The opening ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics has begun with a spectacular show at the national stadium.

The event began with a performer seeming to morph from a seed into a plant through the use of overhead projections.

A compilation video then showed athletes training alone as they prepared for the Games.

A countdown kicked off fireworks above the stadium, which turned indigo and blue in the shape of a fan.

Lone performers dressed as athletes were shown exercising on equipment as projections of lines and circles linked them to each other, a nod to the way the internet has connected people during the pandemic.

Dancers performed using pieces of red elastic ropes binding them together.

The Japanese flag was carried into the stadium by athletes and a paramedic, leading up to a representation of Mount Fuji.

Japan’s national anthem was sung and a moment of silence was held to remember “friends and loved ones no longer with us”, particularly those lost to the pandemic.

Guided by the light of many paper lanterns, giant wooden rings were carried onto the field on a platform.

The pull of a rope transformed them into the Olympic symbol.

The rings were made from trees that grew from the seeds borne by athletes from each of the participating nations to the previous Olympics hosted by Tokyo.

The performance of putting the rings together began with the “Kiyari Uta,” a traditional work song that has been sung for centuries by labourers to synchronise their efforts.

The Olympic rings were formed using wood from trees planted during 1964 Olympics, which were also hosted in Tokyo.

Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus received the Olympic Laurel for his pioneering work as a micro-lender hailed for cutting poverty across the globe.

Athletes bearing the flags of their respective nations are now leading their national delegations as they parade into the stadium.

Argentinian athletes were especially enthusiastic, jumping up and down and cheering as they came in.

An orchestral medley of songs from iconic Japanese video games served as the soundtrack – including the Final Fantasy series’ theme and “Victory Fanfare,” the song that plays when a player wins an encounter.

The Games were delayed by a year and spectators were banned two weeks ago over concerns about the spread of COVID-19.

Approximately 1,000 dignitaries and news media members are present to witness the event live in a stadium designed to host thousands of people.

Public opinion polls show most Japanese residents are against the decision to hold the world sporting event in the capital, which is under a coronavirus state of emergency.

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