There was a festive atmosphere in the Japan Sport Olympic Square — which sits just across the street from National Stadium — prior to the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics, which finally opened on Friday after being postponed for one year because of COVID-19.
The run-up to the Tokyo Games was filled with concern about the ongoing pandemic, various scandals and a public that seemed vehemently opposed to holding the games as scheduled. Across the street from the main venue on the day the Games officially arrived, however, a crowd gathered to take in whatever part of the experience they could — perhaps a testament to the popularity of the Olympics even in times of strife — taking photos with the Olympic rings and each other.
This was as close as most will get to these unusual Olympics. Even though the crowd was a stone's throw away from National Stadium, they were separated from the Games' centerpiece venue by a fence that served as a reminder of the distance at which the Tokyo Games will be kept from the citizens of the city hosting them.
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