The Baikal seal, Lake Baikal seal or nerpa (Pusa sibirica), is a species of earless seal endemic to Lake Baikal in Siberia, Russia. Like the Caspian seal, it is related to the Arctic ringed seal. The Baikal seal is one of the smallest true seals and the only exclusively freshwater pinniped species.

• • • The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad (: 第十八回オリンピック競技大会,: Dai Jūhachi-kai Orinpikku Kyōgi Taikai), was an international held in,, from 10 to 24 October 1964. Tokyo had been awarded the organization of the, but this honour was subsequently passed to because of Japan's, before ultimately being cancelled because of. The 1964 Summer Games were the first Olympics held in Asia, and the first time due to its in sports. (South Africa was, however, allowed to compete at the, also held in Tokyo, where it.) Tokyo was chosen as the host city during the 55th in West Germany, on 26 May 1959. These games were also the first to be telecast internationally without the need for tapes to be flown overseas, as they had been for the four years earlier. The games were telecast to the United States using 3, the first communication satellite, and from there to Europe using.

These were also the first Olympic Games to have color telecasts, albeit partially. Certain events like the sumo wrestling and judo matches, sports huge in Japan, were tried out using Toshiba's new colour transmission system, but only for the domestic market. History surrounding the 1964 Olympics was chronicled in the 1965 documentary film, directed. The games were scheduled for mid-October to avoid the city's midsummer heat and humidity and the September season. The previous Olympics in in started in late August and experienced hot weather. The following games in in also began in October.

The 1960's Olympics were also the last to use a traditional cinder track for the track events. A smooth, synthetic, all-weather track was used for the first time at the 1968 Olympics and at every Olympiad thereafter. Marathoner Abebe Bikila • composed the theme song of the opening ceremony. •, who lit the, was born in on 6 August 1945, the day an was. • was first exhibited to a worldwide audience at the Festival of Arts presentation. • and, both popular sports in Japan, were introduced to the Olympics.

Japan won gold medals in three judo events, but Dutchman won the Open category. The won the gold medal, with the final being broadcast live.

• The (,,, and ) was introduced to the athletics events. • Reigning world champion capped off his career with a gold medal for Japan in freestyle wrestling, surrendering no points and retiring from competition as the only undefeated Olympic champion to date at 189–0. • Soviet gymnast won two gold medals, a silver medal and two bronze medals. She had held the record for most Olympic medals at 18 (nine gold, five silver, four bronze) which stood until broken by American swimmer in.

• gymnast wins three gold medals, including the individual all-around competition, crowning her the new queen over the reigning champion. • Australian swimmer won the 100 m freestyle event for the third time in a row, a feat matched by in 's single scull event. • won four gold medals in swimming. • () became the first person to win the Olympic twice. • New Zealand's won a gold medal in both the 800 metre and 1500 metre. • American, an unfancied runner, won the gold in the men's 10,000 m.

No American had won it before and or since. • British runner set a world record in becoming the surprise winner of the 800 metre, having never run the distance at international level before the Games.