Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony starts under Covid cloud

Tokyo 2020 Olympics - The Tokyo 2020 Olympics Opening Ceremony - Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - July 23, 2021. International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and Japan's Emperor Naruhito wearing a protective face masks wave during the opening ceremony REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Tokyo, July 23, 2021 (AFP) - The opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics began on Friday in a nearly empty stadium after a year-long pandemic postponement and a build-up marred by scandal and controversy.

A video showing athletes training at home during the coronavirus pandemic started the show, with pink fireworks bursting into the air after a countdown.