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How opening ceremony unfolded: Naomi Osaka lights cauldron, drones captivate world
Tony Harper
Editor
23rd July, 2021
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(Photo by Getty Images).
Tony Harper
Editor
23rd July, 2021
31

Tennis star Naomi Osaka had the honour of lighting the Olympic cauldron early Saturday AEST, at the end of four hour ceremony tinged with pandemic melancholy and a moment of high tech that wowed the watching world.

The first hour of the ceremony took a sombre look at the state of the world and the virus that meant the games were delatyed by a year and have to be played out in front of empty stands.

Less than 1000 excited dignitaries (and allegedly reluctant Queensland Premier Anna Palaszczuk) watched the show which featured a march of athletes from 205 nations. The most spectatular moment came when 1824 drones flew as one to form the shape of a globe above the stadium.

IOC chief Thomas Bach struck a defiant note in his speech, addressing criticism of holding the games while Tokyo is in a state of emergency.

Here’s how the night unfolded.

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12:42am AEST
FIRE!!!!!

Yep, the flame has arrived.

“This is where the tension begins,” says Bruce.

The flame has been transferred three times within the stadium, now with a local doctor and nurse. You can imagine the reaction if the stands were full.

And the final torch bearer and lighter of the cauldron is Naomi Osaka.

It is a beautiful moment and a stunning cauldron as Osaka, a four time Grand Slam tournament winner ascends a staircase to touch the flame that will burn throughout these Games.

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This very much has a Cathy Freeman feel (without the waterfall and technical glitch).

12:35am AEST
We are now in Japanese weird shit territory – with a couple of skits that are well made but strange and probably unneccessary 3.5 hours in. One a 3D dance representation of the 50 (yes, all 50) sport pictograms. Followed by an odd skit that’s relevance escapes me, and now some piano frenzy, and strange cosplay.

Can’t be long before the sumos arrive, surely.

12:18am AEST
Japanese Emperor Naruhoti has declared the Games OPEN.

Six athletes from around the world were chosen to carry the Olympic flag, including Australia shooter Elena Galiabovitch who has spent the past year working on the frontline in Melbourne’s battle with Covid.

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The 31-year-old doctor, who is studying for a Masters degree to become a urological surgeon, put her profession on the back-burner early last year to concentrate on her preparations for Tokyo. A proud moment for her, and for us.

12:00am AEST
Olympics chief Seiko Hashimoto has spoken of the challenges faced by athletes and thanked them for their sacrifices in making it to Tokyo. The former Olympic cyclist asked the athletes to show the power of sport, bring hope to people and unite the world.

Thomas Bach, head of the IOC, has thanked their “gracious hosts, the Japanese people” offering “all our appreciation and respect”.

He has praised the organising committee. Ten years ago you set out on the journey to bring the Olympic journey back to Tokyo. “It was a difficult journey with unexpected challenges,” said Bach. “This is why our gratitude and admitation for you is even greater.”

Bach then praised the athletes. “You struggled, you perservered, you never gave up. Today you are true Olympic athletes.”

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The IOC fought public opinion in Japan and beyond with many believing the Olympics, already banned a year ago, should have not gone ahead.

But Bach sounded a defiant note, telling athletes: “You inspired us to fight like you and for you to make this moment possible.”

11:50pm AEST
How’s this for an unexpected goosebump moment. An incredible 1824 drones flying in harmony across the Tokyo sky high above the stadium. That’s very Japanese tech, and then kicks in Imagine by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

(Photo by Getty Images)

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And now artists from across the world join together but separate, in their own little studios, to sing about the world living as one. Sums it really. Keith Urban was Australia’s offering to the track – a nice little tie on for the host broadcaster, who also have Urban on their show The Voice. It’s the Olympics folks, whaddaya expect?

11:35pm AEST
Team USA are here and look really funky in their horizontal striped shirts, like wait people at a classy beachside hotel slash restaurant. Bruce says their biggest star is Simone Biles, who won four gymnastics golds in Rio. She is phenomenal, don’t miss her.

And finally it’s Japan. What a bittersweet moment for this team of 590. And for those of you who lasted the distance.

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11:30pm AEST
So when this march ends in a few hours from now, we will move onto the lighting of the cauldron. Big rumours going around that Naomi Osaka might be the chosen one. Think I’ll put in a lazy interview request.

11:20pm AEST
Having given Bruce a huge wrap earlier he’s just come out with the clanger of the night when he saw Madagascar.

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11:10pm AEST
The Aussie track and field team watch the start of the ceremony back in training camp in Cairns. If they hurry they can probably get to Tokyo in time for the end of this march.

11:00pm AEST
HE IS BACK! Pita Taufatofua, the oiled up Tongan flagberarer from the last summer AND winter Olympics was back at the front of the Tongan team.
“He’s the Usain Bolt of flag bearers,” says Bruce. That, my friends, is gold.

