Tokyo 2020 Opening Ceremony Highlights: Naomi Osaka lights Olympic cauldron as Games open

Tokyo Olympics 2020 Opening Ceremony Highlights: Manpreet Singh and Mary Kom led India's contingent out during a colourful opening ceremony in Tokyo. After the nations parade, Naomi Osaka brought the ceremony to a close by lighting up the Olympic Cauldron.

Tokyo Olympics 2020 Opening Ceremony Highlights- Welcome to the 32nd Olympic Games (AFP)

Tokyo Olympics 2020 Opening Ceremony Highlights: Manpreet Singh and Mary Kom led India's contingent out during a colourful opening ceremony in Tokyo. The nations parade was concluded by country no. 206, Japan. Next, the Olympic Oath was followed by speeches from Seiko Hashimoto, the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee president, and the IOC President Thomas Bach. Eventually, the Olympic flag was hoisted and the Olympic torch relay was used to light up the Olympic Cauldron by Naomi Osaka.

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• 23 Jul 2021, 08:28:21 PM IST

  That's it! The 32nd Games have begun!

  That's all we have from the Tokyo 2020 Opening Ceremony! It all started with dance and flair, moved on to the nations parade and ended with Japanese tennis sensation Noami Osaka lighting up the Olympic Cauldron!

  
  

  Thank you so much for joining us on this coverage. We will be back with live coverage of day 2 of the Olympics. See you in the morning. Until then, goodnight! CIAO!

• 23 Jul 2021, 08:20:11 PM IST

  WE HAVE FIREWORKS NOW

  The various colours and hues of yellow, the colour of the sunflower, light up the stadium.

  
  

  OFFICIALLY! THE TOKYO 2020 GAMES HAVE BEGUN

• 23 Jul 2021, 08:18:47 PM IST

  OLYMPIC CAULDRO

  One step at a time, the world recovers. Osaka goes up the steps, she turns around to look at everyone and then lights the Cauldron.

  
  

  THE OLYMPIC CAULDRON HAS BEEN LIT!

  GOOSEBUMPS!

• 23 Jul 2021, 08:16:41 PM IST

  NAOMI OSAKA

  Olympic flame now passed on to students, who hold aloft the torch one by one before running up and passing it to Naomi Osaka.

• 23 Jul 2021, 08:12:29 PM IST

  Time to light the Olympic cauldron

  Time to light the Olympic cauldron. The flame is passed to a Doctor and nurse.

  It is now being passed to Paralympic athlete TSUCHIDA Wakako.

• 23 Jul 2021, 08:09:27 PM IST

  THE OLYMPIC FLAME ENTERS THE STADIUM

  THE OLYMPIC FLAME ENTERS THE STADIUM.

  It is passed by Judo Olympic champion and Olympic champion in wrestling NOMURA Tadahiro and YOSHIDA Saori, respectively.

  
  

  The Olympic flame is passed on to the former Baseball players NAGASHIMA Shigeo, OH Sadaharu, and MATSUI Hideki.

• 23 Jul 2021, 08:08:41 PM IST

  NEXT UP: THE OLYMPIC FLAME

  We are first taken through a montage of Olympic Torch relays from the past editions and from around the world. We are in the final lap of this opening ceremony

• 23 Jul 2021, 08:04:06 PM IST

  Next up: A kabuki performance.

  Next up: A kabuki performance Ebizo Ichikawa and a piano masterclass from Grammy winner HIROMI.

• 23 Jul 2021, 08:02:57 PM IST

  A quick tour through all the venues

  We now have a video skit, featuring ARAKAWA Shizuka – Torino 2006 figure skating champion.

  We're being taken around the venues and landmarks in Tokyo to say: "Tokyo is ready".

• 23 Jul 2021, 07:57:14 PM IST

  THIS IS SO INTERESTING

  We currently have a Japanese silent comedy pantomime duo, MASA and hitoshi, taking us through all 50 sports pictograms being used for the Games. HOW GOOD!

• 23 Jul 2021, 07:53:43 PM IST

  And the Doves go flying!

  The symbolic release of the Doves to Acknowledge the peaceful intent of the Games.

• 23 Jul 2021, 07:50:48 PM IST

  Time for the Olympic National Anthem

  The Olympic flag is being hosted while the Olympic anthem is being played.

  The Olympic flag is being hosted next to the Japanese national flag.

• 23 Jul 2021, 07:48:09 PM IST

  Olympic flag brought on, passed on to essential workers of Tokyo

  The Olympic flag is brought on to the field of play.

  
  

  The Olympic Flag is now making its entrance into the stadium.

  The flagbearers are:

  Asia: MOMOTA Kento, JPN, badminton

  Oceania: Elena Galiabovitch, AUS, shooting

  IOC Refugee Olympic Team: Cyrille Tchatchet II, EOR, weightlifting

  Americas: Paula Pareto, ARG, judo

  Africa: Mehdi Essadiq, MAR, triathlon

  Europa: Paola Ogechi Egonu, ITA, volleyball

  
  

  They hand the flag off to essential and front-line workers from Tokyo who have worked hard to fight the pandemic.

  
  

  It is being raised to the Olympic Anthem, sung by a choir made up of students from Tokyo and Fukushima.

• 23 Jul 2021, 07:44:39 PM IST

  Emperor declares the Games open

  His Majesty the Emperor Naruhito declares the 32nd Olympic Games Open.

  
  

  "I declare open the Games of Tokyo, celebrating the XXXII Olympiad of the modern era."

  And with that, fireworks.

• 23 Jul 2021, 07:43:42 PM IST

  The new Olympic Motto

• 23 Jul 2021, 07:40:30 PM IST

  Bach welcomes the IOC refugee team

  Bach welcomes the IOC refugee team, who are taking part in the Games for the second time.

  He welcomes them with open arms and offers them a peaceful home

• 23 Jul 2021, 07:39:19 PM IST

  "The World is one"

  Drones make the Olympics symbol followed by the Globe.

• 23 Jul 2021, 07:31:24 PM IST

  Next up, we have Thomas Bach

  Next up, Thomas Bach walks up to address the dignitaries and the athletes.

  
  

  "Today is a moment of hope.

  "Let us cherish this moment, because finally we are here, all together. Athletes from 205 National Olympic Committees and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, living under one roof together in the Olympic Village.

  "This is the unifying power of sport.

  "We can only be all together here because of you, our gracious hosts – the Japanese people, to whom we would like to express all our appreciation and support.

• 23 Jul 2021, 07:30:42 PM IST

  Message of Unity

  Olympic legend Cathy Freeman with a message of unity

• 23 Jul 2021, 07:23:52 PM IST

  IMAGINE

  Wonderful image of the earth being shown via drone cameras followed by a rendition of multiple Grammy award winner John Lennon's classic, Imagine. It is being performed by the Suginami Junior Chorus.

  Angelique Kidjo, Alejandro Sanz, John Legend, and Keith Urban join in with the other parts of the song, pre-recorded in various locations around the world.

• 23 Jul 2021, 07:20:31 PM IST

  Drones form Olympic emblem

  What a sight this is!1824 drones are being used to form the Tokyo 2020 emblem. This is the Olympics. This is the true spirit of the game.

• 23 Jul 2021, 07:13:49 PM IST

  Adding more flavour

  Peformance of the TV crew, adding a new flavour to this opening ceremony

• 23 Jul 2021, 07:10:23 PM IST

  Now, the Olympic oath is being taken

  Now, the Olympic oath is being taken.

  For the athletes, YAMAGATA Ryota (athletics) and ISHIKAWA Kasumi (table tennis) read the oath.

• 23 Jul 2021, 07:08:32 PM IST

  THEME DISPLAYED

  Faster

  Higher

  Stronger

  Together

  
  

  The words are now displayed on the FOP- The theme of the Olympics

• 23 Jul 2021, 07:03:21 PM IST

  AT LAST- COUNTRY NO. 206

  We have Team Japan. 552 athletes. top honours in 37 sports.

  The hosts of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Japan are here.

  The Emperor and IOC president welcome the J

• 23 Jul 2021, 07:02:20 PM IST

  2024 Olympics host

  Here come the host of the 2024 Paris Games- France. They are the penultimate nation.

• 23 Jul 2021, 07:01:25 PM IST

  Enter: USA

  And now, the United States of America. They have sent 613 athletes to compete in 35 sports. They will be the host of the 2029 Olympics. They are the most successful nation in the history of the Olympics.

