Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Opening Ceremony, reaction, Covid-19, coronavirus, news, social media

The opening ceremony of Tokyo 2020 provided a jarring reminder of how unusual this Olympic Games is.

There were no fans in the stands, only a handful of athletes took part in the parade of nations, and above all – a gloomy, quiet mood.

The Opening Ceremony has been completely redesigned following the global coronavirus pandemic, and the impact of the international health situation is clear to everyone. The ceremony even included a moment of silence for the lost “All Friends and Loved Ones”.

But many fans were overwhelmed by the ceremony, which one claimed felt: “It’s like attending a funeral.”

Some wrote that the lack of fans made it feel like a rehearsal:

Anti-Olympic protesters were heard inside the stadium during the Opening Ceremony

Many fans hoped that the Opening Ceremony could be a distraction, rather than a reminder of the realities of last year.

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