Fan free Olympics begin

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games have now begun. Fans across the world came together to watch the opening event.

The Games are exactly one year late because of Covid. Unfortunately, coronavirus is still a big problem in Japan. The public aren’t allowed to get together outside.

Many fans watched the show with great excitement. Kyoko Ishikawa, who lives in Japan with her American husband, planned a party at home – and her family and friends came online. Her house was decorated with Olympic flags and photographs.

Kyoko Ishikawa: "The top athletes and everything top things, from two, over 200 countries get, come here – wanted just come to just one city and get together, and produce the, the highest energy and power. So that's the Olympic Games."

In London, fans came together near a shopping centre to watch. In Tokyo’s national stadium, there were fewer sportspeople than normal. The stadium seats 68,000 fans, but there were just 1,000 people watching.

But for Anthony from London, the Olympic Games join countries together. This is what makes them special.

Antony Lowbridge-Ellis: "Sometimes it's a bit sort of naïve but I love the idea of the world coming together, just for four – every four years, just for, for this. It makes me feel quite, quite happy. And I think that with everything that's gone on the last couple of years, it's probably needed more than ever. So, I'm really looking forward to these Games for that reason."

Japanese student Takoko was hoping to see the Games back home. Covid prevented her from travelling. But she is excited to watch the Games on a big screen.

Takako: "I'm Japanese and because of the Covid, I couldn't go back to Japan. That's why I went to see the Olympic Games on a big screen in the UK."

For sure, the Olympic competitors will miss their fans at the stadium itself. But there's no question that supporters across the world will be stuck to their screens. Weniger anzeigen