Tokyo Opening Ceremonies

Live blog. I watched 2 hours of rowing instead of the live coverage of the opening ceremonies this morning so here we go!

Overall Thoughts

It seems the media consensus is the Olympic Ceremonies were muted and dull. I’m going to take a slightly different take. They were definitely simpler than what we’ve seen from the last 2 decades and I think we need to make that ok. Fewer countries are even considering hosting the games as costs skyrocket and expectations become unrealistic. For the sake of the future of the Olympics let’s make this the standard instead of Beijing’s opening ceremonies. Got to start cutting costs somewhere.

That being said, I do think Japan got a little too in their heads for this one. I bet everything had meaning and significance but maybe make it a little more accessible to the rest of the world so we can leave the ceremonies more appreciative of your culture and approach to the games? Most of it felt like a contemporary art gallery….you kind of nod along to not look “uncultured” but immediately forget all about it because you had no idea what it was.

Cauldron Lighting

I did know about Naomi Osaka getting to light the cauldron in advance but it was still awesome to see. She is an amazing athlete while also trying to start much-needed conversations about mental health so it’s great that Japan is celebrating her for everything that she is doing right now.

Drones

This was probably the most impressive part of the ceremonies in terms of being something new and a “wow”. It took me a little while to figure out what was happening but I am excited to see the future of drone sky formations….when will we have the first proposal or the first giant middle finger ruining a day at the beach? Only time will tell.

Pictogram Dudes

This was fun and a highlight for me. Really cool concept….execution was only an 8/10 but it’s like an Ok Go video for the Olympics!

Team USA Olympic Outfits

I like them from the standpoint that I’m pretty sure I could put together that outfit from things currently in my closet. But is this the best we can do to represent USA as a country? I would like to say no, we aren’t all permanently trying to sneak aboard a yacht. Needs some pieces of flare at least.

Sue Bird & Eddy Alvarez as Flagbearers

Sue Bird is just an icon so perfect as the veteran flagbearer. I am embarrassed to say I didn’t know about Eddy until now. Short Track Speed Skating medalist and then just casually goes to an MLB career. Definitely deserves to carry that flag as well.

Now 2 Shirtless Flag Bearers

Just because….and big day for Mac from It’s Always Sunny and greasing up dudes.

Random Thoughts While I Watched Live:

• These people don’t know how to use exercise equipment properly
• This is the largest DDR game I’ve ever seen
• Is this rope portion of the ceremony a team building exercise for the staff?
• From J & L about the Japanese singer in the white rainbow dress: This is some hunger games sh*t, she looks like she is from the capital
• These ceremonies are spookier than I expected overall so far
• Carpentry has never been as exciting as this….so hot right now
• Tap dance is definitely a surprise that I would not have guessed in advance
• I feel like the song playing while the lanterns are being brought out would be good for a movie soundtrack as a character decides to chose love over career and get on the train
• Argentina is here to PARTY
• I totally get having 2 flagbearers but they should really just take turns and not try to hold it together….
• Italy’s outfits kind of look like they came from a giant twister board
• UKRAINE HAS NEON YELLOW FANNYPACKS!!!!
• Even with reduced participants in the Parade of Nations this is taking forever
• BUT I still have a life goal of being one of the people that claps for 3 hours straight along the parade of nations route