The Tokyo Olympics will no doubt be remembered like no other after it opened July 23 in a mostly empty stadium following an unprecedented one-year delay caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
With a colorful but subdued ceremony, the games began amid a mixture of excitement and fear of a virus resurgence in Tokyo. The two-week event, now at the midpoint, is a major test for organizers as the coronavirus has brought profound changes to the way international sporting events are held. For the Japanese government, the success of the Olympics also has political and economic implications.