Tokyo Olympics 2020 Opening Ceremony highlights: Naomi Osaka lights up Olympic cauldron, Games begin officially

The Main Stage for the opening ceremony was designed by Yohei Taneda. It represents the sun, which also features in the Japanese national flag, and Mount Fuji— two prominent Japanese symbols. The stage set, which consists of a main stage and a connecting walkway, has been inspired by traditional Japanese theatre stages, such as noh stages with hashigakari bridgeways and kabuki stages with hanamichi runways.

— Amith Kamath in Tokyo.

Curtain rises! 

The Olympic Cauldron has been lit! 🔥@naomiosaka does the honours as the curtain rises on #Tokyo2020. #OpeningCeremony | #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/6bYlwnMDfh

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 23, 2021

Olympic cauldron has been lit! 

Tennis star Naomi Osaka lights the cauldron which is built in the shape of a flower with its petals open.

1432 days. That’s how long the wait has been, from Rio 2016 to Tokyo 2020. In an unprecedented time, in an uncertain world, after a year of debate, deliberations, and protests, the Olympics are here.

Read more from Shantanu Srivastava here on what Olympics long wait has meant to athletes and everyone who is love with the Games.

The Olympics are officially open!

The Games of the 𝑿𝑿𝑿𝑰𝑰 Olympiad are officially open! #Tokyo2020 #StrongerTogether | #OpeningCeremony #UnitedByEmotion

— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) July 23, 2021

Bach thanks athletes for their commitment and enthusiasm!

What is true for the perseverance of the Japanese people is also true for you, my fellow Olympic athletes. 

You had to face great challenges on your Olympic journey. Like all of us, you were living with great uncertainty through the pandemic. 

You did not know when you could train again. You did not know whether you could see your coach tomorrow.

You did not know if your teammates would be with you for the next competition. You did not even know if this competition would take place at all.

You struggled, you persevered, you never gave up, and today you are making your Olympic dream come true. You are true Olympic athletes.

You inspired us, the IOC and the entire Olympic community. You inspired us to fight like you, and for you, to make this moment possible.

This is why, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all the National Olympic Committees, the International Federations, all our TOP partners and sponsors and our Rights-Holding Broadcasters for standing together with us.

This made all of us a true community – the Olympic community.

IOC President Thomas Bach:

Welcome to the Olympic Games, Tokyo 2020. Today is a moment of hope. Yes, it is very different than what we imagined. But let us cherish these moments. Finally, we are all here. This is a unifying power of sports. This is a message of solidarity, peace and resilience, this gives all of us hope for our further journey together. 

We can be here because of Japanese people. We like to express all our appreciation and respect. The organising comitee and Japanese authorites have done extra ordinary work. 

On behalf of all athletes, I want to express gratitude to Japanese people. It was a difficult journey, an unprecedented challenge. We thanks all unsung heroes, the nurses, the doctors and all people who conduct the Games amid the pandemic. 
Special thanks to all volunteers, you are the best ambassadors for Japan.

Over a thousand drones were used to make a globe in air before John Lenon’s Imagine was performed by various singers. 

Speechless... pic.twitter.com/oroxuk3l2R

— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) July 23, 2021

Manpreet Singh shares his feeling of becoming the flag bearer for India at the opening ceremony!

To be the flag bearer of your country at Olympic Games is an unquestionable honour - what an incredible feeling! #Tokyo2020 #HaiTayyar #Cheer4India pic.twitter.com/HYAFa4qkjb

— Manpreet Singh (@manpreetpawar07) July 23, 2021

Some lovely pictures shared by India’s first fencer at the Games Bhavani Devi!

❤ from Tokyo Olympics. #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/TgDGT708N2

— C A Bhavani Devi (@IamBhavaniDevi) July 23, 2021

Portugal athletes enter the stadium, jumping and bouncing, showing their enthusiasm despite no crowd inside the stadium. There are 92 athletes from Portugal taking part in the Tokyo Olympics and there is energy in abundance as shown during their parade. Watch out for them. 

