The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games is usually a spectacular show, a chance for the host country to welcome the world and show off …
The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games is usually a spectacular show, a chance for the host country to welcome the world and show off its culture on a grand international stage. But this year’s opening ceremony, which will mark the official start of the Tokyo Olympics, promises to be a bit different. As COVID-19 continues to spread, organizers have adjusted course with both the messaging and implementation of this summer’s opening ceremony. And plenty of questions remain, even with the ceremony now barely one week away. Here’s everything we know about the opening ceremony so far. The opening ceremony will take place at 8 p.m. local time on Friday, July 23, at the National Stadium in Tokyo. This translates to 7 a.m. ET. Because of the 13-hour time difference, NBC will broadcast the opening ceremony live in the morning for the first time ever, starting at 6:55 a.m. ET. It can also be streamed on NBCOlympics.com. The network will then replay the opening ceremony in primetime, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET, for those who wish to watch the spectacle in its usual evening time slot. There will be no fans at the opening ceremony, because of COVID-19 restrictions in Tokyo. But that doesn’t mean the stadium will be empty. The Asahi Shimbun, a national newspaper in Japan, reported earlier this month that members of the International Olympic Committee, diplomats, foreign dignitaries and Olympic sponsors will still be permitted to attend the opening ceremony.
