A quiet Olympics begins in Tokyo

Masked athletes from around the world waved at empty seats on Friday. Japanese Emperor Naruhito declared the opening of the Tokyo Olympic Games a year later than planned. Local residents clustered around the barricades surrounding the national stadium as the opening ceremonies portrayed the Games as persevering despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Is it safe to hold the Olympics? At quiet moments during the ceremonies—including a time of silence for those who have died from COVID-19—the shouts of protesters calling for the event’s cancellation made it into the stadium. The planning committee banned fans from the Games and instituted strict rules for international travelers coming to participate. But some people in Japan say it’s not enough. Of the 110 Olympic-accredited individuals who have tested positive in Japan since the beginning of the month, 13 are athletes.

Dig deeper: Read Ray Hacke’s report about athlete protests at the Olympics.