The opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics, which was originally slated to happen in 2020, will be held at the National Stadium in central Tokyo.
The Olympics had been postponed from 2020 on account of the COVID pandemic.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on Thursday described the Olympics as the "most restricted sporting event ever held". Speaking to Japan's national broadcaster NHK, Bach said "The world is looking for a moment of hope. And this Games are maybe at this point in time, the only really worldwide positive message. We want to send this message of solidarity, peace and hope from Japan, from Tokyo, to the entire world."
The opening ceremony is being held a day after Tokyo recorded 1,979 new COVID cases, the highest figure in six months. Tokyo recorded 2,044 cases on January 15. "Japan has reported about 853,000 cases and 15,100 deaths since the pandemic began, most of them this year," Associated Press reported.
The Yoshihide Suga government has been panned for its determination to hold the Olympics by sections of the population in Japan. Despite the criticism, Suga had told NBC News, "Over 4 billion people across the world will be watching these Olympic Games... In that context, overcoming the hardship of the coronavirus and to be able to hold the Games, I think there is real value in that.”
"Viewers will be treated to an extravagant re-enactment of a traditional Japanese festival, featuring hundreds of performers taking part in a tightly choreographed and well-rehearsed display of national pride, organizers said. The traditional pomp and pageantry that accompany the lighting of the Olympic cauldron, symbolizing the start of the Games, will literally be a made-for-TV event as a result of the unusual circumstances of these most unusual games," NBC News reported.
As many as 33 sports will feature at the Tokyo Olympics, which is a record. More than 11,000 athletes from around 200 nations are participating.
The opening ceremony is scheduled to begin at 8pm local time (4.30pm IST) and can be viewed in India on Sony Sports Network, which holds exclusive broadcast rights for the event. Sony TEN 1 and Sony TEN 2 will offer English commentary, while Sony TEN 3 will have Hindi commentary.
The opening ceremony will also be streamed live on the SonyLiv app.
