
Drones, Fireworks and A Stirring Performance of John Lennon’s Imagine, Here Are Your Opening Ceremony Highlights For The 2020 Tokyo Olympics
The wait is over. Japan gave a dazzling display of the world’s resilience at the XXXII Olympiad games with stunning displays of the human spirit post pandemic…
1824 drones, 206 countries and one new Olympic motto: “Faster, higher, stronger and together.”
“The wait is over,” announced Seiko Hashimoto, the president of Tokyo 2020 at the start of yesterday’s Olympic opening ceremony. With a year’s postponement, the 2020 games are underway despite the lack of spectators. Following the rousing speech, His Majesty the Emperor Naruhito officially declared the start of the games. A dazzling display of dancers, fireworks and a beautiful performance of Japan’s national anthem by the signer Misia ensued. A moment was then taken to remember loved ones lost by the virus, reminding us this was no small feat to have the games take place after such an uncertain year.
A glittering eruption of fireworks illuminated the sky, signifying the beginning of the great parade of countries into the stadium. As per with custom, Greece was the first nation introduced, paying homage to where the ancient games first originated. The International Olympic Committee Refugee Team followed, led by swimmer Yusra Mardini and marathon runner Tachlowini Gabriyesos, “sending a strong message of inclusion, and showing the world the strength of the human spirit,” stated the IOC earlier this summer. The march into the stadium was sountracked with the familiar game tune melodies of Sonic the Hedgehog and Dragon Quest–two beloved video games from Japan.
Soon after, the announcement of the new Olympic motto “Faster, higher, stronger and together,” was ignited with a mesmerizing drone performance. Nearly 2000 flying bots formed the Tokyo games insignia before floating into formation of the globe–each continent illuminated. A universal light display that led to a stirring performance of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Imagine” sung by John Legend and Keith Urban.
The torch was then symbolically lit by Japan’s reigning US and Australian Open champion, Naomi Osaka. The tennis star recently made headlines when she pulled out of the French Open to take time for her mental health, a move that was universally supported despite the initial flack she received by the tennis organization for standing up for herself.
The health and wellness of all the participating athletes weigh heavily in our minds for this year’s games. A final firework show set everyone’s faces aglow, harkening back to John Lennon’s touching ballad, Imagine — reminding us we’re all in this together.
For more information on how to tune in, visit Olympics.com to view the 2020 Tokyo Olympic gaming schedule.
Images courtesy of Instagram / @Olympics