Xtra Time Web Desk: The rescheduled Tokyo Olympics finally began on Friday with a grand opening ceremony at the National Stadium in Tokyo amid the shadow of Covid-19 pandemic. It was an unusual opening ceremony with no spectators at all. Mask-wearing athletes paraded into the opening ceremony in a nearly empty stadium. Emperor Naruhito declared the games of the 32nd Olympiad open along with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.
The opening ceremony kicked off with fireworks at the Olympic stadium. A video showing athletes training at home during the coronavirus pandemic started the show, with pink fireworks bursting into the air after a countdown.
Indian contingent was led by men’s hockey team captain Manpreet Singh and six time world champion boxer Mary Kom. India was at No 21 during the march past. Manpreet Singh and Mary Kom carried the tri-colour as the rest of the contingent followed. A team of 21 members (16 athletes and 5 officials) participated in the opening ceremony.
Earlier before the opening ceremony, the Japanese air force’s Blue Impulse aerobatics team drew Olympic rings over the National Stadium, the 68,000-capacity main venue of the games. The torch relay concluded its journey through the Japanese capital, having spent most of the 15-day final leg of its nationwide tour off roads and away from the public due to the pandemic.