Ten Thousand Athletes, One Opening Night

Ten thousand athletes just walked into one stadium. Send this to the friend who thinks they know every major sports event. This month in Japan, the cities of Aichi and Nagoya are hosting one of the largest multi-sport competitions on Earth, and most people outside Asia have never heard of it.

Wanariadha elfu kumi wameingia uwanjani kwa pamoja. Mtumie rafiki anayedhani anajua kila mashindano makubwa ya michezo. Mwezi huu nchini Japani, miji ya Aichi na Nagoya inaandaa mojawapo ya mashindano makubwa zaidi ya michezo mchanganyiko duniani, na watu wengi nje ya Asia hawajawahi kuyasikia.

Around ten thousand athletes from forty-five countries and regions are competing across dozens of sports, some familiar and some rarely seen outside the region, in front of massive local crowds. It happens every four years, and the host city changes each time.

Takriban wanariadha elfu kumi kutoka nchi na maeneo arobaini na tano wanashindana katika michezo kadhaa, mingine inayojulikana na mingine isiyoonekana mara nyingi nje ya eneo hilo, mbele ya umati mkubwa wa wenyeji. Hufanyika kila baada ya miaka minne, na mji mwenyeji hubadilika kila mara.

For two weeks, one stadium after another fills with a different national anthem, a different uniform, a different sport most viewers have never watched before. Then the flame moves on, and another country starts planning for the next one.

Kwa wiki mbili, uwanja mmoja baada ya mwingine hujaa wimbo tofauti wa taifa, sare tofauti, na mchezo tofauti ambao watazamaji wengi hawajawahi kuutazama. Kisha mwenge huhamia mbele, na nchi nyingine huanza kupanga kwa ajili ya mashindano yajayo.