today and reflect the tangible and intangible as-pects of the modern mega-event. This paper will outline some of the participatory practices connected with art, sport and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and Para-lympic Games and reflect on art as a means of engaging the community with the event. Reflected in the sport vs art dichotomy, positive and negative legacies as-sociated with the Olympic Games are not merely competition based but reflect the myriad interactions of the host and international community with the event.