Stage set for sobering opening ceremony of Tokyo Olympics
After a year-long delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the stage is set for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo to kick off with a highly-anticipated opening ceremony on July 23 from 4:30 pm Indian time.
The mega quadrennial event will be held at the newly-built National Stadium in the Japanese capital with minimal attendance, a sobering affair sans the usual splendour and grandiosity.
It will be lacking the mass choreography, the huge props and the cornucopia of dancers, actors and lights associated with an Olympic Games opening ceremony.
According to News on Air, the opening ceremony executive producer, Marco Balich, said that the opening ceremony of the Summer Games will be a sobering show in Tokyo and will feature beautiful Japanese aesthetics.
Japan had announced that the participants will be competing in empty venues so that the health risks amid the COVID-19 pandemic can be minimised.
Deputy chef-de-mission Prem Kumar Verma said that only six officials from every country are allowed at the ceremony, although there is no cap on athletes.
The Tokyo Olympics 2021 will see a 228-member strong contingent from India participate in 18 sporting events.
India's Olympic contingent for Tokyo 2020 includes 127 participants from 18 sports, including two alternate players and one reserve goalie in men's and women's hockey squads, respectively.
(Edited by Ibankyntiew Mawrie)
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