Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games: opening ceremony – live updates!
- Opening ceremony begins in Tokyo at 8pm (12pm BST)
- Read Paul MacInnes’ preview | Day-by-day guide
- And you can email Paul or tweet @campbellwpaul
The flag is raised as the national anthem of Japan plays.
The tone has been one of quiet reflection so far, which is fitting given what we have been through over the last 18 months and given the situation in Japan at the moment – as my colleague Justin McCurry has been reporting this week:
There will be a sense of the familiar when the Paralympics begin on Tuesday. Senior Games officials, including the International Paralympic Committee president, Andrew Parsons, and a returning Thomas Bach will witness the start of the second instalment of the most controversial Games in recent history. In his role as honorary patron, Emperor Naruhito will declare the event officially open at a near-empty national stadium in Tokyo.
But less than a month after the delayed 2020 Olympics ended in sporting success for the home country and repeated claims by government and organisers that they had passed off “safely and securely”, the Japan preparing to greet 4,400 Paralympians will be very different from the one that reluctantly welcomed the Olympic family in late July.
Related: Olympic feelgood factor evaporates as fearful Tokyo awaits Paralympics
Now we will have a welcome from the hosts.
The national flag of Japan is brought out to the middle of the stadium and we are invited to consider the last year. Sombre piano music plays in the background.
Continue reading...from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2WhwjBl
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