Naomi lit the Olympic flame at the Olympic Stadium a year after the scheduled date.
At first more sober than usual, the opening ceremony was released at the end despite the closed session.
Eighty French athletes were able to parade behind Clarisse Agbegnenou and Samir Aït-Saïd, the two flag bearers of the France team.
From our special correspondent in Tokyo,
Five years have passed since Shinzo Abe did the mariole dressed as Mario at the closing ceremony of the Rio Games to take over the Olympic torch.
The Japanese Prime Minister has been sent home in the meantime, and he was to congratulate himself on this Friday evening in front of his TV.
Traditionally festive, the opening ceremony of the pandemic Olympics was almost hidden to take place, even if the parade of the 206 countries represented brought back a little innocence, like the technological animations at the end.
But to see these 6,000 athletes, however happy as kids, greet stands as empty as they are silent - 900 guests and a little more than 3,000 accredited on a stadium of 68,000 seats -, what sadness.
We summarize what we saw live from the Olympic stadium.
A hostile demonstration in front of the stadium
We had fun watching passers-by on our long bus ride from the media center to the Yoyogi district, where the old Olympic stadium has been renovated.
Results ?
A lot of indifference, an arm of honor, a few cuckoos, and a little kid too happy to see us with his flag for the 2020 Olympics. It was a little surprise, therefore, to see several hundred people gathered in front of the gates, for express their dissatisfaction with hosting these Olympics in a state of health emergency.
A clearly audible hubbub once inside during the rare musical downtime.
Here's the protest just outside Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, which is easily audible inside during quiet moments pic.twitter.com/AUQQrTDjcF
- Jonathan Ellis (@jonathanellis) July 23, 2021
Music precisely
If we admit without problem a total bankruptcy of knowledge about Japanese manga / video game culture, it would seem that the soundtrack of the ceremony particularly pleased fans, who distinguished a large number of references to their favorite titles:
Final Fantasy
,
Kingdom Hearts
,
Monster Hunter
,
Sonic
… Like what to fire the main composer and the director of the ceremony two hours before the gong did not have too bad consequences, although the sentimentality
Imagines
for the 25 thousandth time, well, should not be too watching.
Just ... WOW # OpeningCeremony # Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/31hcmr8Ma5
- AW (@AthleticsWeekly) July 23, 2021
The good idea
Difficult to present an objective vision of a show of almost four hours, but let's say that in the increase in pressure of the ceremony, at first very sober and then more inventive at the end, we particularly appreciated the idea of Times Up Olympic version, with two extras responsible for making each of the 50 Olympic sports "guess" in a minimum of time.
Enough to wake up souls after Thomas Bach's soporific speech.
The earth drawn in the sky over Tokyo by 1,800 drones was also worth a visit, of course.
If @blasub had been in charge of this "board" I'm not sure it would have been any different.
pic.twitter.com/aPJrmfdIT6
- Grégory Beaud (@GregBeaud) July 23, 2021
The fashion police point
The interminable parade of athletes, which we followed with one eye, once again allowed us to appreciate the diversity of outfits imagined by the different federations.
If we always have a soft spot for the nations that take responsibility for their roots, especially in Africa, it goes without saying that we are more here to speak ill.
So, how to ignore the light green pigeon poo of the German delegation, or this filthy Camembert Trivial Pursuit on the stomach imagined by Emporio Armani for the Italian delegation?
Mention also to the Desigual pink outfit from Belgium.
Which ?
How? 'Or' What ?
Why ?
The culprit deserves exemplary punishment.
Pita and its jojoba oil problem
The unforgettable Pita Taufatofua, flag bearer of Tonga who had melted the convention walls in Rio, did not gain fat during the Olympiad.
And after dressing a little warmer for the 2018 Winter Games, for which he had achieved the feat of qualifying in cross-country skiing, Pita got his hands on his pot of Jojoba oil.
Too bad to have been deprived of the hysterical cries of the Japanese public upon entering, it would have been worth its weight in peanuts.
He's here!
👀 Pita Taufatofua # Tokyo2020 |
#UnitedByEmotion |
#StrongerTogether |
#Olympics pic.twitter.com/g3tmOcWikw
- TOKYO 2020 Live Updates (@ Tokyo2020LiveEN) July 23, 2021
And our Blues in all this?
We waited a moment before seeing our two flag-bearers Clarisse Agbegnenou and Samir Aït-Saïd, since the nation which hosts the following Olympics only parades in the penultimate position, just before the host country (and behind the States United, in this case).
Let us underline the beautiful mobilization of our athletes, who marched to more than 80 despite the context - part of the delegation has not yet been authorized to come to Japan - and for some of the competitions which start early Saturday morning.
The gymnast Aït-Saïd is one of them, but that did not prevent him from slamming a somersault of the most beautiful effect while passing.
🇫🇷 THEY ARE THERE!
France makes its debut at the #Olympic Games led by @ Gnougnou25 and @ samiraitsaid4!
Follow the ceremony ▶ https://t.co/3ww1CNmXqf pic.twitter.com/JhCQfpY8u3
- France tv sport (@francetvsport) July 23, 2021
Bonus track: The Olympic flame lit by Naomi Osaka
His name was cited among the favorites in the local press, and the delay the day after his first round in tennis smelled like the big clue that stains.
The world number 1, who had left mentally exhausted at Roland Garros to the point of withdrawing from the tournament on the second day, has found a country that loves her and a prestigious role: it is very rare that the lucky guy who turns on the flame last is an active athlete.
Sport
Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games: Rifle, judo, fencing, our bets on the first French medal of the competition
Sport
Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games LIVE: France finally parades and puts on a show, almost all the nations have passed
Sport
Olympic Games
Japan
Tokyo Olympics 2021