Beautiful photos from the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

The Opening ceremony of the Olympic Games started today, Friday 23rd July in Tokyo, Japan.

 The Games which is not open to fans - the very first time this will be happening in history - starts after a one-year postponement and a build-up marred by scandals, controversy and the covid-19 pandemic.

 Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka lit the Olympic cauldron as the Tokyo Games opened today.

 Osaka lifted the torch to the gleaming cauldron, which had unfurled at the top of a ramp representing Mount Fuji, in the highlight of a ceremony that was stripped back over virus fears.

Japan’s Emperor Naruhito officially opened the Games in an eerily empty Olympic Stadium, after Covid-19 forced organisers to ban spectators at all but a handful of venues. 

 “I declare open the Games of Tokyo,” said the monarch, wearing a white surgical mask, in Tokyo’s 68,000-capacity Olympic Stadium. 

 The international multi-sport event will take place from 23 July to 8 August 2021