Tokyo Olympics 2020 Opening Ceremony Highlights: The Olympic flame has been lit and the games begin

Tokyo Olympics 2020 Opening Ceremony Highlights: The postponed Olympics kickstarted with an opening ceremony in Tokyo on Friday.

By: Sports Desk
Updated: July 24, 2021 05:01 AM IST
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Olympics 2020 Opening Ceremony: The world's grandest sports event opens on Friday. (AP)Olympics 2020 Opening Ceremony: The world's grandest sports event opens on Friday. (AP)

Tokyo Olympics 2020 Opening Ceremony Highlights: It’s an Olympics like no other — and the Tokyo Games are surely that — but this is an event that has persevered through wars, boycotts and now a pandemic over its 125-year modern history. The Tokyo Games were thrown open with a grand opening ceremony in Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium on Friday night.

FOLLOW LIVE | Tokyo Olympics 2020 Day 1 Live Updates: Big day for Indian medal prospects

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The Tokyo Olympics have already broken new ground because of the 12-month delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic, pushing it into an odd-numbered year for the first time. But with no fans permitted in Japan, it has the distinction of being the first Games without spectators. India had 19 of their athletes represent the country in the opening ceremony of the grand event on Friday.

Boxing great MC Mary Kom and Indian hockey team skipper Manpreet Singh were the flag-bearers at Japan National Stadium.

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Tokyo Olympics 2020 Opening Ceremony Highlights:

23:11 (IST)23 Jul 2021
''The greatest honor'': Osaka lights Olympic cauldron

Osaka became the first tennis player to light the Olympic cauldron. She's also one of the few active athletes to be given the honor. Australian sprinter Cathy Freeman lit the cauldron for the 2000 Sydney Games and went on to win gold in the 400 meters.

23:08 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Tokyo Games open with pomp despite circumstance

The 2020 Olympics officially opened Friday with a barrage of fireworks, nods to Japan’s history and culture, and a mesmerizing drone display over Tokyo’s night sky. And, of course, without fans there to see it. The pomp of these games is unlikely to escape its circumstance — namely, that the quadrennial event is being staged a year late, in front of empty grandstands, against the will of many in Japan and at the risk of infection for those involved.

22:19 (IST)23 Jul 2021
PM Modi sends his wishes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday wished his Japanese counterpart Yoshihide Suga for the Olympics which got underway in Tokyo and said "we look forward to a season of incredible performances by the world's best sportspersons". Wishing PM Suga and Japan the very best for Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, Modi tweeted, "We look forward to a season of incredible performances by the world's best sportspersons!"

22:00 (IST)23 Jul 2021
A Freudian slip at the ceremony!

The commentator in Sony Sports India said the Bhutan archer will play against Indian archer Dipa Karmakar (when Bhutan's contingent walked out).

21:39 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Did you know?

Tokyo Olympic flame is the first powered by hydrogen.  Inspired by the sun, the Tokyo Olympic cauldron is designed to be better for the planet. The flame at Tokyo’s National Stadium and another cauldron burning along the waterfront near Tokyo Bay throughout the games will be sustained in part by hydrogen, the first time the fuel source will be used to power an Olympic fire.

20:47 (IST)23 Jul 2021
WATCH: Olympic Games kick off with fireworks
20:41 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Artists at Work

A series of 50 pictograms came to life with the Japanese comedy duo of MASA and hitoshi, dressed in blue and white, enacting all Olympic events. The pantomime artists — influenced by Charlie Chaplin and Japanese comedians The Drifters — began their careers miming samurai sword fights on the streets and call themselves 'Gabez'. “We did street performances for a few years, TV auditions, everything… but no one responded,” Masa told Japanese magazine Metropolis. “We felt worthless. So we decided to call ourselves ‘garbage.’ But we changed the spelling to make it cooler.”

20:24 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Naomi Osaka lights Tokyo Games cauldron with Olympic flame
20:15 (IST)23 Jul 2021
The flame is being lit

The Olympic flame is making its way into the stadium.

20:06 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Tokyo 2020 is officially open now
19:53 (IST)23 Jul 2021
The Games are open

Japan Emperor Naruhito declares the Olympic Games officially open

19:38 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Bach speaks

"The Organising Committee, and the Japanese authorities at all levels have done extraordinary work for which, on behalf of all the Olympic athletes, I want to express our deepest gratitude. We thank all the many unsung heroes, the doctors, nurses and all the Japanese people who contribute to contain the pandemic," says IOC President Thomas Bach. 

