The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games started in July 2021. Out of all games, the BBC and other media are struggling to explain the Gundam statue in the background of games. Gundam is the huge anime mecha saga soon to get a live-action version on Netflix. So what exactly happened?
Gundam is too complicated for BBC?
The course for the men’s triathlon held on 26 July was around Odaiba Seaside Park. After swimming in the waters of Odaiba, the athletes ran through the Odaiba, Aomi, and Ariake areas in the next bike race. The live broadcast of the race included a life-size Unicorn Gundam statue, which has gone viral in Japan and abroad.
In this video shared by NHK, you can see the Unicorn Gundam statue at around 35 minutes and 42 minutes from the start of the video.
The BBC play-by-play pronounced “Gundam” sounds like Gandum, Gandam, or Dandumb, and Gundam fans around the world talked about it on Twitter.
@ChrisoutofWater Replying to @BBCSport
It’s a Gundam!!– https://twitter.com/ChrisoutofWater/status/1423226818522501122
Furthermore, in the sport climbing game that started on 3 August, the venue was the Aomi Urban Sports Park near the Unicorn Gundam in Odaiba. And once again the Unicorn Gundam appeared in photos taken during the game.
At that time, the BBC mistook the Gundam for a Transformer on its official Twitter page, and again, it went viral.
Just when you thought speed climbing was frightening enough, you now need to impress a Transformer too at #Tokyo2020! 👀🤖 pic.twitter.com/0GzmVd3CnX
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 5, 2021
@V3rmilion_N1nja
It’s a Gundam…not a transformer. You are reporting the Olympics in Japan and a Gundam is one of many Japanese cultural icons. Do not get it confused with Transformers franchise made in the USA #TokyoOlympics2020– https://twitter.com/V3rmilion_N1nja/status/1423229293740662785
@teqmae
It’s too funny that the BBC wrote Gundam as Transformers, and not the Japanese people, but the international people are talking about it 🤣. I’m so glad that the venue was set here.
In the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, you must have become a witness of not only the achievements of athletes but also many of Japan’s charms. I hope you will discover the unique aspects of Japan hidden through the games.
