Thoughts on the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics

The opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics was held on July 26.

The previous 2020 Tokyo Olympics was postponed for one year due to the coronavirus pandemic and held in 2021 without spectators. The Paris Olympics is being held without such restrictions. I am relieved that the Olympics have returned to their original form.

I went to factories in France for consulting about 10 times from 2005 to 2007. During that time, I was exposed to the cultural and racial diversity in French society and realized that it is structured in a different way from American society. Watching the opening ceremony in Paris on TV this time, I felt that cultural and racial diversity has progressed even further.

Japan is experiencing a declining birthrate and an aging population. Although the progress is slow, Japan is also entering an era in which it must promote cultural and racial diversity.