Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony Live Updates: Athletes Arrive And Naomi Osaka Lights The Olympic Flame

Published July 23, 2021 at 5:34 AM EDT

Tennis star Naomi Osaka carries the Olympic torch at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics. — Japan's Naomi Osaka carries the Olympic torch towards the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

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The Tokyo 2020 Olympics are officially open, after Naomi Osaka lit the Olympic flame during the opening ceremony. Here are some of the fascinating storylines we're watching during one of the most unique and turbulent G ames in history.

The Parade of Nations featured more than 200 countries, and here's why countries enter in the order that they do.
Tonga's Pita Taufatofua and his chiseled chest returned. He was one of the many flag bearers that led their teams into the stadium.
Team USA was led into the stadium by basketball star Sue Bird and baseball player Eddy Alvarez. The women’s soccer team had to skip the event for practice.
The opening ceremony took place the same week officials confirmed COVID-19 cases in Tokyo are at their highest since January. The host city is under a state of emergency, and people continue to test positive for the virus.

— The NPR Olympics team
Emily Alfin Johnson, Rachel Treisman, Will Jones, Arielle Retting, Nell Clark, Casey Noenickx, Merrit Kennedy, Saeed Ahmed, Bill Chappell, Laurel Wamsley, Scott Neuman