Meanwhile, tomorrow is set to be a dig day for India. Here is what is on the table:

19:25 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Final words

The performances come to an end. A rendition of 'Imagine' and a second song featuring performances from around the world is the last of the performances. Tokyo's Olympic managing committee chief takes the dias, IOC chief Thomas Bach by her side.

Approximately 10,400 people attended the opening ceremony 
Team Delegation (Athletes & Team Officials) : Approximately 6,000
Games stakeholders and guests of honor : Approximately 900
Media : Approximately 3,500 (Broadcasters : 1,500 / Press : 2,000)

19:21 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Cambodia's modest contingent

Cambodia's 8-member contingent had a special beacon leading them in the parade. The team's flag bearer was preceded by the country's local name-board bearer, a young Japanese walking with a prosthetic blade walking aid. The modest Cambodian squad received financial aid amounting to INR 50000 in the lead-up.

Meanwhile back home, the emotion surrounding the Olympics remains as poignant as ever, whether you are looking to make history or preparing to watch history being scripted on TV screens. 

19:16 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Lesotho's pride, Portugal's energy

Lesotho, a mountainous kingdom, adjacent to  South Africa, have sent in two athletes - the husband and wife Khoarahlane Seutloali and Neheng Khatala . Both are marathoners. "Seeing him (Seutloali) qualifying for the Olympics motivated me to push harder. Since he had already qualified, he was always helping me train. Now I must focus and remain disciplined ... I am short of words. It's a dream come true," Neheng told The Lesotho Times.

Portugal, meanwhile, with one of the most enthusiastic entries of the night.

19:13 (IST)23 Jul 2021
A few other sensational entries

Vanuatu

Tuvalu

Czech Republic

19:04 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Japan enters the stadium

The country parade is coming to a close. It's time for Japan to enter the stadium. The loudest roar in the Olympic stadium is reserved for them, the last contingent of the night.

18:50 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Fantastic frames

Some spectacular photographs to have been clicked of today's opening ceremony, as we get well into the second half of the countries to come out. South Africa walking in currently, dressed in forest gear.

18:36 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Tuvalu's time to shine

Etimoni Tiumani isn't the lone athelete from the world's smallest Olympic country - Tuvalu. He was the island nation's solitary athlete in Rio but they have luckily found another one this time. Just two but creditable as their population is only around 12,000 people. Less than the numbers on a weekend in a mall in India.

18:25 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Music to the ears

Once regarded as inferior to film and TV soundtracks, games scores are gaining recognition and awards as a valid form of contemporary classical music. It was ubiquitous in the opening ceremony of the Olympics, as a raft of popular riffs from games bounced about in the glittering yet sombre stadium. The first song that flitted into the vast arena “Roto’s Theme” from the Dragon Quest series, the first console role-playing game that’s popular around the world. Another popular video-game orchestra track was “Victory Fanfare” of the Final Fantasy series. There were 17 similar and popular tracks that captured Japan’s fixation with video-game music. Like haiku in the 1964 games, games scores could hit the mainstream, if they already have not, and underscore that game soundtracks have appeal beyond the people who play games. 

18:12 (IST)23 Jul 2021
The woman who sang Japan's national anthem

The talk of the opening ceremony was the beautiful outfit that the singer-songwriter Misia wore when she sang Japan's national anthem. She later tweeted a pic of her dress. The twitterati compared the dress to a swan. Some termed it the rainbow dress. And quite a few called it as her ode to the famous Japanese dessert of shaved ice -- Kakigori

18:01 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Kuwait's return to Olympics stage

Kuwait are returning to Olympic fold after being suspended in 2015 for political interference that was said to undermine the autonomy of the Olympic movement. Their athletes had enrolled as independent athletes in the interim and IOC had stopped funding.

17:59 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Parade continues

The countries keep coming in into the stadium. The Russian athletes come in under the IOC flag.

Meanwhile, India's participation in the Games is set to begin in earnest tomorrow, with the first chances of medal matches starting tomorrow morning. Who is your money on? India's elite shooters, Vikas, Mirabai, or someone else? 

17:47 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Britain's contingent

The British contingent marched decorously in navy blazers and greyish whitish trousers. Leading them were sailor Hannah Mills and rower Mohamed Sbihi. The latter, of half-Moroccan descent, is the first Muslim to be Great Britain’s flag-bearer, who said “it is an iconic moment within the Olympic movement – people remember those images.” Mills, meanwhile, is a campaigner for clean oceans and the eradication of single use plastic in sport. Two years ago, she had launched the Big Plastic Pledge, which aims to eliminate single-use plastics from sport, after which she was chosen to be a European Climate Pact Ambassador.

