Which country was selected to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games?

Introduction / Context:
Host cities and host countries of major multi sport events like the Summer Olympic Games are regular topics in general knowledge and current affairs exams. The 2020 Summer Olympics were awarded to a major Asian country well known for its advanced infrastructure and previous experience in hosting global sports events. This question checks whether you remember which nation was chosen as the host country for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The event is the 2020 edition of the Summer Olympic Games. • We are asked about the host country, not just the host city. • You must select one correct nation from the given options.

Concept / Approach:
The International Olympic Committee selects host cities several years in advance. For the 2020 Summer Olympics, the chosen city was Tokyo, which automatically implies that the host country was Japan. Tokyo had previously hosted the Summer Olympics in 1964, making it a familiar venue for the Games. Thus, knowing the host city makes it straightforward to identify the host country for this question.

Step-by-Step Solution:
• Step 1: Recall that the 2020 Summer Olympics were scheduled to be held in Tokyo. • Step 2: Identify Tokyo as the capital city of Japan. • Step 3: Recognize that if Tokyo is the host city, the host country is Japan. • Step 4: Compare the options China, South Korea, Canada and Japan. • Step 5: Choose Japan as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by remembering the official Tokyo 2020 branding, logos and the heavy media coverage around the event. Promotional material, ticketing information and qualification tournaments all referred to the Games as Tokyo 2020 hosted by Japan. Additionally, any standard sports almanac or official Olympic website clearly lists the 2020 Summer Olympics as being hosted in Tokyo, Japan, confirming Japan as the correct host nation.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
• China: Hosted the 2008 Beijing Olympics, not the 2020 edition. • South Korea: Hosted the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics and the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, but not the 2020 Summer Games. • Canada: Hosted the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics and 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, but not the 2020 Games.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes mix up various Olympic host countries, especially among Asian nations like China, Japan and South Korea. Others may confuse the Summer and Winter Olympics, leading them to recall the wrong host city and country. To avoid such mistakes, it is useful to memorize a simple timeline of recent Olympics: Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. Once you recall Tokyo, identifying Japan as the host country becomes straightforward.

Final Answer:
The 2020 Summer Olympics were awarded to Japan.