Tokyo Paralympic Games kick off in empty stadium

THE Paralympic Games kicked off on Tuesday (24) in the same National Stadium in Japan, Tokyo, where the opening and closing ceremonies of the recent Tokyo Olympics were held. Like the previous event, the opening ceremony of the Paralympics, in which athletes with physical disabilities compete, also took place in an empty stadium due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Also like the Olympics, the Paralympics were postponed by a year because of the pandemic.

Japanese Emperor Naruhito got the show started again, this time under the theme “We Have Wings”. Among the few dignitaries who were present on the occasion are Douglas Emhoff, husband of American vice president Kamala Harris, International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons and International Olympic president Thomas Bach.

Fireworks explode during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 24, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

“I cannot believe we are finally here,” Parsons said in his opening remarks. “Many doubted this day would happen. Many thought it impossible. But thanks to the efforts of many, the most transformative sport event on earth is about to begin.”

The opening ceremony featured national flags of 162 delegations, of which five made their debut in this edition. They are Bhutan, Grenada, Maldives, Paraguay and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The flag of Afghanistan, the country which is seeing a tumultuous situation, was carried by a volunteer despite the delegation not being on hand in Tokyo.

Yui Kamiji of Team Japan prepares to light the Paralympic flame during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 24, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

The organisers of the event are under pressure since Covid infections in Tokyo have surged of late. While 40 per cent of the population of Japan is fully vaccinated, yet daily new cases in the city have increased four to five times since the Olympics started on July 23. Tokyo is currently under a state of emergency till September 12. The Paralympics will go on till September 5.

The organisers on Tuesday announced an athlete living in the Paralympic Village testing positive – the first case found. The details of the athlete were not divulged though the organisers said that the person has been kept in isolation.

An athlete from Denmark walks in the parade of athletes during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 24, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images for International Paralympic Committee)

Indian high-jumper Mariyappan Thangavelu was replaced by javelin thrower Tek Chand as India’s flag-bearer for the opening ceremony after he came in close contact with a Covid positive person during his flight to Tokyo.