Japanese Emperor Naruhito formally declared the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games open at a near-empty Japan National Stadium on Tuesday as athletes got ready to defy expectations after a year-long delay.
International Paralympic Comittee president Andrew Parsons hailed the record athlete contingent at the Games as “beacons of hope”. 4,483 athletes are taking part in the Tokyo Paralympics, surpassing the 4,328 that participated in the 2016 Rio Paralympics.
With virus restrictions keeping spectators out of venues, the watered-down ceremony took place in front of around 800 officials and VIPs.
The theme for the ceremony was “We Have Wings”, with performers creating a mini “airport” in the stadium.