It will take something much more nuanced than those basic notions to assess the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics when they wrap up Sunday as the response will be twisted by dozens of parties with their interests.
There is the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The 11,000 athletes. The Japanese organising committee. The Japanese public. The absent fans.
Just getting through it will be cast as a success by many. This may be the spin no matter what happens, particularly for the IOC, its broadcast partners and Japanese media. A half dozen newspapers in Japan are domestic sponsors and have a vested interest in portraying the Games positively.
The more the focus is on the sports – and off politics, costs, corruption and Covid-19 – the better it is for the Switzerland-based IOC.