🇵🇹 YASSS, nice spin, Portugal 😜#Tokyo2020 | #Olympics | #UnitedByEmotion | #StrongerTogether

— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) July 23, 2021

India’s first gymnast at the Olympics Dipa Karmakar wishes Indian team the best for the Games.

Nothing comes close to the feeling of representing your country at the Olympics.
Wishing #TeamIndia all the best for #Tokyo2020 #Cheer4India pic.twitter.com/jlSOZyNEHw

— Dipa Karmakar (@DipaKarmakar) July 23, 2021

The Chinese will be tough competitors at the Games as usual. Here they are at the opening ceremomy.

Welcome to #Tokyo2020, People's Republic of China 🇨🇳

In just over six months' time, the world will come together again for the @Beijing2022 Winter Olympic Games!#OpeningCeremony | #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/VDqHsUHDz9

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 23, 2021

Athletes of some contingents, after finishing their role in the athletes parade, are now sitting or lying in the middle of the stadium, presumably resting their tired legs or preserving them for competition days ahead. Just in front of them, though, without missing a beat, volunteers hired by the organisers are swaying. Even when taking a sip of water, they’ve not missed a beat of their choreography. Tireless!!

– Amit Kamath in Tokyo

Inside the stadium, the athletes’ parade continues but outside the anti-olympics protestors continue with their demonstrations as well.

Contrasting emotions outside and Inside the stadium in Tokyo.

Inside: Feeling of togetherness as athletes' parade continues at the #OpeningCeremony

Outside: Anti-Olympic protestors continue with their demonstration. #Tokyo2020 LIVE: https://t.co/TdsKN3rPO3 pic.twitter.com/B7JVclijwU

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) July 23, 2021

Host of the 2032 Olympics Australia at the parade!

What a journey to get here. So proud of this team.
Thank you Australia and Japan.#OpeningCeremony | #TokyoTogether @Tokyo2020 @GettyImages pic.twitter.com/iFYRwqGbu8

— AUS Olympic Team (@AUSOlympicTeam) July 23, 2021

Only 19 Indian athletes took part in the opening ceremony with tennis player Ankita Raina replacing the table tennis stars at the last minute. Six officials accompanied the athletes. A shortened list was sent to the Tokyo Organising Committee due to coronavirus restrictions. Also, those athletes who have their matches scheduled the next day usually decide to skip the opening ceremony. 

𝑰𝑵𝑫𝑰𝑨𝑨𝑨 𝑰𝑵𝑫𝑰𝑨! 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/FscLKoTvid

— Olympic Khel (@OlympicKhel) July 23, 2021

And here you go, full video of Indian contingent’s march during the opening ceremony. 

Video courtesy: DD Sports

Here they are 💪#TeamIndia at the #OpeningCeremony of #Tokyo2020 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/8K49eWliqF

— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) July 23, 2021

Only the second time for the Olympics Refugee Team. Watch out for them!

The Refugee Olympic Team enter the #Tokyo2020 #OpeningCeremony

For the second time in history, the #Olympics will welcome the @RefugeesOlympic Team #UnitedByEmotion | #StrongerTogether | #Olympics pic.twitter.com/UHcKU59NiU

— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) July 23, 2021

A proud moment for Manpreet Singh and MC Mary Kom as they lead  Team India’s contingent in the parade. 

Indians ready for the parade!

#TeamIndia is ready for the March past at the Opening Ceremony of #Tokyo2020 #Olympics #Cheer4India pic.twitter.com/asJKuvVqoy

— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) July 23, 2021

This might be a sombre yet hopeful occasion, but at least the Argentina contingent have come out bouncing!!

Calm down, Argentina 😏

Only kidding, we're just as excited as you are!#Tokyo2020 | #UnitedByEmotion | #StrongerTogether | #Olympics | @PrensaCOA

— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) July 23, 2021

Following Greece, which has traditionally always been the first team to march out in the athlete’s parade, is the Refugees Olympic Team. Rest of the teams are following alphabetically.

