![[New Songs & All-Time] Olympic Cheer Songs and Olympic Theme Songs](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WI8vZ95PEso/hqdefault.jpg)
[New Songs & All-Time] Olympic Cheer Songs and Olympic Theme Songs
Every time the Olympics are held, a variety of songs are chosen as theme songs, right? In addition to NHK’s broadcast theme songs, the theme songs and cheer songs from commercial networks also draw attention.
And many of these songs go on to become staples not only for supporting sports but also as anthems that cheer people on in life, even after the Olympics are over.
In this article, we’ll introduce a comprehensive lineup of Olympic theme songs and cheer songs from over the years! It’s a parade of moving masterpieces that colored some of the most inspiring, unforgettable moments.
[New Songs & All-Time] Olympic Cheer Songs / Olympic Theme Songs (1–10)
PARADISE WINDTerada Keiko
This is a rock number whose sense of speed and powerful vocals set listeners’ hearts ablaze.
Sung by Keiko Terada, the song was released as a single in July 1992 and became widely known as the theme for NHK’s broadcasts of the Barcelona Olympics.
Its lyrics, which celebrate the value of relentlessly pursuing one’s dreams and the courage to take on challenges, remain etched in many people’s memories along with the fervor of that unforgettable event.
Give it a listen when you’re facing a crucial moment or when you want to lift your spirits!
SHOOTING STARF-BLOOD
A sibling unit by Fumiya Fujii and Naoyuki Fujii, F-BLOOD’s second single.
Released in January 1998, it was selected as NHK’s image song for the Nagano Winter Olympics.
It was also included on the album “F-BLOOD” released the same year, and remains in many people’s memories as a cheering anthem that colored the heated battles of winter.
The rock-tinged sound and lyrics depicting the pursuit of dreams like a shooting star ignite the listener’s heart.
Their perfectly synchronized harmonies, unique to brothers, resonate pleasantly—this is a number that cheers on everyone giving their all.
ikigai (a reason for living; the thing that gives one’s life meaning and purpose)SUPER BEAVER
This is a single released by the rock band SUPER BEAVER in December 2025.
It was created as a song to cheer on athletes for Fuji TV’s broadcast of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
It was also played at the All-Japan Figure Skating Championships 2025, adding color to the heated battles of winter.
Guitarist Ryota Yanagisawa wrote and composed the song, crafting a mid-tempo rock anthem that feels expansive yet warm.
Rather than a simple ode to victory, its gentle, message-driven lyrics are striking in how they affirm the long run-up toward a goal and the everyday efforts that support it.
You could call it a cheer song that serves as a talisman for everyone living their days to the fullest.
crystallizationNakajima Kento
This is a heart-stirring fight song that powerfully expresses a burning desire to triumph and the bonds with teammates.
Sung by Kento Nakajima, it will be included on the album “IDOL1ST,” scheduled for release in February 2026.
Created as the official TEAM JAPAN cheer song for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, it features an electro-dance sound produced by ☆Taku Takahashi of m-flo and uplifting vocals designed for full-venue singalongs.
It’s a track that supports everyone who puts in effort day after day and gives you the courage to step into the future!
Power of the Paradisearashi
This piece was chosen as the theme song for Nippon TV’s coverage of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
It’s the 50th single by the nationally beloved idol group Arashi, and it also drew attention because Sho Sakurai, one of the members, served as the main newscaster.
The exhilarating sound woven by strings and percussion, along with its urban, sophisticated melody line, evokes not only the heat of the stadium but also the image of a vast sky stretching into the future.
Many listeners are sure to find courage in the lyrics, which offer a down-to-earth affirmation of looking forward despite doubts and setbacks.
Give it a listen when you want a boost of positivity!
by all means; no matter what; at any costback number
This song by back number was chosen as the theme song to color NHK’s winter sports broadcasts.
It was first unveiled at the World Final Qualification Event for curling in December 2025, and, alongside the athletes’ fierce battles, captured the hearts of many viewers.
Its melody empathetically reflects the setbacks, struggles, and the unyielding will that lies behind athletes’ glittering victories.
The message embraces not only the results, but also the gritty process that leads there.
It strongly encourages not just those who play sports, but anyone who keeps challenging themselves in everyday life.
one secondSixTONES
This song was produced as the “2026 Athlete Support Song” for the Nippon TV network in the lead-up to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics being held in February 2026.
It’s said that the real voices of the athletes—captured by the main anchors at their reporting sites—served as the foundation for its creation.
The passionate message, which sings of the split-second moments that decide victory and defeat, as well as the accumulation that leads up to them, resonates deeply.
It’s a piece you’ll want to listen to not only before sports competitions, but also in those pivotal moments of life—like exams or work—when everything is on the line.
To the distant oneTakahashi Mariko
Mariko Takahashi captivates listeners with expressive artistry grounded in her jazz sensibilities.
Released in 1994, this work was chosen as the NHK theme song for the Lillehammer Olympic broadcasts, adding a moving touch to the winter celebration.
Far more than a simple cheer song, its lyrics—like sending heartfelt thoughts to someone dear who is far away—and its grand melody resonate deeply with listeners.
How about sharing it when you want to cheer on someone important to you?
EVERUVERworld
A six-member rock band, UVERworld, known for their unique mixture rock style and electrifying live shows, delivers this track.
Chosen as the theme song for TV Tokyo’s “Winter Sports 2026,” it was first performed at their Yokohama Arena concert in December 2025.
The song embraces the inner conflicts and desires of athletes who long to win, sending a message that propels them forward.
With a passionate spirit that is quintessentially theirs, it supports everyone who keeps challenging themselves, resonating with those striving toward a single goal across nations and languages.
Joy-ride ~Drive of Ecstasy~EXILE
This is a single released in 2016 by EXILE, the dance-vocal group known for hit songs like “Choo Choo TRAIN.” It’s a high-energy uptempo track brimming with a sense of speed, like sprinting under the summer blue sky, and just listening to it lifts your spirits.
The lyrics convey a wish for listeners to stay relaxed even on the big stage, bring out their true strength, and ride the wave of jubilation.
It was chosen as the theme song for Fuji TV’s broadcasts of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
It’s a must-listen for anyone who wants to ease their nerves when it’s crunch time.