This is the Tokyo Olympic Stadium 1:18
(CNN) -
The ambition is to make millions of television viewers around the world gasp.
The opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games is an opportunity for the host country to showcase the best of its culture, introduce the competing countries and athletes, and generally get everyone in the mood for a sporting event that unite the world.
Except that the Tokyo opening ceremony is mired in controversy after both the show's director and composer left their posts.
Director Kentaro Kobayashi was fired on Thursday after earlier comments that "ridiculed the painful facts of history," according to Tokyo 2020 organizers. Local media reports said he made anti-Semitic remarks, in a 1998 comedy about the Holocaust. .
See what athletes do in the Olympic Village 2:00
Kobayashi later apologized for his comments in a statement.
"In fact, as noted, in the video that was released in 1998 to introduce young comedians, a script that I wrote contained an extremely inappropriate expression," added the comedian.
Minute by minute: The 2020 Tokyo Olympics
"I understand that my silly choice of words at the time was a mistake. I'm sorry," Kobayashi said, adding that he was grateful to be able to participate in the ceremony.
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Also problems with the composer of the music
Earlier this week, the composer of the 2020 Olympics opening and closing ceremonies, Japanese musician Keigo Oyamada, announced his intention to resign after old interviews about bullying behavior resurfaced.
Oyamada, who is also known by the theatrical nickname Cornelius, has faced backlash on social media after comments made in the 1990s, with the Japanese magazine Rockin'On Japan, recently began circulating in line.
In those comments, he described abusing classmates with apparent disabilities while at school.
Put on a show
In 2012, Academy Award-winning film director Danny Boyle created an opening ceremony that featured David Beckham in a boat, red double-decker buses, and even Queen Elizabeth II jumping out of a helicopter with James. Bond.
Tokyo 2020: they do not rule out canceling the 3:25 games
In 2016, the Rio Opening Ceremony was bright and vibrant in a celebration of Brazilian multiculturalism and culture, with segments dedicated to climate change and conservation.
Now is the time for Tokyo and Japan to put on a show for the watching world.
The opening ceremony of this year's Summer Games (boreal), which were delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, will take place this Friday, July 23 at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium.
Usually it takes place in a stadium full of ecstatic fans.
But this year's ceremony will have athletes from around the world parading in a nearly empty venue after it was announced that fans would not be able to attend due to the increase in covid-19 cases in Japan.
"The most difficult part of the process was that the postponement meant a simplification of the ceremonies and the message had to be drastically revised," said Takayuki Hioki, Executive Producer of Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee Ceremonies.
"After almost five years of planning, we were suddenly forced to rethink everything. This was the biggest challenge," Hioki added.
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Due to restrictions, only a select number of officials and a few dignitaries will be present for Friday's ceremony.
Tokyo 2020 spokesperson Hidemasa Nakamura told CNN that around 950 prominent people will participate in the event.
The total will include around 800 foreign guests and 150 from Japan, CNN affiliate TV Asahi reported.
Japan's Emperor Naruhito, who will declare the Olympics open at the ceremony, will attend without any other members of the imperial family, according to the Imperial Household Agency.
The agency says the decision was made in accordance with plans for other Olympic officials who also attend without the company of their spouses.
The IOC's hope for the Tokyo Olympics
With all the struggles and difficulties the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has faced in organizing the Games amid the ongoing pandemic, President Thomas Bach believes it will be a time of "joy and relief."
"I think it will be a moment of joy and relief as we enter the stadium," Bach said during a press conference.
First case of covid-19 detected in the Olympic Village 1:13
"A moment of joy in particular for the athletes because I know how much they long for this moment. They can finally be there and they can enjoy this moment in very special circumstances. And a feeling of relief because the road to this Opening Ceremony was not the easiest. "he added.
Absences due to covid-19
However, as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Tokyo, there will be notable absences on Friday.
Japanese automaker Toyota has confirmed that its CEO Akio Toyoda will not attend the opening ceremony.
"The motto of the Tokyo 2020 Games is 'United by Excitement,'" Hioki added.
"We spent a lot of time and energy fighting. And what we came up with was 'to achieve the best of the personal', 'unity in diversity', 'to connect with tomorrow'; in other words, the vision of the Games," he explained .
"We have created something with a strong message that will resonate with the audience. It is more about the emotional connection than the emotion. We take athletes very seriously. We had to make sure that athletes who have finally come from abroad do not feel anxious and yet we want you to be energized and ready for the competition, "Hioki continued.
Toyota will air JJ.OO commercials.
for USA 0:39
Marco Balich, a former executive producer of the opening ceremony and now a senior advisor to the Tokyo ceremony, told Reuters that Friday's event will be a "sobering" ceremony.
"However, with a beautiful Japanese aesthetic. Very Japanese, but also in tune with today's feeling, reality," said Balich, who was in charge of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
The Tokyo2020 Twitter account tweeted a preview of what to expect at Friday's event on Wednesday, showing a 30-second clip of an orchestra playing music, a drone and choreographed dances.
Carry the flag
Carrying your country's flag as you and your fellow athletes enter the stadium for an opening ceremony is one of the greatest honors bestowed on any Olympic athlete.
For Team USA, Sue Bird, a four-time Olympic gold medalist in basketball, and baseball player Eddy Alvarez received that honor after being named their country's flag bearers for the opening ceremony, announced Wednesday the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
The US has a flag bearer of Cuban origin in Tokyo 0:42
"It is an incredible honor to be selected as the flag bearer for Team USA," Bird said in a statement.
"I know what that means because I got to witness Dawn Staley when she was selected in 2004."
"It is an honor that is greater than when his fellow athletes on Team USA selected him to represent the entire delegation, and it will last forever," he said.
For the first time, two United States flag bearers at the Tokyo Olympics
Bird and Alvarez were chosen as flag bearers by Team USA athletes Friday's opening ceremony will mark the first time the United States delegation will have two flag bearers.
"It is an honor and a privilege to be named as one of the flag bearers by my fellow Team USA athletes for the Opening Ceremony," Alvarez said.
"As a first-generation Cuban-American, my story represents the American dream. My family has sacrificed so much for me for the opportunity to wave this flag with pride.
Tokyo 2020 athlete beds are company-free 1:05
"I am grateful for my time with US speed skating and baseball, as well as all my teammates. I am honored to bring Team USA to the Tokyo Olympics," he said.
For Team Great Britain, Olympic champions Hannah Mills and Mohamed Sbihi will be the team flaggers for Friday's opening ceremony.
Sailor Mills and rower Sbihi will defend their Olympic titles that they won four years ago in Rio.
Junko Ogura, Chie Kobayashi, Gawon Bae, Chandler Thornton contributed to this report.
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