TOKYO: Japan's Emperor Naruhito is set to declare the opening of the Tokyo Olympics on Friday, reprising the role of his grandfather who opened the last Tokyo Olympics in 1964.
Those Games were enthusiastically embraced in Japan and abroad, and heralded a new era for the nation after it emerged from the devastation of World War II and was on its way to becoming an economic powerhouse.
This time, the Tokyo Olympics have been greatly complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic and battered by a series of scandals. Public opinion polls consistently show that a majority of Japanese are against holding the event during the pandemic.
The head of the Imperial Household Agency said late last month that Emperor Naruhito "appears concerned" about the possibility the Olympic Games could cause the coronavirus to spread as feared by many members of the public.
While the 61-year-old emperor's concern was framed as the official's impression rather than something he explicitly expressed, the rare revelation into the monarch's thinking stirred speculation he had worries about the holding of the Olympics during the pandemic.
The Olympic Charter, however, stipulates that the Games be proclaimed open by the head of state of the host country, meaning his presence is required.
The head of the International Olympic Committee met with the emperor on Thursday and assured him organisers were doing their utmost not to bring infections into the country.
The Oxford-educated monarch is expected to attend the ceremony without Empress Masako or other members of the imperial family, after organisers banned spectators.
When his grandfather, Emperor Hirohito, declared the 1964 Games open, he was accompanied by Empress Nagako.
The Olympic charter also specifies the exact wording to be used for opening, including the word "celebrate".
There has been speculation that because of the pandemic, the emperor will use a more neutral word in Japanese that can still be translated as "celebrate" in English.
The emperor has no political power but is widely respected as a figurehead in Japan.
Reuters
Fri Jul 23 2021
Japan's Emperor Naruhito speaks during a news conference on the occasion of his 61st birthday on February 23, 2021, at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, Japan. Imperial Household Agency of Japan/Handout via REUTERS
AWANI Ringkas: TH pastikan 31,600 jemaah haji berpeluang ziarah Raudah
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Projek naik taraf SMV Bintulu kepada kolej 42 peratus siap - Nanta Linggi
Projek menaik taraf Sekolah Menengah Vokasional Bintulu kepada Kolej Vokasional Bintulu bernilai RM21.5 juta dijadual siap menjelang Jun 2025.
Lawatan Xi kukuhkan 60 tahun hubungan China-Perancis
Presiden China Xi Jinping tiba di Paris pada Ahad dalam rangka lawatan ke Perancis di atas jemputan Presiden Perancis Emmanuel Macron.
Bursa Malaysia dibuka lebih tinggi, jejak prestasi positif Wall Street
Pada 9.06 pagi, indeks petunjuk utama FBM KLCI naik 4.79 mata kepada 1,594.38 daripada 1,589.59 yang dicatat pada Jumaat lepas.
Pulau Aman dijadikan Kampung Angkat Madani JPA dengan peruntukan RM2.5 juta
Sebanyak RM2.5 juta diperuntukkan bagi pelaksanaan program Kampung Angkat Madani kelolaan Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) di Pulau Aman.
Tawaran jet pejuang KAAN Turki untuk tingkat pertahanan udara Malaysia
Turki sedia bekerjasama dengan Malaysia dalam projek pertahanan untuk kepentingan kedua-dua negara dan bersedia menawarkan jet pejuang generasi kelimanya, 'KAAN.'
Jenayah: Polis tumpaskan sindiket dadah utara Perak
Ketua Polis Perak, Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri berkata, polis turut menahan seorang nelayan berusia 41 tahun dan pembantu kedai makan berusia 47 tahun bersama dadah yang dianggarkan bernilai lebih RM262,000.
Speaker Dewan Negara terima rawatan susulan di KL
Yang di-Pertua Dewan Negara Datuk Mutang Tagal kini menerima rawatan perubatan di sebuah hospital di sini susulan masalah kesihatan yang dialami ketika berada di Azerbaijan.
Perdana Menteri dijadual bertemu Google
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dijadualkan mesyuarat dalam talian bersama syarikat gergasi teknologi Google pada Isnin.
[TERKINI] Integriti perlu setimpal dengan pengiktirafan kerajaan
Penjawat awam yang tidak berintegriti tidak akan dilayan dengan cara yang sama oleh kerajaan.
Dream of maiden Olympic gold put on hold
When one looks back on this year, it is inevitable that the main topic of discussion will be the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ini 5 fakta menarik temasya Olimpik Tokyo 2020
Pun begitu, sepanjang sesi persiapan, warga dunia telah dapat melihat proses persediaan yang dilakukan oleh Jepun sebagai tarikan dan untuk menaikkan momentum sebelum acara perasmiannya.
Malaysia akan terajui industri halal dunia - Mohd Redzuan
Malaysia akan menerajui bidang halal yang bakal melihat pengiktirafan tanpa sempadan dalam isu berkenaan di semua negara Islam seluruh dunia.
Amerika jangan main-main, jari saya sentiasa dekat dengan butang nuklear - Kim Jong Un
Pemimpin Korea Utara Kim Jong Un tegaskan Amerika Syarikat tidak akan berani lancarkan peluru berpandu ke Pyongyang.
Yuna, Lenny Kravitz persembah lagu promosi Sukan Olimpik 2016
Penyanyi tempatan yang kini menetap di Amerika Syarikat, Yuna merupakan antara salah seorang daripada lima penyanyi yang dipilih untuk mempersembahkan lagu promosi Sukan Olimpik 2016.