Last-minute training and preparations: Scenes before Tokyo Games officially begin

Opening ceremony kicks off Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 tomorrow

Some competitions like soccer and softball are already underway, but the Tokyo 2020 Games officially begins with the opening ceremony on Friday.
Here's a look at the athletes, the venues and daily life in Japan in the lead up to the most unusual Olympics due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Eye on the prize

France's Marine Boyer trains on the balance beam at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre in Tokyo today.

Image | OLYMPICS-2020-GAR-TRAINING/

(Mike Blake/Reuters)

(Mike Blake/Reuters)
Japan's Hiroto Ohhara rides a wave during a training session on Thursday at Tsurigasaki Beach in Ichinomiya, Japan.

Image | Tokyo Olympics Surfing

(Francisco Seco/The Associated Press)

(Francisco Seco/The Associated Press)
Goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé with the Canadian women's national soccer team practises in Sapporo, Japan, on Wednesday.

Image | Canadian Women's Soccer Team - Final Practice Before Games - Jul

(Kelly VanderBeek/CBC)

(Kelly VanderBeek/CBC)
An athlete from Belgium practises for the 3x3 basketball competition on Wednesday at the Aomi Urban Sports Park in Tokyo.

Image | APTOPIX Tokyo Olympics Basketball

(AP)

(Charlie Riedel/The Associated Press)
Aori Nishimura of Team Japan practises on the skateboard street course yesterday in Tokyo. Skateboarding is one of new sports at the Olympics.

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(Getty Images)

(Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Prepping the venues

Work to get ready for competition was underway at the Yumenoshima Park Archery Field in Tokyo on Thursday.

Image | OLYMPICS-2020-ARC-TRAINING/

(Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters)

(Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters)
Workers prepare the Tokyo 2020 logo on the field of play for judo at the Nippon Budokan indoor arena in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Image | 1329797801

(Getty Images)

(Harry How/Getty Images)
A worker waters flowers outside Yokohama Baseball Stadium as the field is prepared for softball competition on Wednesday in Yokohama, Japan.

Image | Tokyo Olympics Softball

(AP)

(Matt Slocum/The Associated Press)
Officials prepare a volleyball net at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on Monday.

Image | 1329504949

(Getty Images)

(Toru Hanai/Getty Images)

Unwelcome Games for some

A man demonstrates against the Olympic Games on Sunday in Tokyo. People gathered near the Akasaka State Guest House to protest the welcome ceremony for International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach.

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(Getty Images)

(Yuichi Yamazaki/Getty Images)
A woman holding a placard marches during a July 16 rally in Tokyo.

Image | 1329069734

(Getty Images)

(Yuichi Yamazaki/Getty Images)
At that rally, demonstrators gathered to protest Bach's visit to Hiroshima amid concern over the safety of holding the Games during the pandemic.

Image | 1329039696

(Getty Images)

(Yuichi Yamazaki/Getty Images)

Enjoying the Games

People enjoy the view from the Shibuya Sky observatory on Wednesday ahead of the official opening of the Games in Tokyo.

Image | OLYMPICS-2020/DAILY LIFE

(Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters)

(Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters)
A woman takes a photo of a countdown clock in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Image | OLYMPICS-2020/

(REUTERS)

(Androniki Christodoulou/Reuters)
A cyclist rides by a pagoda in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Image | Tokyo, 21 Jul

(Marie Morrissey/CBC)

(Marie Morrissey/CBC)
Two women pose in front of the Olympic rings outside Olympic Stadium on Wednesday.

Image | OLYMPICS/

(USA TODAY Sports)

(Michael Madrid/USA Today Network/Reuters)