Tokyo Olympics Begin with Very Different Opening Ceremony

After a one-year delay, the Tokyo Olympics officially began Friday. The Games began with the opening ceremony, which looked different than usual because of COVID-19 restrictions².

Fewer than 1,000 people were permitted to attend the ceremony, which included the traditional flame lighting³, parade of competitors and musical performances. The opening also included fireworks in blue and white, the colors of the official Tokyo 2020 emblem⁴.

Olympic organizers sent the traditional message of peace as music stars sang John Lennon and Yoko Ono's famous song Imagine. As the song played, more than 1,800 drones formed the shape of the Olympic sign in the sky before changing into the shape of the world.

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach -- both wearing face masks -- cheered on the competitors.

In his opening speech, Bach called the day "a moment of hope." "Yes, it is very different from what all of us imagined. But finally we are all here together," Bach added. "You struggled. You persevered⁶. You never gave up. Today you are making your Olympic dreams come true."

Seiko Hashimoto, President of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee, recognized the efforts of health workers in her comments. "With the world in a tough situation because of the coronavirus pandemic, I would like to pay my respect and express my gratitude⁷ to medical workers and all those who are working hard every day to overcome the difficulties," she said.

Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka received the Olympic flame from a torch walk through the ceremony area. She lit the Olympic cauldron, officially opening the Games.

A small number of athletes marched in the parade because of restrictions aimed at preventing virus infections.

Not all the athletes took pandemic measures seriously. Team members from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Pakistan paraded without masks even as most other athletes at the ceremony observed the restriction¹.

There has been widespread public opposition⁸ to holding the Olympics in Japan. Many health experts also urged officials to cancel the Games as Japan struggled in recent months to contain the spread of COVID-19. On Friday, hundreds of people protested outside the ceremony, shouting "Stop the Olympics."

Earlier this week, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told IOC members that his country was committed to holding a safe and successful Games. He said the government had also taken measures necessary to protect "the health and security of the Japanese public."

Only one-third of the Japanese public has had even one injection of COVID-19 vaccine⁹. The low vaccination¹⁰ rates added to fears that the Games could become a super-spreader event. More than 100 people involved with the Olympics have already tested positive for the virus.

A moment of silence was held "for all those family and friends we have lost," especially to COVID-19.

The Olympic oath¹¹, repeated by the athletes at the end of the parade, was changed for the Tokyo Games. This year, the athletes promised their commitment to inclusion, equality, and non-discrimination for the first time in Olympics history.

Words in This Story

emblem – n. a picture, object of symbol used to represent a person, group or idea

drone – n. a small, unmanned plane

mask – n. a covering for the face or part of the face: especially related to preventing the spread of disease

persevere⁵ – v. to continue to try to do something even though it is difficult

tough – adj. difficult

torch – n. a long stick with material that burns at the top

cauldron – n. a container that holds the traditional Olympic flame

athlete – n. someone who competes in sports with others

gratitude – n. the feeling or quality of being thankful

positive – adj. in a medical test, positive means the person being tested has a disease or condition

oath – n. a formal and serious promise to tell the truth or to do something

commitment – n. a promise or strong decision to do something

1 restriction   

n.限制，约束

参考例句：

• The park is open to the public without restriction.这个公园对公众开放，没有任何限制。
• The 30 mph speed restriction applies in all built-up areas.每小时限速30英里适用于所有建筑物聚集区。

2 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

3 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

4 emblem   

n.象征，标志；徽章

参考例句：

• Her shirt has the company emblem on it.她的衬衫印有公司的标记。
• The eagle was an emblem of strength and courage.鹰是力量和勇气的象征。

5 persevere   

v.坚持，坚忍，不屈不挠

参考例句：

• They are determined to persevere in the fight.他们决心坚持战斗。
• It is strength of character enabled him to persevere.他那坚强的性格使他能够坚持不懈。

6 persevered   

v.坚忍，坚持( persevere的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She persevered with her violin lessons. 她孜孜不倦地学习小提琴。
• Hard as the conditions were, he persevered in his studies. 虽然条件艰苦，但他仍坚持学习。 来自辞典例句

7 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

8 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

9 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

10 vaccination   

n.接种疫苗，种痘

参考例句：

• Vaccination is a preventive against smallpox.种痘是预防天花的方法。
• Doctors suggest getting a tetanus vaccination every ten years.医生建议每十年注射一次破伤风疫苗。

11 oath   

n.誓言，誓约，咒骂，诅咒语

参考例句：

• They swore an oath to carry out their duties faithfully.他们宣誓忠实履行自己的职责。
• They swore an oath of loyalty to the country.他们宣誓要报效祖国。