Olympic wake-up call: Let the Games begin

As anti-Olympic protesters gathered outside government offices and select personnel streamed into an otherwise fan-less stadium for the opening ceremony, Japan took one step closer to the official start of the Tokyo Olympic Games. 

You can re-live the event coverage of the ceremony on CBC TV network, CBC Gem at 7p.m. ET on Friday, as well as the the CBC Olympics app and CBC Sports' Tokyo 2020 website.

Canada was the 45th country to enter the National Olympic Stadium, one year after the Games were postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

Here's what you may have missed in Tokyo on Friday. 

Outside the stadium

As the ceremony neared, protesters marched the streets of Tokyo, currently under a fourth state of emergency due to rising COVID-19 cases.

Others have come together with mixed excitement to mingle outside where the Olympic cauldron was to be lit. Some officials and media were allowed into the stadium, along with a smaller parade of athletes, but fans were kept out.

Here are some views ahead of the opening ceremony on Friday:

Update on Canadian goalkeeper

Kelly VanderBeek of CBC Sports reports that Stephanie Labbé — goalkeeper for Canada's women's soccer team — is doing well following a rib joint injury.

Labbé suffered the injury during her team's opening match — a 1-1 draw against Japan on Wednesday. She crashed into a Japanese player, but stayed in the game to block a critical penalty shot. Kailen Sheridan came in afterward to replace her in goal. 

Although Labbé's status is questionable, she hasn't been ruled out of Canada's must-win game against Chile, which goes ahead on Saturday in Sapporo.

Canadian's surprise chance

Canadian skateboarder Annie Guglia is boarding a last-minute flight to Japan, potentially competing in the street event as a substitute.

The whirlwind change comes after another athlete, Dutch skateboarder Candy Jacobs, tested positive for COVID-19 and had to pull out of competition.

The domino effect of her exit means the 30-year-old from Montreal might get a chance to shine in the sport's Olympic debut, should any skateboarding replacements be needed. 

The latest media reports show over 100 people connected to the Games have contracted the virus since July 1. 

Tony Hawk in Japan

Legendary Tony Hawk — at the Games as a media correspondent — hit the Ariake Urban Sports Park course on Friday. He posted clips to Instagram with reflections on how the Olympic debut would inspire a new generation. 

"As a kid that was mostly lambasted for my interest in skateboarding, I never imagined it would be part of the Olympic Games," he wrote.

"It's surreal to now be in Tokyo bearing witness to this milestone in the most unprecedented circumstances. I know in the end it will help to grow skateboarding's profile internationally, exposing our passion to an audience that has never seen it before or simply refused to embrace it." 

Canadian archers get target practice

The men's and women's qualifying rounds in archery saw Canadians Crispin Duenas and Stephanie Barrett rank 16th and 46th, respectively.

Though they'll compete separately on July 27, the pair just missed the cut to compete together in the mixed team event, which is debuting at the Games.

Only the top 16 mixed teams from the qualifier move on, but their combined score placed Canada in 17th. 

The ranking also decides their matches in the elimination rounds. Barrett will face Yasemin Anagöz of Turkey, and Duenas will take on Dan Olaru of Moldova. 

Meanwhile, the day also marked the breaking of an Olympic record. South Korea's An San surpassed the women's Olympic archery record by scoring 680 in the qualifying round.