Greg Evans
Jul 23, 2021
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics have officially begun following the opening ceremony in the Japanese capital.
The event, which took place in front of a near-empty stadium due to Covid-19 restrictions, comes amid a backdrop of controversy for the games over fears of the virus again spreading across the globe.
However, the games are going ahead – albeit behind closed doors – and the opening ceremony reflected this rather sombre mood with an understated and respectful opening celebration.
A particularly poignant and moving part of the ceremony saw a moment's silence for those who have lost their lives during the pandemic.
Another touching moment was when boxer Arisa Tsubata appeared alone in the stadium on a treadmill, despite her not taking part in the games due to her qualification event being cancelled.
*turns on Olympic ceremony* Fifteen minutes of a star Japanese boxer jogging on a treadmill in an empty stadium, he… https://t.co/57YJkp89r0— Jim Waterson (@Jim Waterson) 1627039153
The Japanese flag was also brought into the stadium by both Japanese athletes and health care workers.
Amazing, Japanese flag being carried into Olympic Stadium by health care workers as well as former athletes.… https://t.co/d9V9TbbT7B— Michael Cowan (@Michael Cowan) 1627038932
It wasn’t all sadness and sorrow as there was some fun and wonder to be had during the opening ceremony, such as the wooden Olympic rings that were carved from trees planted by athletes in 1964, when the summer games were last held in Japan.
So when Japan held the Olympics in 1964, athletes brought seeds to the opening ceremony to plant commemorative tree… https://t.co/KG0UbM6UHQ— Matt Murphy (@Matt Murphy) 1627040972
Even if not everyone was really into it...
Also this is very Catherine Zeta Jones in Entrapment meets cat's cradle vibes and I'm into it #Tokyo2020… https://t.co/vxZWQRhap8— Harriet Hall (@Harriet Hall) 1627038866
This whole opening ceremony should've just been animated food that looks delicious— Nooruddean (@Nooruddean) 1627039672
POV: my laundry sitting on my treadmill. (Ps- #OpeningCeremony is awful) #TokyoOlympics https://t.co/zxfjh52FSj— Nicolette (@Nicolette) 1627038724
Viewers also noticed that one performer took the knee.
Things really picked up pace during the parade of nations (even if they were in depleted numbers due to restrictions) which always raises a smile, especially due to the incredible outfits.
The Parade of Nations never fails to make me smile. Such a beautiful thing. Like humanity’s fireworks. #TokyoOlympics— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈 (@Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈) 1627041244
Nice touch that bow by the Irish Olympic 🇮🇪 delegation @TeamIreland at #Tokyo2020 the 🇯🇵 hosts will no doubt apprec… https://t.co/0oPWoN1Rgv— Ciara Quill (@Ciara Quill) 1627041683
Zambians well represented 👏🏾🔥🇿🇲🇿🇲#TokyoOlympics https://t.co/fZ449mf7iS— AMOR FATI (@AMOR FATI) 1627043471
Australia styled by the Scouts. #OpeningCeremony https://t.co/MQJJAFWADR— Ira Snave (@Ira Snave) 1627042052
Best uniforms so far — Kenya and Cameroon #olympics https://t.co/auPD9ANSUd— Christine Layton (@Christine Layton) 1627043264
cameroon traditional dress #Olympics #OpeningCeremony https://t.co/2IFL6niuK3— 🐢q🐇 (@🐢q🐇) 1627042371
Also, for just the second time in history, IOC Refugee Team will compete at the games.
For the second time in its history, the Olympic Games welcome the IOC Refugee Olympic Team!❤️ Leading the delegati… https://t.co/ujH46SHqgy— Olympics (@Olympics) 1627041019
A very popular part of the event was the nations walking out into the stadium to themes from Japanese video games such as Final Fantasy and Super Smash Bros.
Japan freaking gets it. THANK YOU. #Olympics https://t.co/2L9d2VaEGu— Alex Moukala (@Alex Moukala) 1627041751
Zambia just walked out to the theme from Monster Hunter I'm losing my god damn mind— bringing up cybebe (@bringing up cybebe) 1627043429
Watching the Olympics opening ceremony and the Star Light zone theme from Sonic comes on. https://t.co/F2wxH7CLem— TapersCrazy (@TapersCrazy) 1627042115
Yes, you are hearing that correctly. Athletes have begun marching out to the theme from Dragon Quest, a hit video g… https://t.co/jiS5NiLGYb— The Japan Times (@The Japan Times) 1627040470
Tokyo Olympics now genuinely rocking the Sonic Star Light Zone theme 🔥 https://t.co/BAxs0b8eDE— Andy Robinson (@Andy Robinson) 1627042150
So you're telling me they played the Olympus Coliseum theme during an athletic spectacle in a huge arena with no on… https://t.co/J6qlXw65Vw— DaPanda @Destiny-Islanders (@DaPanda @Destiny-Islanders) 1627043876
Turned on the opening ceremony of the #Olympics and I swear when India is introduced, the accompanying music is Fro… https://t.co/Mwr8xutfqP— Mike Sullivan (@Mike Sullivan) 1627042422
I swear the orchestra are ***this close*** to breaking into Jurassic Park theme. They’re edging.— Marc Fennell (@Marc Fennell) 1627043671
Palestine is here ! ❤️💪 #Tokyo2020 #OpeningCeremony #Olympics https://t.co/yDu3lwWLCw— Wa!id (@Wa!id) 1627045369
People were also delighted to see the return of the topless and oiled up Tongan flag bearer Pita Taufatofua.
