PHOTOS: Tokyo Olympics kicks off with colourful fireworks and diverse cultural display

The rescheduled Tokyo Olympics has officially begun with an opening ceremony that displayed colourful fireworks and the brilliance of diverse cultures.

The opening ceremony took place on Friday at an empty stadium in Tokyo.

The ceremony was officially declared open by Hironomiya Naruhito, the emperor of Japan.

Other dignitaries present at the ceremony include Emmanuel Macron, president of France, and Jill Biden, the first lady of the US, among others.

The event took a resplendent turn as the athletes fanned out in the colours and costumes of their various countries.

Nigerian contingents were led by Aruna Quadri and Odunayo Adekuruoye, the country’s flagbearers, as they stride out in white caftan adorned with glinting green stripes.

Tokyo Olympics, which was postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will hold till August 8, with 11,326 athletes competing in 339 events.

More photos are below…

PHOTO CREDIT:

1. https://instagram.com/tokyo2020?utm_medium=copy_linkhttps://instagram.com/tokyo2020?utm_medium=copy_link

2. https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/news/photos/