At the Olympic stadium only 1000 guests in a facility that holds 68,000 spectators. There will also be Emperor Naruhito
TOKYO. Few smiles, children held by the hand, no one taking pictures: the buses with Olympic lettering, which transport journalists to the streets of Tokyo a few hours before the opening ceremony of the Games, are observed with caution by the Japanese. With 80% of the population opposed to the “Pandemic Games”, Japan is preparing to hear the opening speech of the 32nd Olympics from the voice of Emperor Naruhito at the ceremony in the Olympic stadium.
The stadium, instead of the 68,000 people expected, will welcome 950 official guests, the rest will be deserted. The ceremony will start at 1pm Italian time. The delegations of the 206 countries will be reduced the minimum terms to avoid Covid risk contacts and to streamline the event, which will in any case last three and a half hours and will end just before midnight local. The heat was already felt in the morning, the temperature has already touched 34 degrees, with a strong humidity.
The facilities set up for journalists are complete, some of which – such as the shuttles for transport to the press center – literally stormed since the morning. All representatives of the press live in a sort of “bubble” for 14 days, during which time they can only travel on the organization’s vehicles. The rare “Olympic” taxis are almost impossible to find, the only ones on which press representatives can get on (one for each vehicle). The large press room of the main Olympic press center is fully booked for the first time in recent days. (HANDLE).