Tributes were paid after information emerged that Japan’s Olympic superfan Naotoshi 
Yamada had died in advance this month on the age of 92, which supposedly he overlooked out on “his dream” to wait for Tokyo 2020. Yamada had garnered fame for having attended each Summer Olympics seeing that 1964, whilst the Games took place in Tokyo for the primary time. His streak of 14 consecutive Summer Olympics covered attendance at Moscow 1980 despite the absence of the Japanese team, with the country one in all 66 to boycott the Games over the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. As has been proven from several photos posted given that his passing, Yamada became famed for his gold hat and pink jacket. His series of Olympic merchandise is likewise reportedly on display at a gallery in his domestic metropolis, Nanto. Given his commitment, it isn’t surprising that he was dubbed Uncle Olympics in his fatherland. His absence from next yr’s spectacle has already been mentioned with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach amongst those to pay tribute. “Sad to hear the news of the loss of life of ‘Uncle Olympics’, Naotoshi Yamada at the age of ninety-two,” Bach said. “He turned into an actual ‘brilliant’ fan looking each version of the Games from Tokyo sixty-four onwards. We will all leave out him in Tokyo next yr.” While it’s miles uncertain whether or not all and sundry can suit Yamada’s determination to the Olympic Games, there are numerous examples of whilst humans have long gone to excellent lengths in their determination to a game or even an athlete.
Sticking with Japan, their two-time Olympic determines skating champion Yuzuru Hanyu is known for having a dedicated fan base. Having elected to pick Winnie the Pooh as a personal mascot, his supporters have taken to showering him with gentle toy versions of the A.A Milne person after his performances. Fans have additionally been seen wearing gadgets of apparel offering the man or woman. Hanyu reportedly donated the toys thrown after his performances at last 12 months’ Winter Olympics to kids in Pyeongchang. The -time world champion’s participation at the Olympics had at one stage been in doubt, due to ankle damage. Some of Hanyu’s devoted enthusiasts reportedly made the pilgrimage to Kobe to depart photos and desirable luck messages to the skater on the Yuzuruha shrine, because of its similarity to his first call. According to Kyodo News, the priest on the shrine requested for enthusiasts to time table their visits to make certain he may want to prepare for their arrival. Their efforts, you may argue, had been rewarded while Hanyu has become the primary male skater to win lower back-to-lower back Olympic titles in sixty-six years. Football fans are also recognized to go to super lengths to assist their groups. There are tales on a yearly foundation regarding fans who have not ignored one in all their team’s fits in many years. Five years in the past, a Nottingham Forest supporter had reportedly attended 2,534 consecutive matches, a streak ended by means of foot harm. In 2013, a Wolverhampton Wanderers fan was claimed to have missed his first recreation in 37 years after an in shape fell at the identical date as his stepdaughter’s wedding ceremony. Unsurprisingly, football’s World Cup additionally delivers testimonies of superfans.
Peru’s colorful fan base gained a reputation in the course of final 12 months’ World Cup in Russia, in large part because of the sheer variety of lovers who had traveled from South America to observe their crew’s first look at the match because of 1982. Their passionate backing was in addition highlighted by way of claims a few enthusiasts had given up jobs and sold motors with a view to finance their journey to Russia. While Peru didn’t advance from their group, their lovers have been as a minimum rewarded with a 2-zero win over Australia of their very last in shape on the match. Peru’s supporters had been additionally named winners of the fan award on the FIFA Best rite in 2018. They noticed off competition from Sebastián Carrera, who undertook a 3,000-kilometer spherical experience to watch his Puerto Montt team face Coquimbo Unido inside the Chilean 2d department. Russia 2018 additionally saw the attendance of the sons of Clovis Acosta Fernandes, the Brazilian fan who won public recognition for clinging to his model of the World Cup trophy all through his state’s 7-1 semi-very last defeat to Germany in 2014. Fernandes died from most cancers the following yr, with his sons deciding to move to Russia to honor his legacy. Dedication has been proven in North America as properly, with James Goldstein considered a National Basketball Association (NBA) superfan.
