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Naomi Osaka 大坂 なおみ Lights the Olympic Flame
Watching her gave me ALL the feels!
The Tokyo 2020 (2021) Olympic Games started today with my absolute favorite event: The Opening Ceremonies with the Parade of Nations.
I have always loved the Olympics and I watched the Summer and the Winter Games for as long as I can remember. I love the pageantry, I love the athletes, I love all of the different sports (OK, I still don’t get “curling”), and most of all, I love the way the Olympics and their athletic excellence and sportsmanship show how people in the world are supposed to get along. I am sure that is why “Imagine” by John Lennon is the unofficial Olympic anthem and has been performed in some form at all of the recent Games.
I sit transfixed during the Parade of Nations. I love seeing the athletes from all of the countries, but especially from the smallest and/or most challenged. Maybe athletes are not supposed to be elevated to such celebrity status as they are, but especially in the countries with the most problems and that have the least economically, sports stars may be all they have. I understand that.
Of course, the lighting of the Olympic flame, which has traveled all over the world for two years before the actual games, is the highlight of the Opening Ceremonies. During this time of COVID, getting the Torch…