THE TONGA LAD IS BACK. #Tokyo2020 #OpeningCeremony https://t.co/Idmw1BIwBu— H.R.Owens (@H.R.Owens) 1627044791
tonga dude is so slippery https://t.co/RNqAdrjpu4— Oliver Willis (@Oliver Willis) 1627044933
Glad to see some things haven’t changed toooooo much 👏🏻 #Tonga @pitaTofua https://t.co/hwIy86bsRO— Erica Wiebe (@Erica Wiebe) 1627044996
Rio 2016 ✅ PyeongChang 2018 ✅ Tokyo 2020✅ If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. 😎 #OpeningCeremony #Tokyo2020 https://t.co/wEN8eg08YW— Olympics (@Olympics) 1627045969
However, the flag bearer from Vanuatu wasn’t going to be outshone.
As the event went on, it was a good opportunity to familiarise ourselves with the Japanese alphabet.
The Japanese alphabet remains as big a mystery to me as when this parade started several weeks ago. #OpeningCeremony— Titus O'Reily (@Titus O'Reily) 1627045313
Meanwhile, who doesn’t love the BBC studio tables?
Would love to see a @DesignMuseum exhibition of Mad BBC Tables. https://t.co/QqX1PR6Nun— Daniel Benneworth-Gray (@Daniel Benneworth-Gray) 1627037698
The Portuguese are clearly here to have a good time.
Well, that's one way to enter! 📺📲 Watch the #Tokyo2020 opening ceremony: https://t.co/3lvo2HUHcF #bbcolympics https://t.co/cE058S7ujf— BBC Sport (@BBC Sport) 1627046299
Maybe Tuvalu had the best outfit?
Just... WOW! #TUV #OpeningCeremony https://t.co/poYrCVfR4p— Olympics (@Olympics) 1627046679
only Cameroon and Tuvalu who understand the assignments 🤣 https://t.co/rCdSIL3FTg— 슬린 (@슬린) 1627044610
Tuvalu wins the colours. https://t.co/FJn1vTsgs0— Del🇪🇺 (@Del🇪🇺) 1627044520
We can only presume this is a French gymnast doing a backflip.
The use of John Lennon’s Imagine a year after a largely ridiculed version of the song sung by celebrities went viral in 2020, was perhaps not a great choice.
The Tokyo games saw Gal Gadot's imagine video and decided, yes, more of that— Tommy Vietor (@Tommy Vietor) 1627048202
Imagine... Terrible flashbacks to this 2020 lowlight #Tokyo2020 https://t.co/aKkf1esRyI— Michael Hincks (@Michael Hincks) 1627048316
Imagine? A year after that Gal Gadot video? #Olympics https://t.co/wG3DHbAsXU— Greg Evans (@Greg Evans) 1627048298
Another highly impressive moment was when more than one thousand drones formed in the sky above the stadium to create a globe.
The earth made out of drones ! Very impressive and poetic ! #Olympics #Tokyo2020 https://t.co/Bkgfo9w8GM— DanielB (@DanielB) 1627048146
🚨 Drone appreciation post! 🚨 1,824 drones light up the sky above the Olympic Stadium as the #Tokyo2020 emblem seam… https://t.co/V1wbh78oFE— Olympics (@Olympics) 1627048707
Great job from the subtitle person...
Cheers https://t.co/QqsapxXrCz— Stephen Kelly (@Stephen Kelly) 1627049782
The pictogram segment where several people acted out every sport at the games was quite something to behold.
Ok, this is cool! I didn't know Japan created the sports pictogram/emojis for th Olympics but it makes sense!… https://t.co/ear0iNUEru— Meredith MacBain (@Meredith MacBain) 1627050528
Is there a gold medal for acting out all the events? 😂😂😂 #Olympics #OpeningCeremony #Tokyo2020 https://t.co/aIG4pbtw0c— Kreidy Giantsbane (@Kreidy Giantsbane) 1627050648
if this was eurovision staging it'd win the televote #Tokyo2020 https://t.co/ztoDOjVtu1— ajit (on semi-hiatus) (@ajit (on semi-hiatus)) 1627050975
The ceremonial lighting of the cauldron with the Olympic flame was done by Japanese tennis superstar Naomi Osaka, a fitting moment for a young woman who has dealt with a lot this year.
Naomi Osaka to light the Olympic Cauldron. https://t.co/GLiEwxxqkl— Darren Rovell (@Darren Rovell) 1627051722
Naomi Osaka!! What a moment!! #OpeningCeremony #Olympics— Liam Ward (@Liam Ward) 1627051629
All hail Queen @NaomiOsaka! #Olympics https://t.co/CvGjYnBtyf— Scott Bryan (@Scott Bryan) 1627051780
Naomi Osaka lighting the Olympic cauldron is going to piss off so many assholes — and I cannot love it more.— Richard Deitsch (@Richard Deitsch) 1627051639
LET THE GAMES BEGIN Naomi Osaka lights the Olympic cauldron to officially open #Tokyo2020 https://t.co/DRN4oHdOTa— Devin Heroux (@Devin Heroux) 1627051712
And that’s it.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN!
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