After an unprecedented one-year delay due to a coronavirus pandemic that continues to cast a cloud over the competition, the Tokyo Olympics were officially opened on Friday in a ceremony at the newly built National Stadium absent of spectators save for a number dignitaries and special guests.
The Emperor declared open the 32nd Summer Olympic Games in the opening ceremony that began at 8 p.m. and included the usual ceremonial aspects such as the parade of athletes and lighting of the Olympic flame.
The Japanese contingent, as per tradition as the host nation, was the last to march into the stadium among the 205 countries and regions, as well as a team of refugees, that have gathered from around the world.
Greece, as the birthplace of the Olympics, took its traditional place at the head of the parade, which proceeded using the names of the countries and regions as rendered in Japanese alphabetical order. About 6,000 athletes and officials participated, including 155 from Japan.
According to the International Olympic Committee, about 11,000 athletes will participate in the Games, competing in 339 events across 33 sports, both the most in history.
It marks the second time that Japan is hosting a Summer Olympics, coming a half-century after the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
During the ceremony, men's sprinter Ryota Yamagata and women's table tennis player Kasumi Ishikawa delivered the athletes' oath, while women's tennis player Naomi Osaka performed the honor of lighting the Olympic flame.
The number of participating countries and regions was one less than originally expected due to the withdrawal of North Korea. Also, due to sanctions stemming from findings of systematic doping by their country, Russians will compete as individually qualified athletes belonging to the Russian Olympic Committee.
The team of refugees, which had been previously formed at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, consists of 29 athletes from 11 countries and regions.
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