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The magnificent Tokyo Olympic Stadium
By Anthony Maliki
At exactly 8pm local time in Japan, today, July 23, 2021, the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games will officially get under way after a year of delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will last till August 8, 2021.
The opening ceremony will take place at the $1.4billion stadium located at Kasumigaoka-machi in Shinjuku area of Tokyo. The 68, 000 capacity edifice was designed by Kengo Kuma. However, the stadium capacity can be expanded to 80, 000 capacity with temporary seats.
Already, some team events like Softball and Football have started.
Though with restricted and sometimes without spectators, the games is expected to be formally opened by Emperor Naruhito.
The vast majority of the artistic spectacle will be pre-recorded, with live segments performed with a small VIP audience, performers will also adhere to social distancing.
Expectedly, the theme of the Olympic Ceremonies is “Moving Forward” referencing the global COVID-19 pandemic, with the opening ceremony slogan being “United by Emotion” which organisers intend to “reaffirm the role of sport and the value of the Olympic Games.”
Tokyo is hosting the Games for the second time, the first being in 1964.