• 23 Jul 2021, 07:00:26 PM IST

  Luxembourg- country no.200

  Country no. 200- Luxembourg

  Country no. 201- Rwanda

  Country no. 202-Lesotho

  Country no. 203- Lebanon

  
  

  
  

• 23 Jul 2021, 06:57:57 PM IST

  Libya walk out next

  Libya walk out next followed by Europe's Liechtenstein.

  They are joined by Liberia and Romania.

  Contingent no. 200, Romania

• 23 Jul 2021, 06:55:45 PM IST

  Jordan join in

  Montenegro are in next. Soon joined by Jordan.

  Next up: Lao P.D.R. and Latvia

• 23 Jul 2021, 06:54:15 PM IST

  Morocco have arrived

  Time to welcome the contingent from Morocco. They are followed by Mongolia.

• 23 Jul 2021, 06:53:30 PM IST

  Maldives march out next

  Maldives contingent walk out next and they are joined by Republic of Moldova.

• 23 Jul 2021, 06:52:12 PM IST

  Next up: Mauritius

  Next up: Mauritius

  Mauritiana and Mozambique up next

  Monaco up next

• 23 Jul 2021, 06:49:32 PM IST

  Back to Africa

  Time to welcome the athletes from South Africa.

  Then, we have Myanmar.

  164 athletes will be taking part from Mexico.

• 23 Jul 2021, 06:47:35 PM IST

  Malawi in next

  The Malawi contingent come out in high spirits and are all smiles. Joining them are Mali.

  Malta walk out next followed by Malaysia.

  Micronesia make their sixth appearance.

• 23 Jul 2021, 06:46:39 PM IST

  Marshall Islands send two athletes

  The Marshall Islands send two athletes, both swimmers. made their debut in Beijing 2009.

  Here comes the contingent from Madagascar.

• 23 Jul 2021, 06:45:55 PM IST

  Hong Kong in next

  Hong Kong, China, walk out next. 42 athletes in 14 sports will be taking part.

  Honduras come in next.

• 23 Jul 2021, 06:45:09 PM IST

  Talk about an entrance

  The Portugal contingent march out dancing. Great energy

• 23 Jul 2021, 06:43:57 PM IST

  Bosnia and Herzegovina up next

  Bosnia and Herzegovina and Botswana march out next.

  They are followed by Team Bolivia

• 23 Jul 2021, 06:42:27 PM IST

  Back to Europe

  Out walk a 122-athlete strong contingent of Belgium. Except 1904, they have participated in every Games.

  Poland up next

• 23 Jul 2021, 06:40:36 PM IST

  Venezuela walks in now

  Venezuela walks in now followed by Belarus.

  They are followed by Belize and Peru.

• 23 Jul 2021, 06:39:07 PM IST

  Vietnam up next

  They are followed by Vietnam.

  Then, the athletes from Benin walk in

• 23 Jul 2021, 06:38:40 PM IST

  American Samoa up next

  Virgin Islands, USA and American Samoa are up next

• 23 Jul 2021, 06:37:35 PM IST

  Burkina Faso up next

  Burundi and Brunei Darussala follow Burkina Faso

• 23 Jul 2021, 06:36:14 PM IST

  Bhutan and Brazil are here

  Bhutan and Puerto Rico up next.

  They are followed by Brazil.

  301 players from Brazil will take part.

  Next, Bulgaria.

• 23 Jul 2021, 06:34:29 PM IST

  Timor-Leste are up next

  Timor-Leste and Fiji are up next.

  They are followed by the Philippines and Finland

• 23 Jul 2021, 06:33:15 PM IST

  A big Hungary contingent is out next

  166-athlete strong Hungary are up next.

  They are followed by Bangladesh

• 23 Jul 2021, 06:32:02 PM IST

  Barbados

  Barbados follow next

  They are followed by Palestine

• 23 Jul 2021, 06:31:08 PM IST

  Paraguay

  Often ranked one of the world's happiest places, Paraguay are out next.

• 23 Jul 2021, 06:29:53 PM IST

  Papua New Guinea and Bahamas follow

  Papua New Guinea and Bahamas follow.

  After them, welcome Team Bermuda.

  Palau, a country in the Western Pacific, up next.