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It was technically demanding and impressive: Drones conjured up a globe in the Tokyo evening sky.
But one after the other.
Photo: ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP
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The opening of the Olympic Games in Japan was delayed a year.
With fireworks, but without spectators.
Photo:
DYLAN MARTINEZ / AFP
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Before that, in the afternoon, the Japanese aerobatic team whitewashed the Olympic colors on the Tokyo sky before ...
Photo: FRANCK ROBICHON / EPA
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... in the evening the Japanese flag was carried past the Olympic fire cauldron.
Photo: Cameron Spencer / Getty Images
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Around 1,000 officials attended the ceremony in the arena, which actually has space for 68,000 people.
Photo: MARKO DJURICA / REUTERS
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Including IOC President Thomas Bach and Japan's Emperor Naruhito, who continued a tradition: Naruhito's grandfather Hirohito had opened the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964.
Photo: Michael Kappeler / dpa
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Billions of people from all over the world watched the show on television.
Photo: Matthias Hangst / Getty Images
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There were isolated protests around the opening ceremony.
The banners read “Put out the Olympic torch” and “No Olympics” and “Global crime against Japan”.
There were also loud protests in front of the stadium.
Photo: Stanislav Kogiku / imago images / ZUMA Wire
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The entry of the nations began with athletes from Greece.
Photo: Matthias Hangst / Getty Images
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Afterwards, the refugee team was allowed to enter the national stadium.
Among other things, the flag was carried by Yusra Mardini, a swimmer from Syria who lives in Germany.
The fact that two athletes often preceded should be a symbol of equality.
Photo: Michael Kappeler / dpa
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A total of 206 nations came in, so almost the whole world is represented.
North Korea, for example, was not there for fear of the virus.
Shown here: The standard-bearer from Angola, Natalia Santos.
Photo:
QUAY PFAFFENBACH / REUTERS
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Doitsu (better known in this country as Germany) was led by diver Patrick Hausding and beach volleyball player Laura Ludwig.
For the first time a duo carried the German flag.
In addition to black, red and gold, the German team also waved Japanese flags.
Photo: Dylan Martinez - Pool / Getty Images
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French President Emmanuel Macron also attended the more than three-hour opening ceremony - and possibly wished for a faster end.
Don't worry, you made it right away.
There are only a few pictures left.
Photo: Leon Neal / Getty Images
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For the third time in a row, Pita Taufatofua made progress for Tonga.
His outfit - the bare upper body - always remained the same.
Taekwondo fighter Malia Paseka carried the flag with him.
Photo: HANNAH MCKAY / AFP
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The rower RII Riilio represents Vanuatu, an island nation in the South Pacific.
Photo: ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP
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At 11.48 p.m. local time, Japan's tennis star Naomi Osaka lit the Olympic flame in Tokyo and thus provided the final climax.
Photo: Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images
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