17:41 (IST)23 Jul 2021
The country of 'eSwatini' makes Olympics entry

The background score to which the Parade of Nations is taking place is from Japan's most popular video game.

For the first time ever in Olympics, a group of atheletes walked in for a country called 'eSwatini'. It isn't a new country but the one that was called Swaziland until 2018 when it's King- --it's Africa's last absolute monarch, in world -- changed the name. Apparently, because many were confusing it to Switzerland.

17:37 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Scenes from the opening ceremony

The countries keep on coming in at the Olympic stadium. The somber tone of the opening ceremony is replaced by the exuberance of the athletes walking into the spotlight.

17:23 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Team India enters Olympic stadium

Israel...Italy...Iraq...Iran...and then, at 21st, it's time for India to walk out! Manpreet Singh and Manry Kom hold the tricolour aloft as the rest of the contingent follow. This is India's 25th appearance at the Olympics. This is the biggest ever Indian team at thge Olympics.

17:17 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Big nations and small make their entries in various ways

Argentina make a pretty exuberant entry! Their defending champions hockey team from Rio seen making their presence felt. After Argentina, it's the small contingent from Aruba (comprising 3 athletes - in shooting and swimming). Then at number 11, it's Albania. Then, Angola.

The entire Irish contingent turned to Emperor Naruhito and bowed deeply. They're the only contingent to have followed a custom etched in Japanese society, of bowing towards an elder as a symbol of respect. Then again, even Donald Trump didn't bow when he met the Emperor in 2017.

17:14 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Olympic Parade continues

Iceland, Ireland , Azerbaijan... the parade continues. The athletes enter the stadium bearing their national flags as some rousing background music fills the stadium. Now, it's Afghanistan, and then the UAE, and then Algeria.

READ | Why India will enter 21st at the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony

17:10 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Greece first country to enter

The flag-bearing athletes start coming out now. The Greek contingent is first up! India will be at 21st in the order. The Refugee Team the second team to be coming out.

17:06 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Honour for Bangladesh's Yunus

The IOC honours Mohammad Yunus, Bangladesh-based economist and Nobel Laureate, with a special award. The Olympic Laurel award has been given to him for his extensive work in sport for development, including founding Yunus Sports. 

17:04 (IST)23 Jul 2021
The Olympic rings wood

During the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, athletes from all the participating nations brought with them seeds to be planted as commemorative trees. These seeds borne from all over the world were distributed throughout Japan. When Tokyo was awarded the Games, the organisers learned of these commemorative trees. Since these trees have a strong association with the previous Tokyo Games, they were used to construct the Japan Olympic Museum, across the road from the National Stadium and were also used for the ceremony.

17:02 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Sreeshankar to board flight to Tokyo, finally

In some news about the Indian contingent, after a tense few hours at the New Delhi international airport, long jumper Sreeshankar finally breathed a sigh of relief when the federation confirmed his entry, along with race walker Kt Irfan's, won't be withdrawn despite a "poor show" in the fitness trials. Sreeshankar and his coach will board the flight to Tokyo at 6pm today.

Sreeshankar's father and coach Murali had to give an assurance to the federation that his ward would perform well at the Olympics. "Sreeshankar’s father and coach has assured of good performance from his athlete. If athletes do not perform well in Tokyo, we'll take action against them,”  AFI president Adille said in a statement.

16:59 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Japan opens doors to the world

Past Olympics champions to Youth Olympics champions to a percussionist to a rescue worker, Japan gave the honour to these six to carry the national flag at the Olympics stadium. As if the empty stands were not a reflection of the times, the opening ceremony began with a montage of athletes practising in isolation, mostly at their homes, some using improvised techniques for lack of equipment and access to sporting facilities. Another wink to the pandemic nods in, as various athletes are seen on the stadium floor, each distant from each other, training in utter solitude, in different corners of the vast arena. The low-key choreography was an elegant break from the usual gaudy and ornamental razzmatazz that pervades most opening ceremonies. Later, a minute’s silence was observed for those who died in the pandemic. But even before the ceremonial silence, the pandemic had nudged in as the guest, am invisible but omnipresent one. Chief guest, perhaps. 

Another extravagant Japanese performance now begins. Actors and dancers, dressed as carpenters, are seen at work along to some background music.

