An Olympic opening ceremony with all the usual pomp and tradition played out Friday night in Tokyo in front of a nearly empty stadium.
Athletes …
An Olympic opening ceremony with all the usual pomp and tradition played out Friday night in Tokyo in front of a nearly empty stadium. Athletes paraded in, waving at empty seats. Dancers in pastel costumes and hats provided the only live encouragement during what is normally an exuberant parade before a wildly cheering audience. Oaths were taken, speeches were made, all of it for the entertainment of millions of television viewers, but perhaps only 1,000 people in attendance, most of them news media members, dignitaries or volunteers.
