Tokyo 2020 Olympics live updates: The games are now underway!
Opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium. Fireworks are lit over the stadium.Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images
- The Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics officially kicked off on Friday with the Opening Ceremony and the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron.
- The ceremony has a different feel this year as the stadium is mostly empty except for some special dignitaries, including Dr. Jill Biden.
- The big storyline to start the Olympics is still the risk of the spread of COVID-19 and how it will affect the games as nearly 100 athletes have already tested positive.
- We also have a new report from Forbes that "at least" 100 US athletes have not been vaccinated.
The Parade of Nations is underway with Greece leading the way as usual.
Tokyo 2020 Opening Ceremony Parade of Nations
NBC
Most of the countries will only be represented by a fraction of their athletes during the Opening Ceremony. Some of the athletes are already competing and can't be at the stadium. Other athletes have not arrived in Japan yet if their events are not scheduled to start until later in the games. For example, Team USA will only have approximately 200 of their more than 600 athletes in the parade.
Dr. Jill Biden is at the Opening Ceremony to represent the United States.
U.S. First Lady Jill Biden is at the Opening Ceremony to represent the United States.
Leon Neal/Getty Images
The Olympic Stadium in Tokyo sits empty just before the start of the Opening Ceremony.
The Olympic Stadium in Tokyo as it sits empty just before the start of the Opening Ceremony
Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images)
No fans are allowed and only some special dignitaries are in attendance. The multi-colored seats do seem to make the stadium feel less empty.
READ MORE ARTICLES ON
Popular Right Now
Advertisement