Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony

The opening ceremony of the Games of the XXXII Olympiad took place in the capital of Japan on 23 July, at the National Olympic Stadium, built on the site of the previous sports complex built for the 1964 Games.

The entire sports world waited for this event for a long five years. Few could have imagined back in August 2016 at the famous Maracanã arena in Rio de Janeiro, that the next Games would happen in five years. The IOC and the organizing committee decided to postpone the 2020 Olympics for a year. During this time, a lot was written and said about the upcoming sports event. Hence a special interest in the start of the Games. What will be the results of these long-awaited Games? We will find out in August, but for now let’s enjoy a spectacular opening ceremony, which was held with empty stands.

Journalists and guests of honor were allowed to attend the show. It began with a video by a Japanese director and a composer filming how athletes prepared for these Games amidst the pandemic. A colorful firework was a show in itself.

The theme of the opening ceremony was ‘moving forward’. It highlighted the global crisis in healthcare that forced the delay of the Tokyo Games, as well as the recovery of Japan after the most devastating earthquake in its history that occurred in 2011.

The national anthem of Japan was performed on the arena and a minute of silence to commemorate all the victims of the coronavirus pandemic was observed. At this time, a group of more than 1,000 people gathered outside the stadium to protest against the Olympics.

The Parade of Nations featured representatives of 205 delegations. Teams came out according to the Japanese alphabet. Belarus was represented by more than 20 participants, including officials, athletes and coaches.

Athletes Hanna Marusava and Mikita Tsmykh carried the flag of Team Belarus at the Olympic Stadium.

Belarusian athletes will be arriving five days prior to the start of their competitions, in accordance with the rules to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The opening ceremony also included the Olympic oath of athletes, coaches and judges. In his speech, IOC President Thomas Bach thanked all those involved in the organization of the Games and called for solidarity and mutual respect.

Emperor Naruhito of Japan declared the Games of the XXXII Olympiad open. Tennis star Naomi Osaka lit the Olympic cauldron.

According to the organizers, the opening ceremony brought together more than 6,000 athletes, coaches, officials, as well as over 900 journalists.

Japan is hosting the Olympic Games for the fourth time. In 1964, it played host to its first Summer Olympic Games. As for the Winter Olympic Games, Sapporo hosted them in 1972 and Nagano in 1998.

Japan was officially announced the host of the 2020 Olympic Games at the 125^th IOC session in Buenos Aires in 2013, winning the Olympic bid over Madrid and Istanbul.

Miraitowa is the mascot of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (Mascot is one of Olympic symbols, mandatory since 1968.) Miraitowa’s name is a combination of the Japanese words ‘future’ (mirai) and ‘eternity’ (towa). The name is meant to promote a future full of eternal hope.

The Games of the XXXII Olympiad were originally scheduled for 24 July – 9 August 2020. However, due to the pandemic, they were moved to 2021 and are running from 23 July to 8 August.

Team Belarus includes 108 athletes in 20 sports.

For more information, please contact Belarusian NOC press secretary Victoria Mennanova (+375291708753 for messages in Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram).