As China and Ecuador celebrated their wins, there was disappointment for Japan as gymnastics star Kohei Uchimura crashed out of the horizontal bar competition.
Just a few hundred officials and dignitaries were in the stands of the 68,000-seat venue to watch the spectacle which included Japan Emperor Naruhito declaring the Games open.
Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine says “we worked a lot to reach the Olympics... but the Palestinian cause is bigger than all of this.”
Planned initially for summer 2020, the Tokyo Olympics were held back by closed borders, and now a late resurgence in the virus means they will be played without any live spectators, either from Japan or abroad, according to an IOC ruling.
The league’s top two ranked nations have cited “player welfare and safety” during the coronavirus pandemic as compelling reasons to delay the event until next year.
Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto says that Kentaro Kobayashi has been fired as the Summer Games finally get underway.
As Greeks celebrate MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in unison with Milwaukee Bucks fans after he secured an NBA title victory, many are not aware of the star's Nigerian roots.
It will be the third time Australia hosts the games, after Sydney 2000 Olympics and Melbourne 1956.
Tokyo 2020 Olympics kicks off in empty venues to minimise health risks as WHO chief says Games should go ahead to demonstrate to the world what can be achieved with the right plan and measures.
Clothing has long been an issue in beach sports, with some women players finding bikinis degrading or impractical.
Organisers insist games can go ahead with “proper measures” but a prominent public health expert warns “bubble system is kind of broken” and infections can spread to the local community.
The build-up to Friday's opening ceremony has been exceptionally rocky, with Tokyo still under a state of emergency and public opinion consistently against the Games, which will be held largely without spectators.
Subscribe to our Youtube channel for all latest in-depth, on the ground reporting from around the world.
Copyright © 2021 TRT World.
Like
Follow