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.[2]
Part of 2020 Summer Paralympics | |
Date | 24 August 2021 |
---|---|
Time | 20:00 – 22:54 JST (UTC+9)[1] |
Venue | Olympic Stadium |
Location | Tokyo, Japan |
Theme | "Moving Forward: We Have Wings"[2] |
Filmed by | Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) |
Footage | The ceremony on the IPC YouTube channel on YouTube |
Weather conditions
editVenue
editThe 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
editIn 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][citation needed]
Performers
editJapanese 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
editDignitaries in attendance
editThis section needs additional citations for verification. (August 2021) |
Host country dignitaries
edit- 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
edit- International Paralympic Committee – President Andrew Parsons
- International Olympic Committee – President Thomas Bach[13]
Dignitaries from abroad
edit- Colombia – Presidential Advisor for the Participation of Persons with Disabilities Jairo Clopatofsky
- South Korea – Korean Paralympic Committee president Lee Myung-ho
- United States – Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff[14]
Anthems
editCeremony key team
editSource:[citation needed]
- Tomoyuki Tanaka, musical director[16]
- Kei Shibata
- Kentarō Kobayashi, Opening Ceremony Director[a][16]
- Mansai Nomura, adviser[citation needed]
- Yuichi Kodama, film director[16]
- Akihiro Fukube
- Akihiro Hamabe
- Hiroshi Nakamura, assistant musical director[16]
- Iguchi
- Junji Kojima, film director[16]
- Keiji Wakabayashi
- Koichiro Tsujikawa, film director[16]
- Marco Balich, senior adviser to the executive producer
- Marihiko Hara, composer[16]
- Masayuki Kagei, composer[16]
- Nami Tomizawa, set designer[17]
- Noboru Tomizawa
- Piera Shepperd, senior adviser to the executive producer
- Seigen Tokuzawa, composer[16]
- Shintaro Hirahara, director of choreography[16]
- Takayuki Hioki, executive producer
- Takayuki Suzuki
- Takuji Higuchi, executive writer[16]
- Toshihiko Sakura
- Tugihisa Tanaka
- Yohei Taneda, scenographer[16]
- Announcers
- Mai Shoji (English)[citation needed]
- Hiroyuki Sekino (Japanese)[citation needed]
- Commentator by OBS
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ "How to watch Tokyo Paralympics Opening Ceremony". wthr.com. 23 August 2021. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ a b "Let the Paralympic Games Begin!". Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- ^ "Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games – Opening and Closing Ceremonies". Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "Tokyo 2020: Paralympic competition schedule unveiled". Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "Search for past weather data Tokyo August 24, 2021 (hourly value)". JMA (in Japanese). Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- ^ We were able to see a shower at the National Stadium through the TV screen.
- ^ "Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games: opening ceremony – live updates!". Guardian. 24 August 2021. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ "IPC announces six athletes to compete for the Refugee Paralympic Team at Tokyo 2020". Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
- ^ "Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Off To Glittering Start With Opening Ceremony Set In 'Para Airport'". 24 August 2021. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
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.
- ^ Japan Yahoo News, "Pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii's para-opening ceremony performance raises the national flag entrance" Archived 25 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine, Yahoo! News, 24 August 2021
- ^ "13-year-old girl gives emotional performance" Archived 26 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine, The Japan Times, 24 August 2021
- ^ "The voice of the Olympics and Paralympics heard around the world". Japan Today. 1 October 2021. Archived from the original on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ "IOC President Bach to return to Tokyo for Paralympic Opening Ceremony". www.insidethegames.biz. 18 August 2021. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ "Second gentleman Doug Emhoff heading Team USA Paralympics delegation in first foreign trip". The Independent. 11 August 2021. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- ^ "PARALYMPICSOpening Ceremony Delivers Aspirational, Upbeat Performance". Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "New Tokyo 2020 Olympics & Paralympics Ceremonies Committee Revealed". ARAMA! JAPAN. Natalie News. 15 July 2021. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
- ^ "Ceremonies: Count Down". Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.