16:54 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Who was the lone woman on treadmill during opening ceremony?

Arisa Tsubata was depicted as the lone woman on the treadmill during the opening ceremony. She is a nurse and a midweight boxer who became a champion just after a couple of years of taking up the sport. She worked in the frontline as a nurse during the pandemic. She took a pay cut to work in a smaller clinic. Her dreams of of making it to the Olympics was shattered after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) cancelled the boxing qualifier due to take place in June and alloted spots to athletes based on their world rankings in recent years. "It's very disappointing," Tsubata told Reuters. She currently works at the Life Support Clinic in Tokyo. "I had been working so hard for a year after the postponement of the Olympics, and it's so frustrating that I don't even have the right to compete.”

16:52 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Tributes paid to lives lost on the way

The first few minutes of the opening ceremony has been distinctly different from other times. A much more sober tone, fitting in with the nearly empty stadium and the prevailing pandemic, is the order of the hour. The Japanese anthem rings out in the stadium. A speech commemmorating lives lost to the pandemic begins before a tribute to those who had to lose their lives during the Olympics. Starting with the Israeli lives lost during Munich 1972, a performance begins inside the stadium.

16:46 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Japan's national flag presented

Some of Japan's elite athletes and some famous performers from the country walk out with the Japanese flag. One of the people walking out with the flag is a Japanese healthcare professional, celebrating the role of this profession in current times. The Emperor, with the IOC chief by his side, makes his appearance on the sidelines.

16:44 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Performances

Dancers tied together with red ribbons perform an elaborate dance at the centre of the stadium, portraying the intricate workings of the human body. 

The main stage for the ceremony, designed by Yohei Taneda, represents the sun. It also features the Japanese national flag and Mouth Fuji. The set, which has a main stage and a connecting walkway has been inspired by traditional Japanese theatre stages.

16:38 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Show begins inside stadium

The fireworks go off at the Olympic Stadium. The show begins inside the stadium. A video showing athletes training at home during the coronavirus pandemic started the show, with pink fireworks bursting into the air after a countdown.

16:32 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Opening ceremony begins

In 1964, Tokyo became the first Asian city to host the Olympics. In 2021, they are hosting it again. The Emperor, whose grandfather did the honours last time, will be throwing the opening ceremony open as night falls in Tokyo.

The show begins with a multimedia presentation.

16:24 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Stage set at Olympic stadium

The stage is set for some pyrotechnics and world-class displays from all parts of the globe. The Olympic Stadium in Tokyo is all set to begin in just a few more minutes.

16:19 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Team India

How the Indian contingent looks on eve of walking out with the tricolour:

A ring of steel has been erected around the stadium, meaning the excited locals, who had been due to be a part of the ceremony until the decision to ban spectators from the Games was made earlier this month, can only watch on from behind the fence.

16:15 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Spectacles in the sky

The spectacles have begun in Tokyo! In the sky, for now. At the stadium, the athletes are spending the final few minutes before walking out into the world's spotlight in the Olympics ceremony.

16:07 (IST)23 Jul 2021
The journey of the torch

The Opening Ceremony will feature a lighting of the Olympic cauldron at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium. The Olympic cauldron is lit by a torch, but the torch’s flame isn’t simply produced by a lighter prior to the event. The Olympic flame travels on a months-long journey where it’s carried by thousands, during what’s called the Olympic torch relay, before reaching the Opening Ceremony.

The final torchbearer, who lights the Olympic cauldron during the Opening Ceremony, is typically a famous athlete, or athletes, from the host country. But it isn’t always someone who is well-known or even an Olympian for that matter. At the 2012 London Games, seven teenage athletes were nominated by legendary British Olympians to light the cauldron. 

The identity of the cauldron lighter is kept under wraps until the Opening Ceremony, so we will have to wait another 20 minutes or so to find out who gets the honour at the Tokyo Olympics.

16:01 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Emperor Naruhito to reprise grandfather's role

Japan's Emperor Naruhito will be ceremonially throwing the Olympics open, reprising his grandfather's role, even as organisers face a Covid testing kit shortfall. According to reports, around 100 of USA's athletes are unvaccinated at the Games. But the looming cloud of the Covid pandemic could be why this Olympics could be said to be a special one.

15:42 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Who will bring the torch home?

The stadium looks a bit empty now, but Olympic Stadium will be teeming with the world's best athletes in less than an hour. We also don't know yet how or with whom the torch will arrive at the opening ceremony - whispers say it could be Naomi Osaka.

