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Unprecedented Olympics Start with Socially-distanced Opening Ceremony

After a one-year pandemic delay, the Tokyo Olympics formally got under way Friday with an opening ceremony that was scaled back but still celebratory.

The event is being held amid tens of thousands of empty seats in Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium, with only about 900 dignitaries and other officials attending because of COVID-19 precautions.

The opening ceremony, themed “United by Emotion,” may be one of the most normal elements of what figures to be the most unusual Olympic Games ever.

he Tokyo 2020 Olympics Opening Ceremony - Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - July 23, 2021. Flagbearers Musa Bwogi and Kirabo Namutebi of Uganda lead their contingent in the athletes parade during the opening ceremony REUTERS/Phil Noble
5 he Tokyo 2020 Olympics Opening Ceremony - Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - July 23, 2021. Flagbearers Musa Bwogi and Kirabo Namutebi of Uganda lead their contingent in the athletes parade during the opening ceremony REUTERS/Phil Noble
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics Opening Ceremony - Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - July 23, 2021. Flag bearer Ghirmai Efrem of Eritrea leads his contingent during the athletes' parade at the opening ceremony REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
6 The Tokyo 2020 Olympics Opening Ceremony - Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - July 23, 2021. Flag bearer Ghirmai Efrem of Eritrea leads his contingent during the athletes' parade at the opening ceremony REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics Opening Ceremony - Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - July 23, 2021. Athletes from Kenya are seen during the opening ceremony REUTERS/Marko Djurica
7 The Tokyo 2020 Olympics Opening Ceremony - Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - July 23, 2021. Athletes from Kenya are seen during the opening ceremony REUTERS/Marko Djurica
he Tokyo 2020 Olympics Opening Ceremony - Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - July 23, 2021. Natalia Santos of Angola leads their contingent in the athletes parade during the opening ceremony REUTERS/Mike Blake
8 he Tokyo 2020 Olympics Opening Ceremony - Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - July 23, 2021. Natalia Santos of Angola leads their contingent in the athletes parade during the opening ceremony REUTERS/Mike Blake

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