Tokyo: The much talked-about Tokyo Olympics finally got underway on Friday, a year behind schedule, in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic which continues to ravage the world.
After the 32nd Summer Games were declared open at the National Stadium, the athletes’ marchpast was led by the Greek contingent. That’s the tradition followed at every edition of the quadrennial Games as Greece was first ever host of the Olympic Games.
The Indian team entered the stadium as the 21st country, with boxer MC Mary Kom and men’s hockey team star Manpreet Singh being the flag bearers.
Watch video here (courtesy DD Sports):
Flagbearers boxer MC Mary Kom & men’s hockey team captain Manpreet Singh lead out Indian contingent at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics 2020#Tokyo2020
(Video: DD Sports) pic.twitter.com/JiGbJ0HvNI
— OTV (@otvnews) July 23, 2021
India has sent its largest ever Olympic contingent to Tokyo, consisting of 127 participants across 18 disciplines. As many as 56 of them are female contestants, which is also a record for India.
Shortly before the athletes’ marchpast in Tokyo, Mary Kom tweeted pictures of herself and one with Manpreet holding miniature Indian flags.
Here I stand before the opening ceremony of #Tokyo2020 as a flag bear of my nation, India. #Cheer4India pic.twitter.com/hNkixkoxBt
— M C Mary Kom OLY (@MangteC) July 23, 2021
