In a normal 2020, the Tokyo Olympics would have opened today. However this is not the first time an Olympics scheduled to be held at the Japanese capital had to be rescheduled. The same fate awaited in 1940. Looks like Hitler had other plans. Japan finally hosted it in 1964.

Truth be told, Japan's bid for the 1940 Olympics was borne out of its will to salvage international diplomacy, post its attack on Manchuria. The country was already alienated from the League of Nations. Turns out, there isn't many better ways of image restoration than this.

Although Japan did successfully bid for the 1940 Olympics, tensions with China meant the atmosphere wasn't right for an international competition of such a scale. It moved to Helsinki before being scrapped altogether. Helsinki later hosted the 1952 Summer Olympics and Japan 1964.

The lasting legacy of the 1964 Summer Olympics has been the introduction of the high speed bullet trains Japan is famous for. On October 1, the Shinkansen as it is called, began its service from Tokyo to Osaka. On October 10, the Olympics got underway.

No matter how much Olympics is an exhibition of the greatest sporting talents in the world, hosting is a challenge in itself. Even in 1964, the Shinkansen project was hurried through, with significant environmental impact. Residences were vacated, without proper rehabilitation.

In the 21st century, Athens couldn't recuperate from the costs of the 2004 Olympics, which led to crisis and eventually, Grexit. In 2016, Rio was left with crippling debts. The city could not pay the very labourers whose efforts made the Olympics possible in the first place.

The glitter of Olympics often overshadow the problems faced by the citizens. Protests are going on in Tokyo. LA is scheduled to host the 2028 Games. Local residents have already erupted in campaigning against the event. Maybe it's time to reassess the greatest show on earth.