INTERNATIONAL: The night sky above Tokyo was filled with fireworks on Tuesday night during the opening ceremony of the 2020 Paralympic Games. Cambodia’s Van Von, who will participate in the T-54 Men’s 100m Wheelchair Race carried the national flag during the parade of athletes, who hailed from 162 countries.

Despite being told to stay at home and watch the event on television, dozens of people gathered outside the stadium to get a glimpse of the pyrotechnics. The Japanese capital is under a Covid state of emergency and just like the next 12 days of competition, there were practically no spectators inside the stadium for the opening ceremony.

Organisers say it was attended only by 3,400 athletes, 800 Games stakeholders and guests of honor, and 2,400 members of the media. The Paralympics will run until Sunday 5 September.