Turkey have arrived. Jo Griggs admires their coastline. Different class.
10:50pm AEST
The opening ceremony is a marathon not a sprint, but thankfully the music has been pretty jolly – especially after a dour and downbeat first section of the ceremony focussed on what we’re missing out on because of Covid.
The athletes have been walking on to some classics of the Japanese game genre.

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10:40pm AEST
Admit it, we’re all just hanging in there now to see if Tonga’s (male) flagbearer is topless.

10:30 AEST
Are we there yet…

The answer is no. Not sure about yours but it worked out well in terms of getting the young one off to bed.

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Samoa have come out and they have one flag bearer – Alex Rose. There are no females marching for the team.

Meanwhile, I’m not alone on that Italian atrocity.

10:20pm AEST

You guessed it…

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10:15pm AEST
Still more marching.

Although Flight Facilities are back with us.

And they’re not the only ones underwhelmed with the casual look.

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I’d really love to speak Italian right now, though. I imagine it’s all kicking off on Italian Twitter.

10:10pm AEST
More marching.

10:05pm AEST

Getting close now, and many Australians are speculating on how Bruuuuuce will introduce our team, led by Patty-Cake.

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“Have a look at how strong that team looks,” says Bruce as 63 of our athletes come out onto the arena. The men’s basketball team was standing proud behind Patty Mills.

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9:55pm AEST
Mamma Mia, what are Italians wearing? It looked like white jump suits with pizza shaped flags on the front. Usually the most stylish marchers. More news as it comes to hand.

Uruguay, meanwhile, seem to have a lot of issues sharing the flag. They appear to be drunk.

Great Britain are in the house. Once upon a time we beat them for fun at the Olympics. In fact in 1996 they won just the single gold gong. Five years ago, they were secoond on the medal table behind the United States.

9:45pm AEST
Some much needed relief as the parade of athletes begins with Greece.
Australia will be coming out No.38 because we’re in the hands of the Japanese phonetic based alphabet katakana.

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The athletes are waving their hands, mobile phones and mini national flags, trying to make the most of a tough situation.

There are reports that anti-Games protesters outside the venue were making themselves heard in the sombre moments earlier. They are drowned out now by the music and will be for the next four or five hours as the athletes from the 206 countries enter the stadium.

Albania, we’re told, is more famous for castles than athletes. There is certainly some filler going on.

Argentina may have lost to the Olyroos in the football on Thursday night but they don’t look too crushed – a big song and dance from the South Americans as they come in.

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Even Flight Facilities – creators of some of the best and biggest bangers you could hear – are feeling a bit down in the dumps tonight.

9:40pm AEST
It has been an achingly sad start to this ceremony. Of course, it’s an achingly sad world at the moment and Japan is usually brutally honest.

9:30pm AEST
The Olympic rings take centre stage now and boy do they have a story. The rings are made from wood from trees planted as seeds by athletes from the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Seeds have been taken from the trees and have been planted for use in the 2060 Olypmics (TBC).

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The five rings represent the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania.

9:20pm AEST
Japanese singing star Misia has just delivered an incredible rendition of the Japanese national anthem, Kimigayo. That was lovely. And her outfit was out of this world. Channel 7 goes immediately to an ad with Rock Lobster as the soundtrack. For goodness sakes.

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After the ad break we’re back with a performance to commemorate those no longer with us, including those lost to Covid, and as, ever, the athletes who were killed at the 1976 Munich Olympics. We have a moment of silence that organisers hope will be observed “around the world”.

(Photo by Getty Images)

9:15pm AEST
It might have started with fireworks but its taken a turn for the maudlin since then, with the opening acts.

This will thrill everyone: IOC president Thomas Bach is about to get involved!

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The Japanese flag is brought into the centre of the field by five Olympic and youth Olympic champions and a rescue worker. There is applause from the expensive seats (there is no-one in the cheap seats tonight of course). If you listen closely you might hear John Coates insisting Premier Anna claps her hands.

9:05pm AEST

Japan loves fireworks. In the ski town of Hakuba, Nagano, where I spend part of my year, we have a superb fireworks shop, and as long you don’t set them off after 10pm you’re sweet. It’s no nanny state when it comes to bangers. So no surprise organisers have gone early and hard with fireworks – 694 of them blazing up off the stadium roof.

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After the fireworks we have a riff on connectivity under the pandemic. The common ground shared through Covid as we become united by the Games. It’s quite beautiful.

9:00pm AEST

And we’re underway, with a lone athlete in the centre of the Olympic Stadium, reaching down to the ground. It’s in this moment of profound silence that the sadness of the Covid hit games becomes clear.

With no fans to play to, or play a role in the ceremony, this is essentially a made for TV ceremony.

