Topic: Tokyo Olympics

Simone Biles withdrew from multiple gymnastics finals at the Tokyo Olympics, citing a mental block known as "the twisties." In her absence, Suni Lee, a member of the Hmong ethnic group from Minnesota, won the all-around gold medal. The hosts discuss the history of the Hmong people and their relocation to the United States following the Vietnam War.

Viewership for the Tokyo Summer Games is down 42% compared to the 2016 Rio Games, forcing NBC to negotiate "make-goods" with advertisers. The lack of spectators and a local state of emergency in Tokyo have resulted in a "dull" atmosphere, with residents reportedly more focused on COVID-19 restrictions than the sporting events.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics experienced a 50% decline in viewership, attributed to empty stands and a lack of human-interest coverage. During the opening ceremonies, Nobel Laureate Professor Mohamed Yunus was honored with the Olympic Laurel. Yunus, the founder of Grameen Bank, was recognized for his philosophy that "credit is a fundamental human right," a concept critics describe as a dystopian framing of debt enslavement.

The Tokyo Olympics will proceed under a state of emergency with no fans allowed in the stands due to rising COVID-19 cases in Japan. In an extreme social distancing measure, athletes will be required to place their own medals around their necks rather than having them presented by officials. The show concludes with a final "best podcast in the universe" sign-off and a reminder of the value-for-value model.

The International Olympic Committee announced that live local spectators for the Tokyo Games will be limited to 50% capacity, with a maximum of 10,000 people. In an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, the Japanese government has banned cheering at all venues.

Executive producers are recognized for their financial contributions, including reports from "boots on the ground" in Japan regarding the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. The Japanese government is reportedly in a "game of chicken" with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over cancellation fees. Despite a state of emergency and low public confidence in vaccines, the IOC intends to proceed with the games, which involve over 100,000 participants.

A major Japanese newspaper has called for the cancellation of the Tokyo Olympics due to the ongoing COVID-19 state of emergency. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) faces criticism for its financial structure, which leaves host countries responsible for costs if games are postponed. NBC's broadcast preparations are already underway.

The International Olympic Committee bans "taking the knee" during the Tokyo games. Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrice Cullors faces scrutiny for her real estate holdings and her new advocacy for net neutrality, which the hosts suggest is a quid pro quo for donations from tech billionaires.

The UK head of KPMG resigned after calling "unconscious bias" training "complete crap" during a staff meeting. Similarly, Yoshiro Mori, president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee, resigned after making comments about women talking too much in meetings. The hosts discuss the "cancel culture" implications of these incidents and the differences in male and female communication styles.

Dick Pound, the longest-serving member of the International Olympic Committee, warned that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics could be canceled if the coronavirus outbreak is not contained within three months. Fortune Magazine reports that a $900 million reserve fund exists to cushion the financial blow of such a cancellation, which would be the first since World War II.

Donations arrive from the Netherlands and Nebraska, including a note from a Nokia employee in Finland regarding the chaotic state of 5G standards. The employee claims that big players are fighting to get their conflicting patents into the official specifications. There is a push by Japanese telco NTT DoCoMo to have 5G operational for the Tokyo Olympics, though the technology is criticized for its inability to penetrate walls and its potential health risks.

A donor contributing $666.66 requests a correction regarding the "Number of the Beast" vs. "Mark of the Beast." Another donor, Chris Eve, is dubbed "The Good Knight of the Tokyo Big Sight" after reporting that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is requisitioning his primary exhibition venue for the 2020 Olympics, threatening his business.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak perform the formal knighting ceremony for new producers. They briefly discuss the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, noting that the Olympic Village reportedly only serves "Coca-Cola coffee" due to strict sponsorship and licensing agreements that exclude local businesses.

Boston is selected as the U.S. bid city for the 2024 Summer Olympics, beating out San Francisco and Los Angeles. The hosts characterize the Olympics as a "known loser" for city budgets, citing the abandoned stadiums and economic ruin in Greece and China. They predict that the upcoming games in Rio and Tokyo will similarly strain those nations' economies.

Adam Curry observes that Tokyo has become more affordable than Austin, Texas, partly due to the lack of a tipping culture. The hosts discuss the economic impact of the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics, noting that real estate prices are rising while the government prepares to build new facilities rather than reusing the 1964 Olympic Stadium.

The hosts connect the widening of the Panama Canal to the U.S. strategy for exporting liquid natural gas (LNG) to Asian markets, specifically Japan. They suggest that Tokyo being awarded the 2020 Olympics will create a massive energy demand that the U.S. intends to fill. The segment also touches on the economic burden of hosting the Olympics, citing the financial collapse of Greece following the 2004 games.