And the winner is...?
After top ten finishes in the GSN Global Cup in 2011 (seventh) and 2012 (ninth), Japan have slipped out of the top ten in 2013, to finish a still very creditable 11th.
Japan`s performance in 2013 displayed consistency rather than dominance, with points scored in 40 different sports, in contrast to their Asian rivals China (fourth overall, points in 30 sports) and South Korea (ninth overall, 21 sports).
Based on points scored, Swimming was Japan`s most successful sport (267 points), and as they have done every year since GSN’s inception in 2008, Japan finished first in Judo - their only overall success of 2013, which contributed the second most points to the overall tally.
They also finished second in three sports (Figure Skating, Table Tennis and Artistic Gymnastics) and third in two more (Baseball and Marathon). Participation in only one event in 2013 (the Confederations Cup) meant that Japan were not crowned GSN champions of Football for the third successive year, having won in 2011 (on the back of victories in the Asian Cup for Men, and World Cup for Women), and 2012 (second and fourth in the Olympic Football tournament for Women and Men respectively).
The Japanese public remains hopeful of impressive showings at the showcase events of 2014, the Winter Olympics and the FIFA World Cup, and even more highlights than those provided last year. However, regardless of on-field performances in 2013, the year will be remembered by many in Japan for five simple words, spoken by a Belgian in a conference room in Buenos Aires, re. the 2020 Summer Olympics. “And the winner is…TOKYO”.
