Japanese athletes brought home a record haul of medals from the 2004 Athens Olympics, and thanks to their efforts the Japanese economy has also struck an unexpectedly large pot of gold. Companies that employ or sponsor Olympic medalists have benefited from the positive publicity that comes from being associated with a winner, while surveys by economic research organs suggest that electronics manufacturers and others have also reaped the rewards of the Olympics, with some estimates suggesting the games have boosted the economy to the tune of 1 trillion (about $9.1 billion at 110 to the dollar).
...In June the Dentsu Inc. Center for Consumer Studies estimated that the Olympics would directly push up consumption by 407.2 billion (about $3.7 billion) and that the games would provide a total boost to the Japanese economy - including parts procurement and other indirect benefits - of 885.7 billion (about $8.1 billion). It forecast that if the Olympics really caught the public's imagination, this figure could rise to a maximum 933.1 billion (about $8.5 billion), but the center has now revised even this figure upwards, saying "It looks like we can expect an economic boost of close to 1 trillion."
Here's one major stimulus:
Yamamoto Kogaku Co., which supplied Noguchi with sunglasses, will release a limited edition of the model she wore next spring. As Noguchi's running style tends to result in particularly pronounced up and down movements, the specially developed model incorporated an innovative bridge section designed to minimize slippage. Since the day of the race Yamamoto Kogaku has been inundated with inquiries from people wanting to know whether this model is available commercially, in response to which the company hurriedly decided to produce a limited run of several hundred pairs.
Taro's post in FG Thread: Japanese GDP Growth Off Track
Re-live the glory FG Thread: Arrrrrg, bite me (gold medal)
