XP highlights and lowlights of the Olympics: Part I

Thus far, the Tokyo Olympics certainly seem to be living up to expectations — that is, the expectation that the Games would be fairly fraught, but also would feature some breakthrough moments of glory (Katie Ledecky wins gold!).  Athletes gathered from 206 countries to compete in 41 different sports as the Games kicked off last week — yes,  amid multiple controversies and setbacks — with a spectator-less Opening Ceremony. Tokyo is currently in a state of emergency as it faces a surge in coronavirus cases, and protests against the Games were held outside the stadium, casting a shadow over the Parade of Nations. A further shadow was cast by the departure of Simone Biles, who left the women’s team gymnastics final Tuesday and will not participate in the all-around competition, citing a need to focus on her mental health.  And yet, the show must go on — and it is — and we’ll be closely watching how things play out as the Games continue to unfold. Below is a round-up of some of the XP highlights — and some of the lowlights — that we’ve seen so far, along with some key takeaways.  A Plethora of Pictograms  A pictogram truly...