TUESDAY July 27, 2021: 'TOKYO 2020: Let The Games Begin!' from ZUMA Award winning Photographers in Tokyo: Daniel Anderson, Paul Kitagaki Jr, Paul Kuroda, David McIntyre and Joe McNally: After a one-year delay, the Tokyo Olympics officially began Friday. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, fewer than 1,000 people were permitted to attend the ceremony, which included the traditional flame lighting, parade of competitors and musical performances. Only one-third of the Japanese public has had even one injection of COVID-19 vaccine. The low vaccination rates added to fears that the Games could become a super-spreader event. More than 100 people involved with the Olympics have already tested positive for the virus. A moment of silence was held ''for all those family and friends we have lost,'' especially to COVID-19. The Olympic oath, repeated by the athletes at the end of the parade, was changed for the Tokyo Games. This year, the athletes promised their commitment to inclusion, equality, and non-discrimination for the first time in Olympics history. Welcome to 'TOKYO 2020: Let The Games Begin!'
© zReportage.com Story of the Week #795: TUESDAY July 27, 2021: 'TOKYO 2020: Let The Games Begin!' from ZUMA Award winning Photographers in Tokyo: Daniel Anderson, Paul Kitagaki Jr, Paul Kuroda, David McIntyre and Joe McNally: After a one-year delay, the Tokyo Olympics officially began Friday. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, fewer than 1,000 people were permitted to attend the ceremony, which included the traditional flame lighting, parade of competitors and musical performances. Only one-third of the Japanese public has had even one injection of COVID-19 vaccine. The low vaccination rates added to fears that the Games could become a super-spreader event. More than 100 people involved with the Olympics have already tested positive for the virus. A moment of silence was held ''for all those family and friends we have lost,'' especially to COVID-19. The Olympic oath, repeated by the athletes at the end of the parade, was changed for the Tokyo Games. This year, the athletes promised their commitment to inclusion, equality, and non-discrimination for the first time in Olympics history. Welcome to 'TOKYO 2020: Let The Games Begin!'
The Olympic flame is lit and the ceremonies end with fireworks in the Olympic Stadium during the Tokyo 2020 Opening Ceremonies.
© Daniel A. Anderson/ZUMA Press Wire
2000 drones in the sky create a huge, lighted view of planet Earth floating over an almost empty Olympic stadium during the Tokyo 2020 opening ceremonies. (Credit: Joe McNally/ZUMA Press Wire)
© July 23, 2021, Tokyo, Japan: 2000 drones in the sky create a huge, lighted view of planet Earth floating over an almost empty Olympic stadium during the Tokyo 2020 opening ceremonies. (Credit: Joe McNally/ZUMA Press Wire
Interpretive dance performance under red laser lighting during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics opening ceremonies, which were offered in front of an empty stadium, due to the pandemic. (Credit: Joe McNally/ZUMA Press Wire)
© July 23, 2021, Tokyo, Japan: Interpretive dance performance under red laser lighting during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics opening ceremonies, which were offered in front of an empty stadium, due to the pandemic. (Credit: Joe McNally/ZUMA Press Wire
Women's World number one tennis star NAOMI OSAKA of Japan lights the Olympic flame in the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremonies Friday night in Tokyo.
© Daniel A. Anderson/ZUMA Press Wire
KAZUMA KAYA compete on the parallel bars in Men's All-Around Team Final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre in Tokyo.
© Paul Kitagaki Jr./ZUMA Press Wire
YUXI CHEN and JIAQI ZHANG of China win the Gold Medal in the Women's Synchronized 10m Platform Diving during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
© Paul Kitagaki Jr./ZUMA Press Wire
JESSICA PARRATTO and DELANEY SCHNELL (USA) in the women's 10m platform synchronized diving competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Team USA took the Silver Medal. Credit Image: © David McIntyre/ZUMA Press Wire)
© July 27, 2021, Tokyo, Japan: JESSICA PARRATTO and DELANEY SCHNELL (USA in the women's 10m platform synchronized diving competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Team USA took the Silver Medal. Credit Image: © David McIntyre/ZUMA Press Wire
USA's CHASE KALISZ wins the Gold Medal in the Men's 400m individual medley in the Tokyo Aquatics Center.
© Daniel A. Anderson/ZUMA Press Wire
BOWEN BECKER, BLAKE PIERONI, CAELEB DRESSEL and Zach Apple (unseen) of USA celebrate winning the Gold Medal in Men's 100m Backstroke Semifinal during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
© Paul Kitagaki Jr./ZUMA Press Wire
Monster water splash by swimmer ADAM PEATY of Great Britain reacting after winning the men's 100-meter breaststroke final of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
© Paul Kitagaki Jr./ZUMA Press Wire
American CAROLINE MARKS, from San Clemente California, won Round 1 of Heat 5 by a wide margin during the women's surfing competition at Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
© Joe McNally via ZUMA Press Wire
NAOMI OSAKA, playing under the flag of Japan, plays against V. Glubic of Switzerland in Tokyo. Osaka won 6:3, 6:2.
© Paul Kuroda/ZUMA Press Wire
China's ZHIHUI HOU sets an Olympic Record in the clean and jerk at 116kg with this lift at Weightlifting Tokyo International Forum 5.
© Daniel A. Anderson/ZUMA Press Wire
NAOHISA TAKATO (JPN) defeats YELDOS SMETOV (KAZ) in the men's 60kg judo semifinal contest during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Nippon Budokan.
© David McIntyre/ZUMA Press Wire
Team USA's JEWELL LLOYD catches a loose ball in the US win over Nigeria 81 to 72 in the Basketball preliminary round of the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
© Paul Kuroda/ZUMA Press Wire
Gymnast superstar of team USA, SIMONE BILES, 24, competing In the subdivision floor exercise gymnastics during the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics.
© Paul Kuroda/ZUMA Press Wire
SIMONE BILES of the United States competed one vault and then pulled out of the night competition in the Women's All Around Team Final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre.
© Paul Kitagaki Jr./ZUMA Press Wire
USA's SIMONE BILES looks on during the Women's Team Final at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre on the fourth day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Biles will be assessed daily to get medical clearance for future competitions, USA Gymnastics said in a tweet after Biles withdrew from the women's team gymnastics event.
© Paul Kuroda/ZUMA Press Wire
Silver medallists (L-R) JORDAN CHILES, SIMONE BILES, GRACE MCCALLUM and SUNISA LEE of the United States pose at a victory ceremony for the women's artistic gymnastics team all-around event at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre.
© Joe McNally via ZUMA Press Wire
Olympic rings tattoo on a competitor during warm-up before the start of races in the Tokyo Aquatics Center.
© Daniel A. Anderson/ZUMA Press Wire
