Tokyo Paralympics opened by Japanese emperor Naruhito

Japan's emperor Naruhito on Tuesday officially opened the Tokyo Paralympics which take place shortly after the Olympics in the Japanese capital and run until September 5. The opening ceremony took place behind closed doors at the Olympic Stadium amid a strict coronavirus-related hygiene protocol which includes a Paralympic bubble for athletes and officials. A state of emergency remains in place in Tokyo amid high infection rates and citizens are encouraged to stay at home.”i cannot believe we are finally here,” International Paralympics Committee (IPC) president Andrew Parsons said. “May doubted this day would happen, many thought it was impossible.”some 4,400 athletes from 161 countries plus a refugee team will be competing for more than 500 gold medals in 22 sports over 12 days. While no tickets are sold owing to the pandemic, some 130,000 schoolchildren are to attend the events.”we will put the world's 1.2 million persons with disabilities at the heart of the inclusion agenda. Difference is the strength, it is not the weakness,” Parsons said. Athletes from Afghanistan are not present because flights are suspended following the Taliban regaining power in the country but the national flag, carried by a volunteer, was part of the parade in an act of solidarity. The small number of officials and dignitaries in the stadium included International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach who arrived back in Tokyo on Monday after overseeing the July 23-August 8 Olympics there. According to Japanese media, Bach did not need to quarantined when he re-entered Japan. The government made an exception for him on the condition that Bach limits his movements to certain places and events such as the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium and his hotel.