TENNIS star Naomi Osaka of Japan had the distinct honour of serving as the final torchbearer of the Olympic Torch Relay, lighting the cauldron inside Olympic Stadium for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 in 2021.
Osaka, 23, is a four-time major champion in tennis who is making her Olympic debut. She won her fourth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open earlier in 2021.
Her lighting of the cauldron on Friday served as one of the final moments of a moving Opening Ceremony, leading the way with hope for the world and furthering the “Stronger Together” message that has been embraced by these Games.
The lighting of the cauldron marked the final step of a long journey for the Olympic Torch through Japan, at the end of a relay which began on 25 March 2021.
The torch is designed in the shape of a cherry blossom, a symbol close to the hearts of the Japanese people.
The torch entered into Olympic stadium, carried by Olympic champions Nomura Tadahiro (judo) and Yoshida Saori (wrestling) and was handed off to Japanese baseball legends Hideki Matsui, Shigeo Nagashima, and Oh Sadaharu.
It was then a pair of healthcare first responders who took the flame, passing it along to Tsuchida Wakako, a seven-time Paralympian and three-time gold medallist. Tsuchida handed the torch on to a group of Japanese youth before it was then given to Osaka herself.
The lighting of the cauldron concluded a spectacular opening ceremony that had thousands of athletes march in their countries’ colours and traditional attire before empty stands.
Although there were no spectators due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the ceremony was a real spectacle of vibrant colours, history and culture of the Japanese people as well as messages of hope and display of modern technology.
It was an Opening Ceremony that mixed tradition, technology and a message of hope as the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 got underway.
From an awe-inspiring drone display to Japan’s tennis superstar Naomi Osaka lighting the Olympic cauldron, it was a four-hour long affair of excitement and beauty that all took place at the Olympic Stadium in the capital.
It took a year longer than anticipated, but finally the Olympic flag has been carried into Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium. Being led in by eight children, the flagbearers including two-time Olympic weightlifting champion Miyake Yoshinobu, Sydney 2000 women’s marathon champion Takahashi Naoko, Youth Olympic Games medallist Tabata Momoha (curling) and Dohi Keita (sport climbing) along with rescue worker Asa Mizuki and percussionist Sakai Hibiki.
As members of the Self-Defence Forces raised the national flag, the national anthem Kimi Ga Yo, was performed by one of Japan’s most renowned singers Misia. Performing in a white dress with a hem full of rainbow colours, the 43-year-old gained praise across social media for her powerful voice.
Entering in order of the host nations language, some of the 11,289 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees, including the IOC Olympic Refugee Team, who will be competing at the Games, were welcomed into the stadium by the songs of famous Japanese video games including Final Fantasy’s Victory Fanfare, Sonic the Hedgehog’s Star Light Zone and Pro Evolution Soccer’s eFootball walk on theme.
The athletes didn’t shy away from the spotlight with Ireland stopping and bowing when they came out, Uganda’s and Dominican Republic’s delegations danced their way into the stadium while Portugal’s flagbearers judoka Telma Monteiro and triple jump athlete Nelson Evron spun their nations flag around and France’s Samir Aït Saïd did a backflip.
And of course, Tonga’s Pita Taufatofua reprised his role for a third Olympic Games but he had competition from Vanuatu’s Rio Rii who also appeared shirtless.
Olympics.com
