Related above video: Jill Biden arrives in Tokyo for OlympicsWith a blaze of indigo and white fireworks lighting the night sky, the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony began FridayIt began with a single female athlete at the center of the stadium, kneeling. As she stood, the shadow behind her took the shape of a seedling, growing as she walked. A number of athletes were featured in a video that started with the moment Tokyo won the Olympic bid in 2013, then eventually to images of a world silenced by the pandemic.Then came the fireworks, a 20-second blast of light — as if to say these Olympics have finally emerged from dark times. Tributes were paid to those lost during the pandemic, and the Israeli delegation that was killed at the Munich Games in 1972. A moment of silence was offered inside the stadium.The U.S. Olympic team entered the opening ceremony for the Tokyo Games with first lady Jill Biden among those in the stadium to cheer the Americans’ arrival.Basketball’s Sue Bird and baseball’s Eddy Alvarez had the flagbearer duties for the U.S. It was a particularly emotional moment for Alvarez, a Cuban-American from Miami — given the current times in his home city.Protests and demonstrations have been common in Miami for several days, a show of support for Cubans who have taken to the streets in the communist nation to air grievances about poor economic conditions and other complaints.Most members of the U.S. basketball teams marched in the parade. The Americans were followed by only France and Japan in the 207-nation parade.Biden’s appearance at the opening ceremony is part of her first solo trip abroad as first lady. She is also expected to attend some events involving U.S. athletes before departing Japan.In the traditional parade of nations, Greece, per Olympic tradition, entered first. The host nation always enters last.The Refugee Olympic team goes second in the parade. The others were slotted by their order in the Japanese alphabet, so Iceland and Ireland preceded Azerbaijan, for example.There were 206 teams — 205 nations and the refugee team — that took part in the opening ceremony. Some nations had their flags carried by volunteers, while others had only one flagbearer. Most had two — one male and one female athlete chosen for the role.Some skipped it because of early competitions on Saturday or to avoid risk of exposure to COVID-19. And this parade differed from most others in the past because the nations are being spaced out — a nod to social distancing.Hundreds of volunteers were on the stadium floor as well to greet the athletes as they walked through. Many athletes waved, while others captured their entrance on their phone cameras.Moments before the parade, a wooden set of Olympic rings was displayed at the center of the stadium in a nod to the 1964 Tokyo Games. There, athletes from around the world were asked to bring seeds that could be planted and become trees.Wood from 160 pines and spruces, seeds that came from Canada, Ireland and Northern Europe, were used to build the set of Olympic rings displayed Friday.Athletes were also greeted by a few familiar notes during Friday’s ceremony: Those video game songs that get stuck in your head.An orchestral medley of songs from iconic Japanese video games served as the soundtrack for the parade of countries at the opening ceremony. The arrangement included songs from games developed by SEGA, Capcom and Square Enix. Video game composers are famous in Japan, and NieR, one of the series featured in the parade, has seen three of its soundtracks appear on Japanese music charts.The first song played Friday was “Roto’s Theme” from the Dragon Quest series. The parade included the main Final Fantasy theme and “Victory Fanfare,” the song that plays when a player wins an encounter. Both arrangements have been part of the series from its first to its fifteenth installments.Another well-known song that was featured was “Star Light Zone,” from the original Sonic the Hedgehog. In addition to appearing in the original game, a remixed version appeared in the DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games.
Related above video: Jill Biden arrives in Tokyo for Olympics
With a blaze of indigo and white fireworks lighting the night sky, the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony began Friday
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It began with a single female athlete at the center of the stadium, kneeling. As she stood, the shadow behind her took the shape of a seedling, growing as she walked. A number of athletes were featured in a video that started with the moment Tokyo won the Olympic bid in 2013, then eventually to images of a world silenced by the pandemic.
Then came the fireworks, a 20-second blast of light — as if to say these Olympics have finally emerged from dark times.
Tributes were paid to those lost during the pandemic, and the Israeli delegation that was killed at the Munich Games in 1972. A moment of silence was offered inside the stadium.
The U.S. Olympic team entered the opening ceremony for the Tokyo Games with first lady Jill Biden among those in the stadium to cheer the Americans’ arrival.
Basketball’s Sue Bird and baseball’s Eddy Alvarez had the flagbearer duties for the U.S. It was a particularly emotional moment for Alvarez, a Cuban-American from Miami — given the current times in his home city.
Protests and demonstrations have been common in Miami for several days, a show of support for Cubans who have taken to the streets in the communist nation to air grievances about poor economic conditions and other complaints.
Most members of the U.S. basketball teams marched in the parade. The Americans were followed by only France and Japan in the 207-nation parade.
Biden’s appearance at the opening ceremony is part of her first solo trip abroad as first lady. She is also expected to attend some events involving U.S. athletes before departing Japan.
In the traditional parade of nations, Greece, per Olympic tradition, entered first. The host nation always enters last.
The Refugee Olympic team goes second in the parade. The others were slotted by their order in the Japanese alphabet, so Iceland and Ireland preceded Azerbaijan, for example.
There were 206 teams — 205 nations and the refugee team — that took part in the opening ceremony. Some nations had their flags carried by volunteers, while others had only one flagbearer. Most had two — one male and one female athlete chosen for the role.
Some skipped it because of early competitions on Saturday or to avoid risk of exposure to COVID-19. And this parade differed from most others in the past because the nations are being spaced out — a nod to social distancing.
Hundreds of volunteers were on the stadium floor as well to greet the athletes as they walked through. Many athletes waved, while others captured their entrance on their phone cameras.
Moments before the parade, a wooden set of Olympic rings was displayed at the center of the stadium in a nod to the 1964 Tokyo Games. There, athletes from around the world were asked to bring seeds that could be planted and become trees.
Wood from 160 pines and spruces, seeds that came from Canada, Ireland and Northern Europe, were used to build the set of Olympic rings displayed Friday.
Athletes were also greeted by a few familiar notes during Friday’s ceremony: Those video game songs that get stuck in your head.
An orchestral medley of songs from iconic Japanese video games served as the soundtrack for the parade of countries at the opening ceremony. The arrangement included songs from games developed by SEGA, Capcom and Square Enix.
Video game composers are famous in Japan, and NieR, one of the series featured in the parade, has seen three of its soundtracks appear on Japanese music charts.
The first song played Friday was “Roto’s Theme” from the Dragon Quest series.
The parade included the main Final Fantasy theme and “Victory Fanfare,” the song that plays when a player wins an encounter. Both arrangements have been part of the series from its first to its fifteenth installments.
Another well-known song that was featured was “Star Light Zone,” from the original Sonic the Hedgehog. In addition to appearing in the original game, a remixed version appeared in the DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games.
