Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony: World reacts as Naomi Osaka lights Olympic cauldron

It was one of the worst kept secrets of the Games but the Olympic flame has finally been lit at the Opening Ceremony.

Spectators were shut out but Tokyo still put on a show for the rest of the world watching Friday night’s opening ceremony on TV.

In an empty stadium – save for journalists and a delegation of select VIPs – the weirdest Olympics ever officially kicked off.

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.

Arisa Tsubata, a nurse and former Olympic boxing hopeful kicked off the Opening Ceremony.

She was surrounded by colleagues on exercise bikes and viewers who weren’t puffing just from looking at them were treated to a display of Japanese culture in a Covid-world built on the theme “apart but not alone”.

Colourful light displays were meant to symbolise how the world has found new ways to stay connected during these social distancing times and rubber ropes represented everyone having shared experiences because of the impacts of coronavirus.

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 followed the preceding 30 minutes of interpretive dance.

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 practicing with a broom in the lead-up paid off as she and Mills proudly waved the Australian flag in a seamless double act.

The coolest detail of the entire operation surrounded the Olympic rings put on centre stage. They were crafted out of wood from trees that grew from seeds brought over by international athletes when Tokyo last hosted the Olympics in 1964.

And then tennis superstar Naomi Osaka capped the night off, getting the honour of lighting the Olympic Cauldron.

The Games of the XXXII Olympiad are officially open.