Tokyo 2020 Opening Ceremony

Amid the pandemic and the year delay, the Tokyo 2020 Opening Ceremony finally arrived and began with a montage starting at 2013, when the city was awarded the 2020 games to the sadness of last year's cancellation and how things progressed.  

A countdown led to a mini fireworks display to mark the '0' and the in-stadium stories began with a quartet of athletes/keyworkers showing 'The Light within Athletes'. The focus of the story being Arisa Tsubabta, a nurse and potential Olympic Boxer who sadly missed out due to qualifiers being cancelled due to the pandemic and places awarded via world rankings. The lights moved across the changing seasons and emotions of the last year as more performers entered the floor stage. 

Next up was the display of the Japanese flag as IOC President Thomas Bach and Empower of Japan Naruhito were introduced to the crowd of just 1000 inside the Olympic Stadium. After the raising of the flag, an In Memoriam for those lost with a moment of silence followed. 

The performing continued with 'The Rhythm of Tradition' opening with the wood-working scene. An interesting link next as wooden Olympic rings were carried into the arena made from the seeds of trees planted by athletes back in the 1964 Tokyo games. 

The performances ended with the rings being alighted by fireworks before the Parade of Athletes began with 206 countries entering the arena with the backdrop of video game music including the classic of Dragon Quest and Sonic The Hedgehog.

Greece entered first as is the tradition as games creators followed by a moment of history with the Refugee Olympic Team, their second inclusion after a Rio 2016 debut. Team GB were led into the arena by flagbearers Hannah Mills (Sailing) and Mo Sbihi (Rowing).

As the Parade of Athletes came to an end, the message Faster, Higher, Stronger, Together was displayed on the floor stage with a fireworks accompaniment followed by the Olympic Oath. A rhythmic dancing performance followed with the forming of the Tokyo 2020 logo and the traditional speeches by the dignitaries. 

The Olympic flag was then carried into the arena and raised alongside the flag of Japan and accompanied by an orchestral chorus.

Next up, was the traditional releasing of the Doves, this time in paper flight form and an amazing hark back to the 1964 games with the use of pictograms as shown adjacent with each one superbly demonstrated by acrobats and clever filming. 

The ceremony entered the final stages with the relay of the Olympic Flame which was finally passed to Tennis star Naomi Osaka who ascended the steps to light the cauldron and officially end the ceremony to begin what will surely be a very memorable Olympic Games.