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After a year-long postponement of the pandemic and a backlog caused by scandals and controversy, the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics was held on Friday in an almost empty stadium.
A video showing athletes training at home during the coronavirus pandemic began the performance, and pink fireworks bloomed in the sky after the countdown.
I want to know what this is? #Tokyo2020 | #Olympic Games | #UnitedByEmotion | #Joined forces pic.twitter.com/o9FSbae0DP
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) July 23, 2021
The ceremony was held in a stadium with a capacity of 68,000 people. Only a few hundred officials and dignitaries attended the ceremony, including the Japanese Emperor Naruhito, French President Emmanuel Macron and the US First Lady Jill Biden.
The Emperor will officially announce the opening of the Olympic Games.
Fearing that the gathering of 11,000 athletes around the world might trigger a super-spread incident, the Olympics was opposed in Japan.
Light show #Tokyo2020 #Opening Ceremony
What do you see under the light? #UnitedByEmotion | #Joined forces | #Olympic Games pic.twitter.com/PKu3YGGY76
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) July 23, 2021
Organizers have adopted strict viral measures. For the first time in history, overseas fans are prohibited from entering. Except for a few venues, all the other venues shut out domestic audiences.
Athletes, support staff and the media must abide by the strict Covid-19 protocol, including regular tests and daily health checks.
Opinion polls unanimously found that the majority of Japanese oppose the Olympics, with opinions ranging from boredom and indifference to outright hostility.
But a few hours before the ceremony, there was still enthusiasm outside the Olympic Stadium. Hundreds of people gathered together, hoping to immerse themselves in the atmosphere and watch the fireworks expected during the event.
Written on the floor #Tokyo2020 #Opening Ceremony#UnitedByEmotion | #Joined forces | #Olympic Games pic.twitter.com/VLTSZAa3wx
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) July 23, 2021
Mako Fukuhara arrived six hours before the ceremony to grab a spot.
“Until now it was not like the Olympics, but now we are in the stadium, it feels like the Olympics,” she told Agence France-Presse When people take selfies nearby.
‘Decide’
The opening ceremony in Tokyo has traditionally been the highlight of any Summer Olympics, featuring the national parade and the Olympic main torch, which has been greatly reduced.
Fewer than 1,000 dignitaries and officials were present, which shows that the Olympic Games are still divided. Several top sponsors, including Toyota and Panasonic, did not participate.
At the beginning of the ceremony, hundreds of protesters demonstrated outside the stadium against the Olympics.
We are all connected #Tokyo2020 | #Olympic Games | #UnitedByEmotion | #Joined forces pic.twitter.com/i8qOrn7oUK
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) July 23, 2021
Tokyo is battling a surge in virus cases and is taking emergency measures, which means restaurants must be closed by 8:00 pm and no alcohol can be sold.
Highly controversial
But Olympic officials bravely faced this unusual situation, and IOC President Thomas Bach insisted that cancellation was never considered.
“In the past 15 months, we have had to make many decisions under very uncertain circumstances,” he said this week. “We doubt every day. There are sleepless nights.
“We can finally see the end of the dark tunnel. Cancellation was never an option for us. The IOC never gave up athletes… We did it for athletes.”
There are also plenty of economic incentives at work. Industry insiders estimate that if the Olympics are cancelled, the IOC’s broadcast revenue will lose approximately US$1.5 billion.
This #Opening Ceremony for #Olympic Games #Tokyo2020 Has officially started #UnitedByEmotion | #Joined forces pic.twitter.com/N1jXG8SDFM
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) July 23, 2021
However, the pandemic was not the only minor issue in the preparation process. The scandals ranged from corruption in the bidding process to allegations of plagiarism of the Tokyo 2020 logo design.
The controversy continued until the eve of the Olympics, and the director of the opening ceremony was fired on Thursday for jokingly mentioning the massacre in the 1998 video.
Back in sports, after a decade of ruling by Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps, a new generation of Olympic stars are seeking to shine.
American swimmer Caeleb Dressel aims for seven gold medals, while in track and field, 400-meter hurdles Karsten Warholm of Norway and Sydney McLaughlin of the United States hope to become household names.
Meanwhile, in the gymnastics competition, Simone Biles tried to crown her brilliant career by tying Larisa Latynina’s nine Olympic gold medal records.
New Olympic events will also be exhibited in Tokyo, and surfing, skateboarding, sports climbing and karate will all make their debut.
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