Weirdest Olympics ever get under way

Olympics begin with empty, giant stadium

An estimated 100 of the 613 athletes representing the U.S. at the Tokyo Olympics have not been vaccinated against COVID-19.

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee surveyed all the athletes and 567 responded, with 83% saying they are vaccinated.

“Eighty-three percent is actually a substantial number and we’re quite happy with it,” USOPC medical director Jonathan Finnoff said. About 56% of the overall U.S. population is at least partially vaccinated, according to Centers for Disease Control data.

The COVID protocols in Tokyo are the same for unvaccinated and vaccinated athletes. Organizers have laid down strict rules to try to keep the international competition from turning into a worldwide superspreader event.

Despite calls from disease experts and activists both inside and outside Japan, the Games are going ahead one year after their cancellation due to COVID-19. No fans will be in attendance for the entire event, which ends Aug. 8.

Two U.S. athletes, beach volleyball player Taylor Crabb and Kara Eaker, an alternate on the women’s gymnastics team, have already tested positive. Both were vaccinated.

They’re two of 13 athletes in Tokyo to contract the virus, according to the International Olympic Committee. Teen U.S. tennis phenom Coco Gauff tested positive before arriving in Japan and had to pull out.

The IOC has estimated 85% of all Olympians are vaccinated, using numbers reported by each country’s Olympic committee.

Though events began Wednesday with early round softball games, the 2020 Games formally kicked off Friday night in Tokyo with the Opening Ceremony, complete with dual flag-bearers and tennis star Naomi Osaka lighting the torch.

It isn’t hard to do.”

Japanese singer Misia added color to the somewhat bleak event by performing her country’s national anthem in a gown many compared to cotton candy.

Among the competing athletes was a team of 29 men and women representing refugees. It’s the second time that a collection of athletes has competed in the Games.

One recent Olympics tradition that’s hotter tthan he torch itself continued: International sensation Pita Taufatofua carried the flag of Tonga, shirtless and slathered in nearly two gallons of baby oil. The hunky taekwondo athlete and skier also carried the flag for Tonga — and made hearts race — in the 2016 Summer

Olympics and the 2018 Winter Olympics.

U.S. women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe was not at the opening ceremony, where her basketball playing fiancée Sue Bird was a flag-bearer. She wondered to NBC commentator Savannah Guthrie, “I don’t know who scheduled us to practice at this time,” but said she was proud of Bird.

Bird fittingly said, “This Olympics is like no other.”