The opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics took place on Friday in a nearly empty National Stadium after year-long pandemic postponement and a build-up marred by scandal and controversy. The ceremony began with performances and fireworks. It was followed by the parade of participating countries, which placed the foundation for speeches by International Olympic Committee (IOC) chief Thomas Bach and Seiko Hashimoto, who is the chief of Tokyo Organising Committee. After the speeches, Japanese Emperor Naruhito opened up The Games, and few more performances took place. Tennis ace Naomi Osaka ended the ceremony by lighting the Olympic Cauldron. The ceremony took place before just a few hundred officials and dignitaries.