Number of marching participants: 5,700 (as of 20 July 2021）
Number of National Organising Committees (NOCs): 207

At the athletes’ parade, athletes are going to enter to the songs of famous Japanese video games. Placards displaying country names take the form of manga speech bubbles, and the placard bearers’ costumes feature designs based on the Screentone printing technique used in manga.

– Amit Kamath in Tokyo

A little story about the wooden rings which were just assembled in the Olympic Stadium:

During the first Olympics hosted by Tokyo, in 1964, 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 to areas where the habitat and climate were suited for growth. In a corner of the vast grounds of Hokkaido Katei Gakko—a children’s self-reliance support facility in Tomeoka, Engaru-cho—is a forest of these commemorative trees, known as the “Exhibition Forest”. Around 160 pines and spruces, which grew from seeds from Canada, Ireland, Northern Europe, and other regions, now stand tall on the school grounds.

When it was announced that the Olympics and Paralympics would take place in Tokyo in 2020, the organisers of the Tokyo 2020 Games 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 in Shinjuku-ward, Tokyo, (founded in September 2019 by the Japanese Olympic Committee), and to build furniture, raising awareness of the trees. Plans were made for the 2020 Olympics to plant seeds collected from these original commemorative trees as a way of continuing this green Olympic legacy for future generations.

The artists showcase a traditional dance form and then assemble wooden Olympic rings in the stadium. 

After a long wait, the Olympic Games are here

The time has finally arrived.

The athletes have overcome many obstacles to reach this moment. Even when things were hard, they never gave up on their dream.

Now, the @Tokyo2020 #OpeningCeremony begins...#StrongerTogether | #Olympics pic.twitter.com/GpmB5fLqk6

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 23, 2021

Alright then, the opening ceremony is underway in Tokyo. 

IT IS HAPPENING, FOLKS.

US First Lady had arrived the French President Emmanuel Macron have arrived at the Olympic stadium in Tokyo. The athletes too are making their way in. 

Watch this space for more updates from the ceremony.

The floor of Olympic Stadium is lit before the start of the opening ceremony at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. 

Image courtesy – AP

My heartiest congratulations to every athlete. 2020 is a special year. The year got many challenges for athletes. Covid changed a lot of things – how we prepare, how we perform and the crowd factor. It is going to be a different kind of atmosphere for athletes in Tokyo. It is going to be a good moment for India. I am confident that are going to do well and I am sure will win many medals this time.

– India’s Sports Minister Anurag Thakur via Sony Sports

A Tokyo Olympics spectator ban means superfan Kyoko Ishikawa will miss her first Summer Games since 1992 — so instead she’s turning her home into a flag-waving, whistle-blowing virtual stadium.

The 51-year-old businesswoman is determined not to let coronavirus spoil the fun as the Games land in her home city, despite organisers banning fans from most events.

She’ll put on her signature high-energy performance, cheering and chanting in a traditional Japanese outfit, as she watches on TV in the comfort of her home.

And she won’t be alone as she leaps around her living room, which is decorated with memorabilia picked up on her globe-trotting Olympic adventures.

She plans to connect with fans around the world on live conference calls and social media, convinced the Games can bring people together even during a pandemic.

“The Olympics is a special occasion, and in any special occasion in your life, you get people together,” she told AFP.

– Via AFP

Did You Know?

Women’s boxing was introduced for the first time at London 2012. Indian boxer MC Mary Kom won a bronze medal in the women’s flyweight category.

– Via Sony Sports

Tokyo Olympics 2020, delayed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, will see India send in 120 athletes for various competitions. This tally of 120 athletes is a record for India.

Check out the full list of Indian athletes taking part in Tokyo 2020.

And here check out the Indian contingent's schedule at Tokyo 2020.

The Olympic Games vibe

Blue Impulse aerobatic demonstration team in Olympic mode!#Tokyo2020 | #Olympics | #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/GjM4VtA7cA

— Olympic Khel (@OlympicKhel) July 23, 2021