2020 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony explained

2020 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony
Time:	20:00 – 22:54 JST (UTC+9)^[1]
Place:	Tokyo, Japan
Filmed By:	Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS)
Theme:	"Moving Forward: We Have Wings"^[2]

The 2020 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony took place on 24 August 2021 at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.^{[3] [4]} The theme of the opening ceremony was "Moving Forward: We Have Wings" and thus surrounded around the theme of aviation, airplanes, airports, and everything that involved air travel.

Weather conditions

• 20:00 temperature humidity 69% ^[5]
• 23:00 temperature humidity 80%
• At the observation point, it rained at each hour of 20:00, 22:00, and 23:00 to the extent that an hourly rainfall of 0 (mm) was recorded.^[6]

Venue

The Japan National Stadium, also referred to as the Olympic Stadium, served as the main stadium for the opening ceremony. The stadium will also serve as the main stadium for the closing ceremony, and the athletics/track and field events.^[7]

Parade of nations

See main article: 2020 Summer Paralympics Parade of Nations. In the announcement of the Refugee Paralympic Team, it was stated that the team would enter first in the parade of nations.^[8] The rest of the countries entered in the Japanese Gojūon alphabetical order, with the last three teams being the United States, France, and Japan as the current host of the Paralympics as the final team and the next two hosts being Los Angeles 2028 and Paris 2024, so the United States and France entered as the final two teams before the Japanese team. Unlike the Olympics, Greece does not enter at the start of the parade, but instead follows the regular alphabetical order. After the parade of nations, there is a welcome greeting to the Para Airport.^[9]

Performers

Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii was among the musicians who participated in the Opening Ceremony, although not in person. A recording of a composition by him ("House of Wind"), performed with an orchestra, was played while the flag of Japan was carried on stage.^[10] 13 year old Yui Wago performed the role of the 'Little One-Winged Plane'.^[11]

The announcers at all ceremonies were Mai Shoji (English) and Hiroyuki Sekino (Japanese).^[12]

Flame

See also: 2020 Summer Paralympics torch relay.

Dignitaries in attendance

Host country dignitaries

• Japan –
  • Emperor Naruhito
  • Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga
  • Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike
  • Minister of State for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games Tamayo Marukawa
  • Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan Katsunobu Katō

Dignitaries from international organizations

• – President Andrew Parsons
• – President Thomas Bach^[13]

Dignitaries from abroad

• Colombia – Presidential Advisor for the Participation of Persons with Disabilities Jairo Clopatofsky
  • – Korean Paralympic Committee president Lee Myung-ho United States – Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff^[14]

Anthems

• National anthem of Japan – Hirari Sato^[15]
• Paralympic Hymn

Ceremony key team

Source:

See also

• 2020 Summer Olympics opening ceremony
• 2020 Summer Olympics closing ceremony

Notes and References

1. Web site: How to watch Tokyo Paralympics Opening Ceremony. 2021-08-24. wthr.com. 23 August 2021 . en-US.
2. Web site: Let the Paralympic Games Begin!.
3. Web site: Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games – Opening and Closing Ceremonies. 4 July 2021. 24 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210824154122/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/paralympics/ceremonies/. dead.
4. Web site: Tokyo 2020: Paralympic competition schedule unveiled. 4 July 2021.
5. Web site: Search for past weather data Tokyo August 24, 2021 (hourly value) . ja. JMA. 2021-08-25.
6. We were able to see a shower at the National Stadium through the TV screen.
7. Web site: Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games: opening ceremony – live updates!. 24 August 2021. Guardian. 24 August 2021.
8. Web site: IPC announces six athletes to compete for the Refugee Paralympic Team at Tokyo 2020. 2 July 2021.
9. Web site: Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Off To Glittering Start With Opening Ceremony Set In 'Para Airport' . 2021-08-24 . 2021-09-11 . The ceremony was set in a 'Para Airport' -- a symbol of diversity and inclusion -- and began with a video that depicted the strength of para athletes. . https://web.archive.org/web/20210828005412/https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/sports-news-tokyo-2020-paralympics-off-to-glittering-start-with-opening-ceremony-set-in-para-airport/392498 . 2021-08-28 . live .
10. Japan Yahoo News, "Pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii's para-opening ceremony performance raises the national flag entrance", Yahoo! News, 24 August 2021
11. https://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0007707914 "13-year-old girl gives emotional performance"
12. News: The voice of the Olympics and Paralympics heard around the world . 25 October 2021 . . 1 October 2021 . en.
13. Web site: 2021-08-18. IOC President Bach to return to Tokyo for Paralympic Opening Ceremony. live. 2021-08-24. www.insidethegames.biz. https://web.archive.org/web/20210819002705/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1111782/bach-to-attend-paralympic-ceremony . 19 August 2021 .
14. Web site: 11 August 2021. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff heading Team USA Paralympics delegation in first foreign trip. 11 August 2021. The Independent . en . https://web.archive.org/web/20210811150924/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/doug-emhoff-team-usa-paralympics-b1900772.html . 2021-08-11 . limited . live.
15. https://japan-forward.com/opening-ceremony-delivers-aspirational-upbeat-performance/ PARALYMPICSOpening Ceremony Delivers Aspirational, Upbeat Performance