‘Go to hell’: Protesters ambush Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony

Tokyo’s opening ceremony copped a visit from some surprise guests who were desperate to be heard inside the stadium, if not seen.

A man holds a placard during a protest against the hosting of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo on July 23, 2021. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)

Angry protesters took advantage of an empty stadium to make their voices heard as they raged against the Olympics during Friday night’s opening ceremony.

Before athletes from around the world marched around the Olympic Stadium, critics of the Games gathered outside and were heard yelling: “Go to hell, IOC.”

There’s been plenty of public backlash to the decision to plough ahead with the Olympics during a pandemic, as Japan struggles to get a grip on Covid-19. Earlier this month a state of emergency was reintroduced in Tokyo and other prefectures because of a surge in coronavirus cases.

More than 15,000 people have died from Covid in Japan and over the past two days Tokyo has registered more than 3000 cases. Some athletes have had their Olympics dreams broken, told they can’t compete because they’d tested positive after arriving in Japan.

Certain opinion polls had up to 80 per cent of respondents saying they were against the Olympics taking place, while major sponsors like Toyota have pulled public support for the Games, declining to run TV ads during broadcasts for the next two weeks and opting against sending executives to the opening ceremony.

Protesters were all out in force.

Police Officers stand guard outside the stadium during the Opening Ceremony.

The disenchantment towards the biggest sporting event on the planet was obvious as hordes of people gathered outside the Olympic stadium to vent their frustration. According to media inside, the protesters’ angry cries were clearly audible during quieter parts of the ceremony.

If there was hesitancy before the Olympics about holding the event while Covid continued to cause havoc, then the rise in cases and stream of stories about athletes testing positive will do nothing to ease concerns among locals.

The Japanese government has been forced into a delicate balancing act, fully aware of the public angst surrounding the decision to hold the Olympics, but knowing cancellation would have meant losing billions of dollars in revenue.

The VIPs who attended the opening ceremony didn’t seem too perturbed by what was happening outside, clapping along as countries proudly waved their flags.

Fireworks erupt around the Olympic stadium.

Faster, Higher, Stronger … Together.

We thought the first hero of the Games would announce themselves on a podium but instead that honour went to a girl on a treadmill, who became an instant meme for playing a starring role in the ceremony.

Working as nurse on the frontline to fight Covid-19, Arisa Tsubata was robbed of her chance to compete at her home Games as a boxer when the Asian qualification event was scrapped because of the pandemic. Spots were awarded on world rankings, and the 27-year-old middleweight missed out.

There was something sad about the Japanese anthem being sung while the country’s flag was raised in front of empty seats, but Team Argentina soon lightened the mood as the athletes’ parade kicked off.

Argentina did their best impersonation of a mosh pit, jumping around and chanting as they lifted their country’s spirits after a shock football loss to the Olyroos on Thursday.

Australia was led out by basketball star Patty Mills and swimming sensation Cate Campbell, who are both competing at Olympics No. 4. Campbell’s technique of practising with a broom in the lead-up paid off as she and Mills proudly waved the Australian flag in a seamless double act.