15:00 (IST)23 Jul 2021
90 minutes to opening ceremony

At the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony, India will be 21st out of 205 contingents in the Parade of Nations. The United Arab Emirates will be among the first 10 entrants, while Australia and Austria will enter after Ukraine and Uruguay.

The teams enter the stadium in alphabetical order according to the language selected by the organising committee, generally the dominant language in the host city.

14:34 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Crowds outside Tokyo stadium

Though crowds are not allowed inside the National Stadium in Tokyo, fans have gathered around the venue.

14:22 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Scenes in Japan and India

Tokyo is ready. New Delhi is ready. Are you?

14:14 (IST)23 Jul 2021
India at the Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony of the biggest sporting event in the world will only see a handful of athletes along with six officials representing India. The Indian delegation will have 20 athletes - 8 boxers, 4 Table Tennis players (one of whom is having a whale of a time, as can be seen below), 4 sailors, and Bhavani Devi (fencing), Sajan Prakash (swimming), Pranati Nayak (gymnastics) and Manpreet Singh (hockey)

14:04 (IST)23 Jul 2021
India at the opening ceremony

Mary Kom is all set to represent India at the opening ceremony. Are you all set?

13:49 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Pravin-Deepika pairing confirmed

India decides to go ahead with Pravin Jadhav as Deepika Kumari's mixed team partner. They had the option of switching Jadhav for Atanu Das, who finished below him in the ranking round on Friday. Atanu-Deepika won World Cup gold in paris. Meanwhile, Jadhav-Deepika haven't partnered in a competition before.

13:37 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Explained: Why India will enter 21st at the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony

The teams enter the stadium in alphabetical order according to the language selected by the organising committee, generally the dominant language in the host city. The announcers first call out a country’s name in French and English — the official languages for the Games according to Rule 23 of the Olympic Charter — and then the chosen language. (READ MORE)

12:45 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Opening ceremony today

The identity of the final torchbearer is one of the Games' most closely held secrets yet speculation has swirled for months around well-known athletes including Naomi Osaka, the four time Grand Slam tennis champion, whose superstar status could also draw attention away from the string of gaffes.

Whoever carries the torch on Friday, the new stadium, built on the same site as the one used for the 1964 Games, will be nearly empty, with only around 950 people, mostly officials and journalists, watching in the stands.Yet the torchbearer's face will likely be seen by hundreds of millions of people watching around the world.

12:32 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Fashion sense: How different countries decide their outfits

The opening ceremony of the Olympics is usually an opportunity for countries to show off their athletes and culture. The uniforms worn on the occasion are the best way to portray national colours on a global platform. The Indian Express takes a look at some of the unique uniforms that different countries will sport at the Tokyo Games. (Read More)

12:32 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Eyes on Tokyo
12:04 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Lovlina gets 'bye', qualifies for pre-quarter

Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain takes one step ahead in Tokyo Olympics by qualifying for the pre-quarter which is scheduled to take place on July 27th. Lovlina's opponent in the pre-quarter of the women's Welterweight section is Germany's Nadeen Apage. 

Lovlina Borgohain, the boxer from Assam was qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in March 2020 when she won the Asia and Oceania Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament.

11:50 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Atanu-Deepika in mixed-event still a possibility

Pravin Jadhav top ranked but India can still take the call to field Atanu with Deepika per World Archery rules. We might still get a chance to see the real life partners team team up in their Olympic performance. Only seedings get locked which means the 9th ranking won't change. So pair to be declared.

11:44 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Round of 64 draws

Atanu Das will now face 30th rank Chinese Taipei's Y.C.Deng ,Pravin Jadhav to face 34th rank Russia's G.Bazarzhapov, Tarundeep Rai to face 28th rank Ukraine's O.Hunbin in their Round of 64 match.

11:36 (IST)23 Jul 2021
Pravin-Deepika to team up for mixed event

Olympics debutant Pravin Jadhav is the top Indian finisher in archery Men's Individual Ranking Round at the 31st position He will partner Deepika Kumari in the mixed team event. The combined score puts Indian men’s and mixed team ranking 9th. 

Pravin 656 (31st)
Atanu 653 (35th)
Tarundeep 652 (37th)

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All signs point to an utterly surreal and atomized Games, one that will divide Japan into two worlds during the month of Olympics and Paralympics competition. The International Olympic Committee added 18 new events to the Tokyo Games in a push toward gender equity. There are an equal number of women and men for every sport, excluding baseball and softball because of differing roster sizes.

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