Japan team says medal haul won public support for Olympics

Second placed Japan's players stand in the podium with their silver medals during the medal ceremony for the women's basketball competition of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on Sunday, August 8, 2021. - AFP

TOKYO, Aug 8 (AFP): Japan's hefty medal haul helped build public support for the Tokyo Olympics and ease opposition to the Games despite the pandemic, the Japanese Olympic Committee said Sunday.

The country won a record 27 golds at the virus-delayed Games, easily breaking its previous record of 16 set at the 1964 Tokyo Games and in Athens in 2004.