How many performers in opening ceremonies

This has also affected the opening ceremony, with not all athletes present at the teams' parade as many fly in just before their competitions and leave shortly after to avoid contacts as much as possible.

Instead of more than 10, athletes marching into a capacity-crowd stadium as usual, the team parade will be smaller, in a largely empty Tokyo Olympic stadium bar a few hundred officials, and with tight social distancing rules. The opening ceremony in a way is going to be unique and focus only on the athletes," Balich said. I fear there will be fewer this time. That already gives a serious distance between the athletes in the stadium," said Balich, who also produced the ceremony for Turin's winter Olympics among others.

There is widespread concern among the public over the safety of holding the global sporting spectacle amid the pandemic and many Japanese fear the Olympics could turn into a super-spreader event. The moment is now. Nine years ago, when the Summer Olympics were held in London, the opening ceremony drew a record U. On Sunday, the International Olympic Committee relaxed its health rules and said medalists can remove their masks on the podium for photos — for 30 seconds.

Health protocols agreed to ahead of the Tokyo Olympics to control COVID infections had required all medalists to keep masks on for the whole ceremony. But it's not all freedom and exposed mouths from here on out. Athletes have to stay on their own podium step. And group photos on the top step? Masks back on, please. Credit: Eddie Jim. Athletes from South Africa. Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee. Indonesia athletes look on during the opening ceremony.

IOC president Thomas Bach declares it a moment of hope He pays tribute to the Japanese people, then expresses gratitude on behalf of the athletes. I think most of them are just ready to get this flame lit and get out of here. Bach asking for more solidarity. I think everyone in the stadium has achieved that in hoping he finishes his speech very, very soon. Reading the room not a key skillset for IOC top brass. Olympics opening ceremony as it happened: Tokyo prepares for Games liftoff.

Please try again later. The Sydney Morning Herald.