Japan’s not a country known for mass protests but there has been some action outside the Olympic Stadium in the leadup to tonight’s ceremony.

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There are also reports that Australian country singer Keith Urban will sing John Lennon’s Imagine during tonight’s ceremony. The Games are heading to Brisbane in 2032.

8:45pm AEST
Each country will have a male and female flagbearer for the first time tonight as part of the International Olympic Committee’s initiative to promote gender equality, apparently. Sad news for Kiwi rower Hamish Bond, who has pulled out at the last minute following a change in timetable putting his event on first thing tomorrow morning.
He has been replaced by boxer David Nyika who will partner rugby player Sarah Hirini.

The rowing schedule was one sport adjusted with fears that a typhoon will dsirupt the games. Sailing events are also likely to be affected. Typhoons played havoc with the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

8:30pm AEST

Bruce has just cleared his voice with a precorded intro on broadcaster 7. The excitement starting to build as they prepare to go live in Tokyo. For most of us Bruce is a key part of the Olympic experience. So allow me a moment while I revisit this collection of his best hits.

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Usually the opening ceremony of an Olympics is the moment where the cynics in a host city disappear and the populace gets behind a Games. It’s a different situation this year though. There have been reports of 80 percent disapproval for the Games, and my friends in Japan seem more blase right now than upset at the event that is going on without them in the stands.

It is hard to unite a country behind a Games when they’re not allowed in to see it unfold.

Opening ceremonies are expensive, take years of planning and the creators carrying an enromous burden of expectation. It will be interesting to see how hard the Japanese party planners have gone, considering the circumstances.

8:15pm AEST

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Patty Mills and Cate Campbell are the first flag bearing duoe since swimmer Max Metzker and Denise Boyd in 1980. This is them practicing for the honour.

Meanwhile Mills caught up with another of our proud indigenous athletes – Wimbledon champ Ash Barty earlier on Friday. Good fit on Patty.

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The Games first big day of action starts Saturday morning. For a comprehensive guide of every day of the Gmaes schedule click here.

8pm AEST

Konbanwa, Australia! We’re about to witness an Olympic opening ceremony like no other. The Games have been underway for a couple of days with softball and football among the sports to get off to an early start – and it’s been a fantastic start for Australia’s Matildas and Olyroos who both won their opening games. Please feel free to leave your comments on the ceremony below.

Patty Mills will carry the flag with Cate Campbell for Australia – the first time since Moscow 1980 that we’ve had two flagbearers at the opening ceremony.

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—–
We’ve already seen the softball and football tournaments commence, but tonight marks the official start of the Tokyo Olympics with the opening ceremony scheduled to commence at 9pm AEST.

Already a year late and with plenty of locals wondering whether it’s still worth the hassle, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics officially begin with the opening ceremony from the Japan National Stadium in the heart of the city.

The motto of the Games and theme of tonight’s opening ceremony is ‘united by emotion’ – although it’s presumably not supposed to reference the mixed emotions we’ll feel about watching so many sports played out against the backdrop of empty stands.

There were a couple of events on today, with Archery and the first Rowing heats both enjoying their time in the Tokyo sunshine. The Archery medals will be doled out tomorrow and it would have drawn a capacity crowd at Yumenoshima Park down on the waterfront, with the ancient sport a popular pastime in Japan.

The Games really ramp up on Day 2 with Cycling’s road race and medal events in Fencing, Judo, Shooting and Taekwondo taking centre stage. It’s also the first day in the pool, as well as when the Artistic Gymnastics begin.

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But tonight is all about the opening ceremony, with Australia set to be represented by duel flagbearers in swimmer Cate Campbell and basketballer Patty Mills. Both are attending their fourth Olympics, with Mills the first Indigenous Australian to carry the Aussie flag at an opening ceremony.

“I think the first thing that needs to be said is that entering the village a couple of days ago, just being able to see how much indigenous artwork is in our Australian headquarters, having flags at the bottom of the stairs, it gave me thrills to see how much it was incorporated throughout our entire team,” Mills said.

“It’s something that’s very unifying, as the Olympic Games is. So for us to walk in and feel that impact, I can only assume the greater Australian team had that same feeling as well.”

The rest of the ceremony remains a bit of a mystery but knowing Japan, there’ll be a few surprises. There’ll probably be some fireworks too since they’re a mainstay of Japanese summers.

It’s a shame there’ll be no spectators, but at least we can say – with some relief – the Tokyo Olympics are officially underway.

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Tony Harper
Editor
Tony Harper is honoured to be next man in as The Roar editor, having made his debut at the Queensland Times, Ipswich, in 1989 with a column entitled 'That's What I reckon Sport!' Has since worked as a reporter and editor with organisations including Fox Sports, Fairfax, News Corp, AAP, The AP and ACP magazines, covering four Olympics, three FIFA World Cups and WCs in cricket and rugby.
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