Tokyo (AFP)

They are not all Olympic champions but they are also writing the history of the Tokyo Olympics.

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Story of the day

"Yes, it is very different from what we all imagined."

In a few words, as a preamble to his speech, IOC President Thomas Bach summed up the general feeling at the opening of these Games of the XXXII Olympiad.

Without an audience for the ceremony, almost behind closed doors throughout the sports fortnight, these Games will be those of the pandemic.

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Face (s) of the day

That of the sportsmen, finally reunited in Japan and launched in this improbable adventure.

They are 11,090, coming from all over the world (206 delegations) - and they will now compete for the 339 titles at stake to make people forget for a while the health context linked to Covid-19.

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Unusual of the day

For two Japanese fans traveling around the world for all the Olympics, attending those in Tokyo had to be the consecration. Deprived of a stadium, they found other ways to celebrate them. Kyoko Ishikawa, 51, has attended every Summer Games since those in Barcelona in 1992. Far from being taken down, she has found another way to encourage sportsmen, by singing and dancing in front of her television, in his living room decorated with Olympic objects gleaned from around the world. Kazunori Takishima, 45, also believes in the unifying power of the Games. This wealthy businessman had bought 197 tickets for the Tokyo Games, spending the equivalent of more than 30,000 euros, and hoped to benefit his family, friends and employees. For the opening ceremony, he went to the Olympic Stadium.

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Perf of the day

It is the work of the South Korean An San, author on Friday of a new Olympic record during the archery qualifications, with 680 points (in 72 arrows).

The previous record was set in 1996, during the Atlanta Games, with 673 pts, by the Ukrainian Lina Herasymenko.

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Photo of the day

A thousand privileged people were able to attend Friday the conflagration of the cauldron by Naomi Osaka, thanks to the flame lit on March 12, 2020 in Olympia, Greece, and which has since toured the world, in relay, to join the Olympic Stadium.

It will shine until August 8 and the close of the Games.

© 2021 AFP