Subdued Olympic opening ceremony still provides inspiring moments
Tennis star Naomi Osaka lit Olympic cauldron to begin pandemic-delayed Games
Undeniably the Olympic opening ceremony was going to be like no other.
A reminder and reflection of the global pandemic that continues as the Games officially begin.
- If you missed the ceremony, it will re-air on CBC TV at 7 p.m., as well as at CBC Gem, the CBC Olympics app and CBC Sports' Tokyo 2020 website.
But despite protests, smaller athlete groups and a stadium that lacked spectators, the ceremony still provided compelling moments we have come to expect from the event.
Japanese tennis superstar Naomi Osaka lit the Olympic cauldron and Japan's Emperor Naruhito officially declared the Olympic Games open.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN <br><br>Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka lights the Olympic cauldron <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tokyo2020?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tokyo2020</a> <a href="https://t.co/nm9JFcSzIk">pic.twitter.com/nm9JFcSzIk</a>
—@CBCOlympicsUndoubtedly the greatest athletic achievement and honor I will ever have in my life. I have no words to describe the feelings I have right now but I do know I am currently filled with gratefulness and thankfulness ❤️ love you guys thank you. <a href="https://t.co/CacWQ5ToUD">pic.twitter.com/CacWQ5ToUD</a>
—@naomiosakaWhat a special moment for <a href="https://twitter.com/naomiosaka?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@naomiosaka</a>, the final Olympic flame torchbearer, who had the honor of lighting the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Olympics?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Olympics</a> cauldron. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OpeningCeremony?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OpeningCeremony</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tokyo2020?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tokyo2020</a> <a href="https://t.co/HZcDpLEGHz">pic.twitter.com/HZcDpLEGHz</a>
—@BillieJeanKingAlthough it might have been one of the smallest groups of Canadian athletes to ever walk into an Olympics opening ceremony, Team Canada — led by Miranda Ayim and Nathan Hirayama — still inspired the nation.
Canada has arrived 🇨🇦<br><br>Watch live: <a href="https://t.co/BS7cv7dWIK">https://t.co/BS7cv7dWIK</a> <a href="https://t.co/zTnnQnr2BC">pic.twitter.com/zTnnQnr2BC</a>
—@CBCOlympicsWe aren’t walking in the Opening Ceremonies, but wanted to take part in some of the fun at the <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamCanada?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TeamCanada</a> pep rally!!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tokyo2020?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tokyo2020</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TokyoOlympics?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TokyoOlympics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CAN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CAN</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamCanada?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamCanada</a> <a href="https://t.co/vDnQQ5OxaS">pic.twitter.com/vDnQQ5OxaS</a>
—@SarahPavanSince we can’t be in Tokyo quite yet, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamCanada?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamCanada</a> trampoline celebrating the Opening Ceremony here from Yokkaichi! C-A 👏🏻👏🏻N-A 👏🏻👏🏻DA, let’s go Canada! <a href="https://twitter.com/gymcan1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gymcan1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamCanada?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TeamCanada</a> <a href="https://t.co/tZZsj6XPXe">pic.twitter.com/tZZsj6XPXe</a>
—@RosieMacLennanThere were also several memorable opening ceremony entrances.
Togan flag bearer Pita Taufatofua is BACK and wearing a familiar outfit 🇹🇴<br><br>Watch live: <a href="https://t.co/BS7cv7dWIK">https://t.co/BS7cv7dWIK</a> <a href="https://t.co/wCL9G8csDN">pic.twitter.com/wCL9G8csDN</a>
—@CBCOlympicsA special congratulations to our Flag Bearer, Malia Paseka. She did an amazing job leading the way for more participation of females and youth in sport in Tonga. So proud to walk along side our first ever female taekwondo Olympian!<br>-<a href="https://twitter.com/Olympics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@olympics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tokyo2020?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tokyo2020</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/WorldTaekwondo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@worldtaekwondo</a>.pr <a href="https://t.co/nb5wyj3ImV">pic.twitter.com/nb5wyj3ImV</a>
—@pitaTofuaPortugal knows how to make an entrance 🇵🇹<br><br>Watch live: <a href="https://t.co/BS7cv7dWIK">https://t.co/BS7cv7dWIK</a> <a href="https://t.co/56Aj87jyHl">pic.twitter.com/56Aj87jyHl</a>
—@CBCOlympicsThe Olympic opening ceremony has featured some unforgettable musical performances in the past. Tokyo 2020 was no different.
Angelique Kidjo, Alejandro Sanz, John Legend and Keith Urban joined the Suginami Junior Chorus in the singing of 'Imagine' as 1,824 drones formed a rotating Earth above the national stadium.
WATCH | International performers sing a reworked version of John Lennon's Imagine:
What do 1824 drones in the sky look like? 🌏<br><br>Watch live: <a href="https://t.co/BS7cv7dWIK">https://t.co/BS7cv7dWIK</a> <a href="https://t.co/PwsgZBdV2I">pic.twitter.com/PwsgZBdV2I</a>
—@CBCOlympicsCBC's live online coverage of the opening ceremony was streamed in eight Indigenous languages.
Today's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tokyo2020?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tokyo2020</a> opening ceremony was streamed in eight Indigenous languages <br><br>Here are some of the hosts who called the ceremony in Eastern Cree, Dehcho Dene, Dënësųłinë́ Yałtı, Gwichʼin, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, Sahtu Dene and Tłı̨chǫ<a href="https://twitter.com/CBCIndigenous?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CBCIndigenous</a> <a href="https://t.co/P6UFi48Bnt">pic.twitter.com/P6UFi48Bnt</a>
—@CBCOlympicsAs the opening ceremony took place, protesters gathered outside of the Tokyo Olympic stadium.
Here's the protest just outside Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, which is easily audible inside during quiet moments <a href="https://t.co/AUQQrTDjcF">pic.twitter.com/AUQQrTDjcF</a>
—@jonathanellisThousands of protesters outside Olympic Stadium<br><br>Are you able to hear any of it on the broadcast?<br><br>It's very audible inside the venue here in Tokyo and it sounds like they keep turning up the in-house volume. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tokyo2020?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tokyo2020</a>
—@Devin_HerouxOlympic protesters have shut down one of the busiest roads in Tokyo, in Harajuku. Police are clearing the road for them and yelling into megaphones asking passersby to make way for protesters <a href="https://t.co/xkSVNY7Cdj">pic.twitter.com/xkSVNY7Cdj</a>
—@myhleePHOTO GALLERY | Tokyo 2020 kicks off with opening ceremony:
