東アジアとオリンピック

Abstract

This report provides an overview of the history of "East Asia and the Olympics" from three points of view-(1)inclusion and exclusion, (2)the world and Asia, and (3)sports and politics. The international sports world, as represented by the Olympics, has taken an apolitical stance, claiming that "sports are separate from politics." On the other hand, the Asian sports world has taken the position that "sports and politics are inseparable." Major international sporting countries and Japan, which regards itself as a leading power in Asia, have secured the inclusion of Asia in the world. The competitive strength of China, which successfully joined Asia and the world in the 1970s, began to exceed that of Japan in the 1980s. Furthermore, China improved its relationships with South Korea and Taiwan and took Japan's place as a unifier of East Asia.