<Anchor> The
opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympic Games, which begins tomorrow (23rd), seems to have fewer guests and no expression of 'congratulations'. It is known that the phrase "congratulations" will be omitted from the Emperor's opening declaration, and the participation rate of heads of countries is also low. Also, for the first time in Olympic history, most games will be played without fans.
By Park Chan-beom.
<Reporter> The
Tokyo Olympic Games, which have been delayed by one year, opened the opening ceremony at Fukushima Stadium, which had a gloomy atmosphere, where only some officials and reporters entered the event.
[I'm from Fukushima and I'm a pitcher. I am a middle school student.] After the
nuclear accident, there was no one to applaud except for the players of both teams even when the Fukushima middle school students gave the first pitch and first pitch in prayer for revival after the nuclear accident
.
Overall it was a quiet atmosphere.
While hugging and high-fives were banned for quarantine, players tried to make slight fists after hitting a home run, but there were also players who sometimes held hands or hugged.
[Ueno Yukiko/Japanese Softball Player: It has a meaning as an opening ceremony, and I am proud of the Japanese team that it started well… .] The
atmosphere was no different at the women's soccer field, which was opened without spectators.
Only the voices of the players echoed in the empty stadium.
Tokyo Stadium, where the United States and Sweden matches were held, can hold up to 50,000 spectators, but as it was played without fans, only a few reporters filled the stands.
At the Tokyo Olympics, 97% of all matches will be played without spectators.
Two matches of women's soccer were held in Miyagi, 400 km from Tokyo, where spectators were allowed up to 10,000, but the atmosphere was still gloomy with a small number of spectators sitting sparsely.