The Aït-Saïd show, this good old Pita and the flame lit by Osaka, we tell you about the opening ceremony

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From our special correspondent in Tokyo,

Five years have passed since Shinzo Abe played the mariole dressed as Mario at the closing ceremony of the Rio Games to take over the Olympic torch. The Japanese Prime Minister has been sent home in the meantime, and he was to congratulate himself on Friday night in front of his TV.

Traditionally festive, the opening ceremony of the pandemic Olympics was almost hidden to take place, even if the parade of the 206 countries represented brought back a little innocence, like the technological animations at the end. But to see these 6,000 athletes, however happy as kids, greet stands as empty as they are silent – 900 guests and a little more than 3,000 accredited on a stadium of 68,000 seats -, what sadness. We summarize what we saw live from the Olympic stadium.

A hostile demonstration in front of the stadium

We had fun watching the passers-by on our long bus ride from the media center to the Yoyogi district, where the old Olympic stadium has been renovated. Results ? A lot of indifference, an arm of honor, a few cuckoos, and a little kid too happy to see us with his flag for the 2020 Olympics. It was a little surprise, therefore, to see several hundred people gathered in front of the gates, for express their dissatisfaction with hosting these Olympics in a state of health emergency. A clearly audible hubbub once inside during the rare musical downtime.

Music precisely

If we admit without problem a total bankruptcy of knowledge about Japanese manga / video game culture, it would seem that the soundtrack of the ceremony particularly pleased fans, who distinguished a large number of references to their favorite titles: Final fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Monster hunter, Sonic… Like what to fire the principal composer and the director of the ceremony two hours before the gong did not have too bad consequences, although the sentimentality Conceived for the 25 thousandth time, well, don’t be too careful.

The good idea

Difficult to present an objective vision of a show of almost four hours, but let’s say that in the increase in pressure of the ceremony, at first very sober and then more inventive at the end, we particularly appreciated the idea of ​​Times Up Olympic version, with two extras responsible for making each of the 50 Olympic sports “guess” in a minimum of time. Enough to wake up souls after Thomas Bach’s soporific speech. The earth drawn in the sky over Tokyo by 1,800 drones was also worth a visit, of course.

The fashion police point

The interminable parade of athletes, which we followed with one eye, once again allowed to appreciate the variety of outfits imagined by the different federations. If we always have a soft spot for the nations that take responsibility for their roots, especially in Africa, it goes without saying that we are more here to speak ill. So, how to ignore the light green pigeon poo of the German delegation, or this filthy Camembert Trivial Pursuit on the stomach imagined by Emporio Armani for the Italian delegation? Mention also to the Desigual pink outfit from Belgium. Which ? How? ‘Or’ What ? Why ? The culprit deserves exemplary punishment.

The Italian team parading at the Olympic stadium in Tokyo. – David J. Phillip / AP / SIPA

Pita and its jojoba oil problem

The unforgettable Pita Taufatofua, flag bearer of Tonga who had melted the convention walls in Rio, did not gain fat during the Olympiad. And after dressing a little warmer for the 2018 Winter Games, for which he had achieved the feat of qualifying in cross-country skiing, Pita got his hands on his pot of Jojoba oil. Too bad to have been deprived of the hysterical cries of the Japanese public upon entering, it would have been worth its weight in peanuts.

And our Blues in all this?

We waited a moment before seeing our two flag-bearers Clarisse Agbegnenou and Samir Aït-Saïd, since the nation which hosts the following Olympics only parades in the penultimate position, just before the host country (and behind the States United, in this case). Let us underline the beautiful mobilization of our athletes, who marched to more than 80 despite the context – part of the delegation has not yet been authorized to come to Japan – and for some of the competitions which start early Saturday morning. The gymnast Aït-Saïd is one of them, but that did not prevent him from slamming a somersault of the most beautiful effect while passing.

Bonus track: The Olympic flame lit by Naomi Osaka

His name was mentioned among the favorites in the local press, and the delay the day after his first round in tennis smelled of the big clue that stains. The world number 1, who had left mentally exhausted at Roland Garros to the point of withdrawing from the tournament on the second day, has found a country that loves her and a prestigious role: it is very rare that the lucky guy who turns on the flame last is an active athlete.





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