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Photos: Highlights Of The Tokyo Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony

Fireworks explode during the Opening Ceremony.
Ezra Shaw
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Getty Images
Fireworks explode during the Opening Ceremony.

Fireworks soared above Tokyo's new Olympic Stadium Friday as the delayed Summer Games finally held its opening ceremony — an event that culminates in lighting the Olympic cauldron.

Athletes marched in front of thousands of empty seats as only a sparse crowd was admitted due to COVID-19 restrictions. Those attending included first lady Jill Biden, who chatted with French President Emmanuel Macron.

A standout moment came midway through the event when Tonga's Pita Taufatofua once again vied to steal the show by marching into the stadium bare-chested (and oiled).

This year's ceremony, titled "United by Emotion," also brought a poignant moment of silence as organizers encouraged people to remember loved ones who were lost to the pandemic.

Despite the cloud cast by the coronavirus — from the one-year postponement to a ban on spectators — athletes showed their excitement finally to be at the Olympics, bouncing and bounding across the stadium floor to open the Games.

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Performers dance during the Opening Ceremony.
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Getty Images
Performers dance during the opening ceremony Friday.
Naomi Osaka of Team Japan lights the Olympic cauldron with the Olympic torch.
Matthias Hangst / Getty Images
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Tennis star Naomi Osaka lights the Olympic cauldron with the Olympic torch.
Tonga's flag bearers Malia Paseka, left, and Pita Taufatofua lead the delegation.
Hannah McKay / AFP via Getty Images
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AFP via Getty Images
Tonga's flag bearers Malia Paseka (left) and Pita Taufatofua lead their delegation.
Tokyo was to host the 2020 Summer Olympics from July 24 to Aug. 9, 2020, however because of the COVID-19 pandemic the games have been postponed for a year and are due to take place from July 23 to  Aug. 8, 2021.
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Tass via Getty Images
A performer at the opening ceremony. The Tokyo Games officially began Friday after a year's delay due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony.
David J. Phillip / AP
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AP
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony.
Team Ireland flagbearers Kellie Harrington and Brendan Irvine carry the Irish tricolour.
Brendan Moran / Sportsfile via Getty Images
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Sportsfile via Getty Images
Ireland's flag bearers Kellie Harrington and Brendan Irvine carry the Irish tricolor flag.
Supporters standing outside take pictures of the fireworks lighting up the sky over the Olympic Stadium.
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AFP via Getty Images
Supporters outside the Olympic Stadium take pictures of the fireworks lighting up the sky over Tokyo.
Performers take part in the opening ceremony.
Fabrizio Bensch / Reuters
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Reuters
Performers take part in the opening ceremony.
Great Britain flagbearers Hannah Mills and Mohamed Sbihi lead out the team.
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PA Images via Getty Images
Flag bearers Hannah Mills and Mohamed Sbihi of Great Britain lead out their team during the open ceremony.
General view inside the stadium as fireworks are seen during the Opening Ceremony.
Matthias Hangst / Getty Images
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Getty Images
A view inside the Olympic Stadium with fireworks during the opening ceremony.
Flag bearers Laura Ludwig and Patrick Hausding of Team Germany leads their team out during the Opening Ceremony.
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Getty Images
Flag bearers Laura Ludwig and Patrick Hausding of Germany lead their team out during the opening ceremony.
Performers are seen during the Opening Ceremony.
Matthias Hangst / Getty Images
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Getty Images
Performers take part in the opening ceremony.
A security officer looks out over an empty stadium.
David J. Phillip / AP
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AP
A security officer looks out over an empty stadium before the opening ceremony.
A member of Team Egypt waves a flag.
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Pool/Getty Images
A member of Egypt's team waves a flag during the opening ceremony.
The Japanese National Flag is brought onto the stage during the Opening Ceremony.
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Getty Images
The Japanese national flag comes onto the stage during the opening ceremony.
More than 1,800 drones form the shape of a globe during the opening ceremony.
Kiichiro Sato / AP
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AP
More than 1,800 drones form the shape of a globe during the opening ceremony.
A police officer gestures towards a small group of protestors (not seen) protesting against the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
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AFP via Getty Images
A police officer gestures toward a small group (not seen) protesting against the Tokyo Games on Friday.
The Olympic Cauldron is seen as the Japanese Flag is raised during the National Anthem.
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Getty Images
The Olympic cauldron is seen as the Japanese flag is raised during the national anthem.
A performer is seen acting during the Opening Ceremony.
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Getty Images
A performer acts during the opening ceremony.
Members of Team United States enjoy the atmosphere.
Matthias Hangst / Getty Images
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Getty Images
Members of Team USA take in the atmosphere of the Games during the opening ceremony.
A traditional song is performed during the show.
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picture alliance via Getty Images
A traditional song gets a showcase during the opening ceremony.
An overview shows the Japanese national flag being raised during the opening ceremony.
François-Xavier Marit / AFP via Getty Images
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AFP via Getty Images
The Japanese national flag gets raised during the opening ceremony.
Performers dance at the opening ceremony.
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Tass via Getty Images
Performers at the opening ceremony.
Flag bearers Anna Korakaki and Eleftherios Petrounias of Team Greece lead their teammates out during the Opening Ceremony.
Maja Hitij / Getty Images
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Getty Images
Flag bearers Anna Korakaki and Eleftherios Petrounias of Greece lead their teammates out during the opening ceremony.
A general view outside the stadium as fireworks are let off during the Opening Ceremony.
Lintao Zhang / Getty Images
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Getty Images
A view from outside the Olympic Stadium offers a fireworks showcase.

Bill Chappell is a writer and editor on the News Desk in the heart of NPR's newsroom in Washington, D.C.
Marco Storel