Tokyo Olympics Begin with Very Different Opening Ceremony

Fireworks illuminate over the National Stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 23, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

  

 After a one-year delay, the Tokyo Olympics officially began Friday. The Games began with the opening ceremony, which looked different than usual because of COVID-19 restrictions. Fewer than 1,000 people were permitted to attend the ceremony, which included the traditional flame lighting, parade of competitors and musical performances. The opening also included fireworks in blue and white, the colors of the official Tokyo 2020 emblem. Olympic organizers sent the traditional message of peace as music stars sang John Lennon and Yoko Ono's famous song Imagine. As the song played, more than 1,800 drones formed the shape of the Olympic sign in the sky before changing into the shape of the world.

Cecilia Carranza Saroli and Santiago Raul Lange, of Argentina, right, carry their country's flag during the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 23, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

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Japanese Emperor Naruhito and International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach -- both wearing face masks -- cheered on the competitors.

In his opening speech, Bach called the day "a moment of hope.” “Yes, it is very different from what all of us imagined. But finally we are all here together," Bach added. "You struggled. You persevered. You never gave up. Today you are making your Olympic dreams come true."

Athletes are introduced during the opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 23, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Seiko Hashimoto, President of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee, recognized the efforts of health workers in her comments. "With the world in a tough situation because of the coronavirus pandemic, I would like to pay my respect and express my gratitude to medical workers and all those who are working hard every day to overcome the difficulties," she said.

Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka received the Olympic flame from a torch walk through the ceremony area. She lit the Olympic cauldron, officially opening the Games.

Naomi Osaka stands beside the Olympic flame after lighting it during the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 23, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

A small number of athletes marched in the parade because of restrictions aimed at preventing virus infections.

Not all the athletes took pandemic measures seriously. Team members from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Pakistan paraded without masks even as most other athletes at the ceremony observed the restriction.

There has been widespread public opposition to holding the Olympics in Japan. Many health experts also urged officials to cancel the Games as Japan struggled in recent months to contain the spread of COVID-19. On Friday, hundreds of people protested outside the ceremony, shouting “Stop the Olympics.”

Earlier this week, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told IOC members that his country was committed to holding a safe and successful Games. He said the government had also taken measures necessary to protect “the health and security of the Japanese public.”

Actors perform during the opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 23, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Only one-third of the Japanese public has had even one injection of COVID-19 vaccine. The low vaccination rates added to fears that the Games could become a super-spreader event. More than 100 people involved with the Olympics have already tested positive for the virus.

A moment of silence was held "for all those family and friends we have lost," especially to COVID-19.

The Olympic oath, repeated by the athletes at the end of the parade, was changed for the Tokyo Games. This year, the athletes promised their commitment to inclusion, equality, and non-discrimination for the first time in Olympics history.

I’m Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press, Reuters and VOA News reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

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Words in This Story

emblem – n. a picture, object of symbol used to represent a person, group or idea

drone – n. a small, unmanned plane

mask – n. a covering for the face or part of the face: especially related to preventing the spread of disease

persevere – v. to continue to try to do something even though it is difficult

tough – adj. difficult

torch – n.​ a long stick with material that burns at the top

cauldron – n. a container that holds the traditional Olympic flame​

athlete – n. someone who competes in sports with others

gratitude – n. the feeling or quality of being thankful

positive – adj. in a medical test, positive means the person being tested has a disease or condition